Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story

Dallas dealing for boost in D from Mexico

by Soccer America

Ridge Mahoney examines decision-making at FCD
FC Dallas, which already boasted one of the better midfields in the league and threw away more than $800,000 for the disaster that was Denilson last season, actually might be ready to shell out real money to shore up its shaky back line. FCD invited Mexican international defender Duilio Davino to attend last weekend’s InterLiga games at Pizza Hut Park as its guest.

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U.S. captain Kristine Lilly to skip Olympics

by Soccer America

[OLYMPICS] The most experienced member of the U.S. women’s national team has announced she won’t compete in the 2008 Olympic Games next summer should the USA succeed to qualify in April. Kristine Lilly, 36, who debuted in 1987 at age 16 and has scored 129 goals in 340 U.S. appearances, is due to give birth to her first child in July. “I’m not closing any doors as far as soccer,” said Lilly.

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Barbados ready to knock off USA

by Soccer America

Paul Kennedy on the latest CONCACAF news
[WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] The technical adviser to the Barbados national team, the USA’s probable opponent in the second round of World Cup qualifying, is “quietly confident” the Bajan Rockets can upset the CONCACAF giant if they meet in June. More chaos in Trinidad & Tobago, where Colombian Francisco Maturana has been named interim head coach of its national team after head coach Wim Rijsbergen was suspended for an altercation with T&T’s director of football, Lincoln Phillips — both formerly prominent figures on the U.S. soccer scene. For all the CONCACAF World Cup news …

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English FA Cup Draw

by Soccer America

Havant & Waterlooville, the only minor league club still alive in the FA Cup, could travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the fourth round of the English FA Cup if they both win next week’s replays. Either Oldham or Huddersfield Town, both winners over EPL teams in the third round, will reach the final 16 after they were drawn against each other in the round of 32. The two guaranteed EPL clashes are Manchester United against Tottenham or Reading and defending champion Chelsea at Wigan. For the entire fourth-round draw …

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Player Trafficking in Africa

by Soccer America

Unlicensed soccer academies are springing up across Africa, further impoverishing the region’s poor with false proclamations of ties with big European clubs. According to the Confederation of African Football, soccer’s governing body in Africa, all soccer academies must be registered with the local government or football association. The problem is, most poor families know nothing […]

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Galaxy Shouldn’t Sign Figo

by Soccer America

Portuguese wizard Luis Figo has become the latest former Real Madrid Galactico to be linked with Major League Soccer. Last week, reports in Portugal linked the 35-year-old with a move to the Los Angeles Galaxy, but the rumor is already dying down, as both Figo and his agent have denied accelerated talks with MLS. Even […]

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Friedel & Blackburn embarrassed in FA Cup

by Soccer America

[AMERICANS IN ENGLAND] Goalkeeper Brad Friedel was shelled by the 17th-place team in England’s second-tier league when Blackburn fell, 4-1, to Coventry in the FA Cup third round. Fulham, with Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey, was also embarrassed, but not eliminated, when the EPL club tied, 2-2, with third-tier Bristol. Keeper Tim Howard won’t have regretted sitting out Everton’s 1-0 loss to third-tier Oldham. Bobby Convey took a head-butt in Reading’s tie at Tottenham.

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Beckham trains with Arsenal

by Soccer America

The Los Angeles Galaxy’s David Beckham trained with Arsenal on Friday as part of his preparations for the MLS season kickoff in March and England duty. Beckham indicated he had no interest in playing competitively for the Gunners, but wore an Arsenal No. 23 jersey at the practice. Asked why he wore the Gunners’ colors, Coach Arsene Wenger smiled and said, “You have to put some [gear] on.”

Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying

What They’re Saying

by Soccer America

“If soccer in Nigeria was organized as in Germany the team would be unbeatable. Even Brazil would have to watch out for Nigeria.”

— Nigeria’s German coach Berti Vogts, who hinted that he may leave his post before the African Nations Cup kicks off in two weeks because of delays in paying salaries. Vogts took the job last March. The Super Eagles won the African Nations Cup in 1980 and 1994. They’re in Group B with Ivory Coast, Mali and Benin for the tournament that begins Jan. 20 in Ghana. (AFP)

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English FA Cup Results

by Soccer America

Four Premier League teams fell to lower division teams in the third round of the English FA Cup on Saturday. Everton was the big loser, falling at home to third-level Oldham, 1-0. Also going down at home were Blackburn (4-1 to Coventry) and Bolton (1-0 to Sheffield United). Birmingham also lost to a third-level team, dropping a 2-1 decision at Huddersfield. For all the English FA Cup results …

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FA Cup: Stingy Liverpool stymied by Mad Hatters

by Paul Kennedy

[ENGLAND WATCH] The English FA Cup lived up to its reputation for high drama as four teams from the lower half of the third level of English soccer played Premier League teams over the weekend, and none of them lost. In the biggest surprise, Liverpool got what was coming to it when bankrupt Luton Town held the Reds to a 1-1 tie. The result followed the Reds’ refusal to donate their share of the game’s gate receipts to Luton, which has not paid its players in full in more than two months.

Posted inCollege Soccer Reporter, Story

LIU job

by Soccer America

Long Island University, Graduate Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach Position: 9 month – part-time position. Responsiblities include assisting the development and coordination of a Division I program. Primary responsibilities include goalkeeper training, development and management of a year round strength training and conditioning program, game day videotaping and editing, recruitment and development of student-athletes Salary: Graduate […]

Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story

Time’s Up, Rafa

by Soccer America

When will Liverpool overcome its title slump? Certainly not this year, says the Guardian’s Scott Murray. Rafael Benitez’s men sit an alarming 12 points behind league leader Arsenal, a gap that’s never been surmounted by a Premiership title winner at the same point in the season.   Despite Manchester United’s dominance of the 1990s and […]

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