[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] The USA lost to Ivory Coast, 1-0, and Italy, 2-0, to finish with three losses at the Festival Espoirs International in Toulon, France.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Birthday boy Beasley is cup hero
[AMERICANS ABROAD] DaMarcus Beasley celebrated his 26th birthday and first start in six months by scoring one goal and setting up the winning goal to lead Glasgow Rangers to a 3-2 win over Queen of the South in Saturday’s final of the Scottish FA Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA preparation hampered by weather, withdrawals
[ENGLAND-USA] The addition of one MLS player and all-too-English weather highlighted the first few days of preparation for the USA men’s national team friendly against England at Wembley on Wednesday (TV: ESPN Classic, live, 3 p.m. ET, Galavision, 7 p.m. ET/PT).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckham strikes from afar for rising Galaxy
[MLS NAMES & NUMBERS] From the penalty spot, Landon Donovan scored his league-leading ninth goal of the season and David Beckham struck from inside his own half as the Galaxy moved into first place in the West. D.C. United ended its losing streak as last year’s leading scorer, Luciano Emilio, finally found the net again. For the weekend’s MLS highlights …
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Hull Tigers Burning Bright
Who’d have thought it? Hull City in the Premier League! After 104 years of trying, Hull has made it into the top division for the first time. Years and years back, when I thought maybe I could be the English Ogden Nash, I dedicated a few far from flattering words to Hull:
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS Results
Chicago and New England moved into ties with Columbus for the Eastern Conference lead, while Los Angeles took over the lead in the Western Conference. For all the MLS weekend summaries, current standings and leading scorers and this week’s schedule …
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
Midweek matches include a USA-England friendly, the semifinals of Copa Libertadores and the conclusion of the Toulon U-23 International tournament. In MLS’s Thursday night game, New England hosts D.C. United.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Should Soehn take all the blame at D.C.?
This may or may not be the make-or-break match for D.C. United head coach Tom Soehn when he sends out the worst team in MLS, by virtue of its 2-7-0 record, against Toronto FC Saturday night at RFK. United lost, 1-0, at BMO Field Wednesday night despite an improved performance in several areas. If Fred puts away a perfect cross from Marcelo Gallardo, either on the first attempt or the rebound of a point-blank header he aimed right at keeper Greg Sutton, maybe a 1-1 tie buys the team some confidence and Soehn a bit more wiggle room. Still, a four-game losing streak — during which it has scored one goal — for the four-time league champ is pushing matters close to the edge.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Backline: U.S. Soccer’s rock ‘n’ roll doc
Scott Powell of Sha Na Na fame heals and entertains national team players.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Youth Beat: How the screaming hurts
What makes the epidemic of sideline shouting particularly egregious is that the instructions are usually misguided.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Euro 2008: Europe takes center stage
The 2008 European Championship will be held this June in eight cities. Co-hosts Austria and Switzerland are decided underdogs in a 16-team field that includes Italy, France, Germany and Portugal, the top four teams from the 2006 World Cup. Along with Spain and the Netherlands, they are the favorites in a tournament that has a history of producing surprises.
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Soccer on TV
The Olympic-bound U.S. U-23 men’s national team faces Ivory Coast on Friday and Italy on Sunday at the Festival Espoirs International in Toulon, France. Among the MLS action, D.C. United has a chance to avenge Thursday’s loss in Canada when it hosts Toronto FC on Saturday. The Los Angeles Galaxy could, with a win over Kansas City, move into to first place of the West if Colorado slips against Chivas USA.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Iraq Faces FIFA Suspension
Asian champion Iraqs face suspension from FIFA after the Iraqi government dissolved the country’s soccer federation. The Asian Football Confederation demanded the body’s immediate reinstatement, while AFC president Mohamed bin Hamman said Iraq’s government had no right to dismiss democratically elected officials, and that the AFC would recognize no other body. Iraq is set […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Queen of the South Aims For Scottish Cup
On Thursday, Glasgow Celtic won the Scottish Premier League title for the third successive year, and as usual its only serious competitor was Glasgow Rangers. Third-place Motherwell was 26 points adrift of the top two, and no team besides Celtic or Rangers has lifted the Scottish title since 1985. That’s why the presence of […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Angel Struggling To Find Last Year’s Form
It’s not just last year’s league MVP Luciano Emilio who’s struggling to recapture the form of his MLS debut season. New York’s Juan Pablo Angel, who ran Emilio close for the MVP award, has also tallied just one goal in 2008, while fighting off injuries and coping with a change in coaching philosophy. “I […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
African Youth Stepping Up For Revs
Almost every MLS team has exploited the new rule allowing an increased number of senior international players on rosters by quickly signing up numerous seasoned South and Central Americans. So far the results have been mixed. Meanwhile, the New England Revolution bucked the trend by taking in two young Gambians, yielding quick returns from the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Columbus Happy To Be Criticized
After missing the Major League Soccer playoffs for three consecutive seasons, the Columbus Crew is happy to be on the receiving end of scathing attacks from opposition coaches. It means that it’s finally being taken seriously again. After last weekend’s scoreless tie at Toronto FC, the TFC coach John Carver said that Columbus came […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Castillo and Vidal start in Mexico’s Clausura playoffs
[AMERICANS ABROAD] New Mexican Edgar Castillo started at left back for Santos in its 1-1 tie at Monterrey in the first leg of their semifinal series in Mexico’s Torneo Clausura. U.S. U-23 defender Michael Orozco did not play in San Luis’ 1-0 loss at home to Cruz Azul on Wednesday. In the first leg of the Primera A finals to determine promotion to the First Division, Texan Marco Vidal started for Indios in the Ciudad Juarez team’s 1-0 win over Leon.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
America’s run continues; Washington saves day
[LIBERTADORES CUP] Club America was last in the Mexican First Division this spring, but it’s through to the semifinals of South America’s Libertadores Cup thanks to its 2-1 aggregate victory over famed Santos of Brazil.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS TV Schedule
Columbus looks to hold on to its lead in the Eastern Conference when it hosts defending conference champion New England on Saturday. FC Dallas plays its first game under interim coach Marco Ferruzzi when it welcomes Real Salt Lake. D.C. United hosts FC Toronto three days after the Canadian team handed it its fourth straight defeat. For all of this week’s MLS action on television …
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Messi chooses Argentina over Barcelona
[OLYMPIC COUNTDOWN] The Olympic finals in China with Argentina or Champions League qualifying with Barcelona? Lionel Messi said he plans on playing for Argentina at the Olympic Games in August instead of Barcelona’s Champions League third qualifying round series.