Major League Soccer’s national networks — ESPN2/ESPN Deportes and ABC, Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Sports en Espanol, HDNet and TeleFutura — will combine to broadcast 113 games. Each of the 14 clubs will play 30 regular-season games over 31 weeks. The 2008 season kicks off March 29, and regular season ends on Oct. 26.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The unique case of American fandom
Mike Woitalla reports from Houston
Of the more than 40 national team games played across the world on Wednesday, only England’s game at Wembley drew a larger crowd than the USA’s 2-2 tie with Mexico in Houston, where a sellout crowd of 70,103 set a U.S. national team record for ticket sales income. Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla checked out the fans in Texas.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Derby’s Mysterious American Owners
Derby County’s new ownership situation looks increasingly unclear, says the Guardian’s David Conn. Detroit-based General Sports & Entertainment bought the club a few weeks ago, promising to turn Derby County into “a global brand.” The group’s president, Andy Appleby, owns 93 percent of the club’s shares “on behalf of GSE.” However, Appleby later said that […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Capello Justifies Beckham, Owen Omissions
England coach Fabio Capello reiterated that caps won’t be handed out lightly after reporters questioned him on the omission of longtime England regulars David Beckham and Michael Owen from Wednesday night’s 2-1 victory over Switzerland at Wembley. England prevailed against Switzerland after a nervy opening half hour during which England’s fans booed the team and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
EPL Clubs Agree to Overseas League Games
The English Premier League’s 20 clubs on Thursday agreed to a proposal that would see each team play games in cities across the world over one weekend in January, beginning in 2011. This would be an extra match, bringing the total number of Premier League matches to 39. Teams would randomly draw a venue but […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Classic USA-Mexico Encounter Bows New Generation
SI.com’s Grant Wahl offers five takeaways from Wednesday’s 2-2 draw between the USA and Mexico at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Firstly, Wahl says, the next generation has arrived — for both teams. Jozy Altidore, scorer of the Americans’ second goal with a brilliant header, “never looked out of place going the entire 90 minutes.” Altidore […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Keeping Your Expectations in Check
As a coach it is natural to have your “favorite” players. However, the positive and negative expectations you form about players on your team affects not only your own behavior toward them but also the feelings and performance of those players.
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Former MVP Gomez dealt by D.C.
No surprise: the big announcement for Friday announced by the Rapids is to confirm it has acquired Christian Gomez from D.C. United in a trade. What is a surprise is that no players will be given up by Colorado in the deal, according to a source
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“This is a moral victory.”
— Mexican defender Jonny Magallon, whose goals twice brought El Tri back from one-goal deficits and sealed a 2-2 tie with the USA in Houston. Magallon’s two goals were one more than Mexico had scored its previous nine games against the USA on U.S. soil (eight U.S. wins and one tie).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Altidore: ‘I had a lot of fun’
[USA-MEXICO REACTION] Jozy Altidore, who scored the second U.S. goal, admitted he was surprised to get the start, but he said he was very excited. U.S. coach Bob Bradley was so confident in Altidore’s “presence” that the 18-year-old striker went 90 minutes in his first U.S. start. For the reaction from Bradley, Altidore and other U.S. players …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
REPORT CARD: Jozy, Gooch & Timmy earn high marks
[USA-MEXICO GRADES] Soccer America’s Mike Woitalla grades the U.S. players’ performance in their 2-2 draw on Wednesday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA shares the spoils with Mexico
Mike Woitalla reports from Houston
Mexico’s El Tri failed for the 10th straight time to beat the USA on U.S. soil, but this time the dominating contingent of Mexican supporters in the Houston crowd of 70,103 wasn’t left as disappointed as usual. Mexico twice rallied from a goal down to earn a 2-2 tie and leave the legendary Jorge Campos, now Mexico’s goalkeeper coach, to proclaim, “Next time we’ll win,” before cracking a smile and sticking his tongue out to reveal he wasn’t so sure …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Few slots open for ambitious Chivas USA
[MLS TEAM PREVIEWS] With its front line shored up by trading for Alecko Eskandarian and Atiba Harris, another experienced defender on board in Jim Curtin and Brad Guzan back in the fold after an aborted transfer to Aston Villa, Chivas USA is looking pretty good as preseason gets underway.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Friendly Results
