New York is targeting striker and “Panamanian prodigy” Gabriel Torres, reports Brian Lewis.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Young Player Wins Record Sum For Lost Career
A young Manchester United player whose career was ended by a leg-breaking tackle was awarded a record $8.6 million in damages by the U.K. High Court Monday. Ben Collett, now 23, had joined United’s youth academy aged nine, and at 18 was a member of the club’s 2003 FA Youth Cup-winning team. United manager […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Capello Unconcerned By Smokin’ Rooney
England coach Fabio Capello is not concerned about Wayne Rooney’s famous on-field temper, last aired against the United States in May at Wembley. Since Rooney married over the summer, he’s apparently going to be a much more settled man. Neither does Capello care if the Manchester United striker enjoys the odd cigarette. “I don’t […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Bayern’s Defense ‘As Soft As Quark Cream’
Bayern Munich coach Juergen Klinsmann made it clear after his appointment that he viewed the team as a long-term project, and that it could take years for his new policies to take effect. But neither fans nor team officials have that kind of patience, and already questions are being asked after Bayern’s first competitive game […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Shinawatra Skips Bail, Flees To Britain
The owner of Manchester City, the former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has skipped bail with his wife and fled from Thailand to Britain, claiming that he could not expect a fair trial on corruption charges in his native country. His wife, Pojaman, was already sentenced to three years in prison two weeks ago for […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
L.A. Keeps Us Laughing
“The Los Angeles Galaxy looks more and more like a Saturday Night Live sketch every day,” writes Steve Davis in the aftermath of the sacking of GM Alexi Lalas, and the departure “for personal reasons” of coach Ruud Gullit. The new vacancies will create “ample room for the next round of material that will keep […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
What They’re Saying
“The USA will be a very dangerous opponent for us because they are one of the top teams at this competition and also because they will be playing for their lives.”
— Nigeria striker Victor Obinna on Wednesday’s showdown with the USA in men’s soccer. The Americans could need a tie or win to advance despite their position in first place after two games. (FIFA.com)
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Postgame from Shenyang
[REACTION] U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said her team has come a long way from the disastrous first 15 minutes of the opening game against Norway. After struggling to beat Japan, the 4-0 win over New Zealand boosted the Americans’ confidence heading into the knockout round.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
O’Reilly stands out on wing
[USA-NEW ZEALAND REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 4-0 win over New Zealand on Tuesday …
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
USA-New Zealand Women’s Coverage
Rout of Kiwis give USA Group G crown
By thrashing New Zealand, 4-0, to win Group G the U.S. women have not only avoided Brazil and Germany in the quarterfinal round and given themselves one more opportunity to sharpen their game, they’ve also ducked the possibility of playing both of their major obstacles to the gold medal.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Olympic Soccer TV Schedule
Group play in men’s soccer concludes Wednesday when the USA faces Nigeria. Women’s action continues Friday with four quarterfinal games: USA-Canada in Shanghai at 6 am ET, China-Japan, Germany-Sweden and Brazil-Norway. Complete soccer coverage is available on the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel and online at nbcolympics.com. Check with your television provider for the availability of the NBC Olympic Soccer Channel.
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Olympic Women’s Soccer Scoreboard
Trailing at halftime, Japan stormed back for five second-half goals and stunned Norway, 5-1, The result left the USA, Norway and Japan 1-2-3 in Group G and reshuffled the projected quarterfinal pairings. For all the results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Women’s league adds second ’10 expansion team
[WPS] Women’s pro soccer will be returning to Atlanta in 2010 when an Women’s Professional Soccer expansion team will begin play.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Special Edition: U.S. Olympic soccer
MEMBERSHIP ALERT: A special edition will appear later Wednesday with coverage of the USA- Nigeria men’s match, so look for this e-newsletter from Soccer America’s editors. For fans not wishing to read our coverage until after they have watched the game, the subject line of these e-letters will begin “Special Olympic Edition.”
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Will Thierry Henry turn traitor?
[TRANSFER TALK] Desperately thin up front with just days to go before the start of the EPL, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is turning his attention to an unlikely target — former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry. Ferguson is rumored to be preparing a $40 million bid for the French international, who has spent just one season at Barcelona since moving from the Gunners. Throughout his career, Henry has been vocal about his love for Arsenal, but it’s hard to think of a more traitorous act than moving to Manchester United.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Ruiz to face Americans in World Cup qualifier
[USA-GUATEMALA] Guatemala national team coach Ramon Maradiaga will welcome three foreign-based players — the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Carlos Ruiz, Jose Contreras of Argentina’s Arsenal and Gustavo Cabrera of Danish club Aarhus — who will join 16 player currently in training for the Aug. 20 World Cup 2010 qualifier against the USA at Guatemala City’s Mateo Flores Stadium. Recent Chicago Fire signing Marco Pappa could also get a call-up.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS mid-season coaching casualties
[MAKING A LIST] Ruud Gullit is the fifth Los Angeles Galaxy coach to be fired or resign in mid-season. Only two other MLS teams (New York and Columbus) have had as many as three coaches leave in mid-season.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
What next for LA follies?
Make no mistake, Anschutz Entertainment Group czar Tim Leiweke knows success from failure, how to turn loss into profit, and how to move product and sell tickets. But pick a coach for the Galaxy? The naming of Cobi Jones as interim coach following Ruud Gullit‘s resignation makes it five Galaxy coaches in five years.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“There are two good people that for different reasons aren’t part of this organization today, and that’s a shame. The fact is, the players have to look deep inside themselves and understand they have to be responsible for some of this. Am I angry we find ourselves in the situation we find ourselves in? Yes. This is not a fun week. The Galaxy hasn’t made the playoffs for a couple years. Punting on this season is not acceptable. It starts Thursday.”
— Tim Leiweke, president of Los Angeles Galaxy owner AEG, after the announcement that General Manager Alexi Lalas was fired and Coach Ruud Gullit resigned on Monday. (AP)
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
2008 Olympic soccer closes out the first round and moves into the knockout phase. For detailed information on Olympic soccer viewing, go to www.nbcolympics.com, where games are also broadcast online. In the MLS Thursday night game, Chivas USA hosts Los Angeles. The English Premier League season kicks off this weekend.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Is D.C. losing its winning identity?
For more than a decade, D.C. United has prided itself on being the flagship of not only Major League Soccer, but of Latin-style soccer.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Bench-Pressing Better Than Beckham
The always entertaining Jimmy Conrad spills the beans on being a team-mate of the L.A. Galaxy midfielder during the All-Star weekend.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mathis Back To MLS?
Clint Mathis could be back again, this time returning to Real Salt Lake, writes Steven Goff.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ireland Asks For Georgia Switch
In the wake of the war that has broken out between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia, Ireland has asked FIFA to move its World Cup qualifying tie in Tbilisi next month to a neutral venue.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Goalkeeper Faces Jail After Blackmail Attempt
A former Manchester City trainee goalkeeper faces jail time after pleading guilty to a blackmail charge. Ashley Timms, 22, threatened to publish sexually explicit photographs of an unnamed “Premiership star.” Prosecutor David Friesner “did not outline the facts of the case but told the court the blackmail victim, referred to as Witness A, had […]