[TRANSFER TALK] Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov nearly moved from Tottenham Hotspur last summer after he scored 23 goals in his first season with the London club. After another season with 23 goals, Berbatov has made it clear that he wants to play in the Champions League and he could be headed to Manchester United in a deal approaching $60 million.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Another injury blow for Beasley
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Scottish FA Cup hero DaMarcus Beasley was injured in Rangers’ 1-0 victory over German fourth division club Preussen Munster, the first of three games during its preseason camp in the Netherlands.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s Finals Week Results
The first 12 games at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy’s Finals Week at the Home Depot Center produced an average of 3.5 goals a game and featured three hat tricks in U-17/18 play. For all the results and goal scorers …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham Says Capello Will Bring England Success
Ever the optimist, David Beckham reveals that he is “sure that things are going to go well” for England under coach Fabio Capello.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
London Police Submits Corruption File
City of London Police has submitted a file on corruption in the English game to the Crown Prosecution Service and awaits a decision on possible charges against seven men, including Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
South Africa Must Act Early On Crime Issue
South Africa’s foremost soccer pundit, the former Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey, fears that violence and crime threaten the 2010 World Cup, and that now is the time to take action.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
MLS To Miami’ Is Empty Talk
The promise of an MLS team returning to Miami has always outpaced the reality, writes a scathing Jeff Rusnak. “The most recent example,” he says, “is Mayor Manny Diaz’s inability to lure a big-time investor to field a team there as early as 2011, despite offering $50 million in public funds to build a stadium […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA Has The Whole World On A String
It’s been a bloodless coup unseen by most, but the world’s soccer governing body FIFA has taken over South Africa and ousted the ruling African National Congress, writes Rodney Hartman. “FIFA is an organization that wields far greater influence than the United Nations and, more importantly, has far greater muscle,” he writes. “It can, and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Amy, Not Abby, Downs Brazil
Media attention was focused on Abby Wambach in the U.S. women’s exhibition match-up with Brazil in Commerce City, Colo., on Sunday as she strived to score her 100th international goal. But despite a number of early chances, Wambach instead turned provider to set up the game’s only goal for second half substitute Amy Rodriguez, who […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Field Turf Debate Still Hanging Over U.S. Game
The issue of field turf in U.S. soccer came up again twice over the weekend. First, Toronto FC Director of Soccer Mo Johnston admitted that former Norwich City striker Darren Huckerby has signed for the San Jose Quakes ahead of TFC because “Darren had a slight problem with the turf and was concerned about aggravating […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Salt Lake Reforms Paying Off
Real Salt Lake tops the MLS Western Conference for the first time in its short history after beating Columbus, 2-0, on Saturday. Sulaiman Folarin believes credit is due to Coach Jason Kreis, and to the team for the gamble it took by appointing a virgin coach last year when “there was a lack of focus […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Picking the All-Star lucky seven
By design or luck, MLS officials can account for every league team when seven additions to the 2008 All-Star Team are named Tuesday.
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
In MLS’s Thursday night game, Columbus hosts Kansas City. Superliga 2008 is in full swing with midweek and weekend matches. The USSF Development Academy Championships are on ESPN2 and ESPNU on Friday and Saturday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“When I was there [Aston Villa] in January for a few days it was an absolutely brilliant time. Great people, great facilities and I couldn’t say one bad thing about it. It looks like exciting times at Villa and I would love to play for Martin O’Neill.”
— Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who is set to get a UK work permit on his second try and join English Premier League club Aston Villa, which will reportedly pay a transfer fee of about $4 million. (BBC)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS and Mexico split SuperLiga openers
MLS teams split their four encounters with Mexican league opposition as the second SuperLiga tournament kicked off last weekend. Houston ran up a 4-0 demolition of Atlante and New England knocked off Santos Laguna, 1-0, but Chivas USA and D.C. United fell to defending SuperLiga champion Pachuca and Chivas Guadalajara, respectively, by 2-1 scores. Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney details the first round of group games.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Protecting young players or rich clubs?
A rather misleading statement has been released by UEFA. Actually, it was not released, it escaped: the London Sunday Telegraph got hold of what it described as the “confidential document,” designed apparently for the big-shot politicians of the European Union.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. under-17 girls national team roster
U.S. under-17 girls national team coach Kazbek Tambi has named the 20-player roster that will compete at the 2008 CONCACAF U-17 Girls Championship, beginning Friday in Trinidad & Tobago.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USL-1 Results
The Puerto Rico Islanders moved to win three points of first-place Charleston with a 3-1 victory at the Battery of Friday. One day earlier, the Islanders had won, 2-0, at Portland. Five different players scored for the Islanders in the two wins. Puerto Rico is tied for second place with Vancouver, one point ahead of Seattle. For all the USL-1 results and goal scorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Queiroz leaves Manchester United to return home
[PORTUGAL] Carlos Queiroz, Manchester United’s No. 2 and the former MetroStars head coach, is heading home to coach the Portugal national team.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
‘A-Rod’ knocks off Brazil women again
[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] U.S. women’s national team improved to 20-0-1 in 2008 with a 1-0 win over 2007 Women’s World Cup runner-up Brazil on Sunday before a crowd of 15,071 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, the home of MLS’s Colorado Rapids. USC’s Amy Rodriguez scored the game’s only goal for her second game-winning goal against Brazil this year.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Teen scores in debut; Cool coach loses it
[MLS NAMES & NUMBERS] Toronto continued its dismal road run but enjoyed a bright spot when 16-year-old Abdus Ibrahim scored in his league debut. … Real Salt Lake made some club history. … And an MLS coach probably considered least likely to loss his temper was ejected.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Results
With four MLS teams busy with SuperLiga play against Mexican foes, there were three MLS games last weekend. Chicago ended its five-game winless streak when it hosted Toronto FC. Real Salt Lake’s win over Columbus moved it into first-place in the Western Conference. San Jose’s winless streak grew to six games when it tied Colorado, 1-1. For the up-to-date MLS standings and leading scorers, all the weekend summaries and this week’s TV schedule.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA-Mexico U-20 showdown goes to Americans in rout
[YOUTH] The USA scored three first-half goals — one from former U.S. U-17 standout Sheanon Williams and two from the University of Michigan’s Peri Marosevic — to beat Mexico, 3-0, in an under-20 friendly played in the border town of Laredo, Texas.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
MLS clubs need firepower for SuperLiga
One of the scenarios plaguing MLS teams as they struggle to match their Mexican league counterparts is being played out on the eve of SuperLiga 2008, in which four teams from each country compete for a $1 million prize.