England won its first game under new coach Fabio Capello with a 2-1 victory over Switzerland Wednesday at Wembley. In matches involving Euro ’08 finalists, Italy was impressive in a 3-1 win over Portugal. A late goal gave Spain a 1-0 win over France. Germany and the Netherlands rolled to 3-0 wins at Austria and Croatia, respectively. MLS players of the past (Honduran Amado Guevara), present (Toronto FC’s Jamaican Tyrone Marshall and Welshman Carl Fletcher) and possibly the future (Costa Rica’s Dominican-born Victor Nunez) found the mark. Argentina’s team of Olympic hopefuls drew 25,000 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum for its 5-0 win over Guatemala. For all the friendly results and goalscorers …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Barbados and Dominica play to 1-1 tie
[WORLD CUP QUALIFYING-CONCACAF] Potential U.S. World Cup opponents Dominica and Barbados played to a 1-1 tie in the first leg of their first-round CONCACAF series on Wednesday in Roseau. San Jose Earthquakes forward Gavin Glinton scored what proved to be the winning goal to lead the tiny Turks & Caicaos Islands to a shock 2-1 victory over St. Lucia for their first win ever in World Cup qualifying. El Salvador got five goals from Rudis Corrales and three from former MLS star Ronald Cerritos to beat Anguilla, 12-0. For all the CONCACAF qualifying news …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Asian champion Iraq held by China
[WORLD CUP QUALIFYING-ASIA] Reigning Asian champion Iraq’s World Cup 2010 campaign got off to a disappointing start when it was held to a 1-1 tie with China in its opening group game played Wednesday in Dubai. For all the Asian qualifying news …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
South Korea arrests soccer-playing draft dodgers
[OFF THE POST] South Korea indicted 92 current and former soccer players — including 15 K-League professionals — who are accused of dodging military service by intentionally dislocating their shoulders to receive medical exemptions.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gold Cup Hero Feilhaber Won’t Start Against Mexico
U.S. midfielder Benny Feilhaber, the man who’s spectacular volley downed Mexico and brought the U.S. its second consecutive Gold Cup trophy, admits he won’t be starting tonight’s Gold Cup final rematch against Mexico in Houston. “Just from intuition and what’s been going on, I don’t expect to be playing,” Feilhaber told the New York Times’ […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mexico’s “Golden Generation” Could Be Difference
Mexico has a name for up-and-coming stars like Barcelona’s Giovanni Dos Santos and Arsenal’s Carlos Vela: “La Generacion Dorada,” or “Golden Generation,” expected to usher in a new era of success for Mexican soccer. The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Mark Ziegler says they could start Wednesday night by helping the Tricolores defeat the U.S. for the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Report: ESPN Dumps Wynalda
A few days after demoting him, ESPN has decided to severe ties with outspoken soccer analyst Eric Wynalda, according to Soccer By Ives, which reports that the parties couldn’t agree on a new role, so it’s believed that ESPN bought out the remaining year on Wynalda’s contract. Last week, the Walt Disney company decided to […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Becks is Back, but Where’s the Hype?
The pressure might not be off the Los Angeles Galaxy this season — Ruud, Landon, Beckham and co. will still be expected “to win something,” as Beckham says — but the media “phalanx” that greeted Becks when he arrived at L.A.’s training ground last summer is gone, for the most part. The Press-Telegram’s Billy Witz […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Who’s Going to Score for the Wizards?
As the Wizards begin training for the 2008 MLS season, The Kansas City Star’s Bob Luder asks the pertinent question: who’s going to score the goals? Top scorer Eddie Johnson has moved to Fulham, Yura Movsisyan was traded to Real Salt Lake late last summer, attacking midfielder Davy Arnaud has fractured his right knee and […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“That’s clearly not true. I’ve got a lot of Mexican friends.”
— Landon Donovan reacts to Mexico forward Aldolfo Bautista‘s statement that “Landon Donovan hates Mexicans very much.”
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
One more year for Fire veteran Gutierrez
[MLS] Many pro athletes take it easy during the offseason, indulging in amusements and luxuries or just chilling out. Not Chicago Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez, who, along with his wife, Ginna, traveled to Mali in the fight against malaria as part of the Nothing But Nets program that he himself founded. Back home, Gutierrez signed up for one more year of MLS play with the Fire, for whom he should see plenty of playing time in 2008.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Wizard changes start in the back
[MLS TEAM PREVIEWS] Reaching the playoffs for the first time in three seasons in 2007 masked these sobering facts: Kansas City stumbled down the stretch – losing three of four before beating Dallas in the season finale — and edged into the playoffs as the eighth overall seed with a 11-12-7 record. Following a busy offseason, the Wizards will probably look much different in 2008.