Mexico, eight of whose 17 games in 2007 have taken place on U.S. soil, faces Colombia in a friendly in Commerce City, Colo., on Wednesday (TV: live, 10 pm ET, Telemundo). Of its three remaining games this year after the Colombia clash, Mexico will play two in the USA. That means El Tri will have played 11 of its 2007 games in the USA and four in Mexico.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Beckham ‘ready’ for Germany
Despite his injured ankle, the Los Angeles Galaxy’s David Beckham aims to play in England’s friendly against Germany on Wednesday (TV live: 3 pm ET Setanta pay-per-view; delay: 5 pm ET Fox Soccer Channel & Fox Sports en Espanol). "He trained this morning and looked very, very good," said England coach Steve McClaren on Tuesday. If Beckham plays, he’ll earn his 97th cap.
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Sweden a good fit for first European date under Bradley
Fourteen games into the tenure of Coach Bob Bradley the U.S. takes its first trip to Europe, and much like the Copa America proved to be a valuable if somewhat humbling venture, the importance of this match extends beyond the result. There are no finished products on the 19-man roster named by Bradley named to face Sweden (Fox Soccer Channel & Galavision 2:30 p.m. ET) at Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg. Getting Americans abroad, whether that be to play for a foreign club or on a national-team road trip, is a vital component of restocking the player pool.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Mentally, Germany is stronger, because we have experience of success in the last 20 years. We are always successful, not always winning, but somewhere near or winning, and that is what England is lacking. The pressure in England is so big. The media always lifts up players as world-class who are probably not so far yet. They have to live up to it and sometimes the pressure seems to be too big.”
— Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann ahead of Wednesday’s Germany-England friendly. The Arsenal goalkeeper’s comments were much ado in the English press because he made two major blunders for Arsenal in the first week of English Premier League play.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
South Africa on Schedule for 2010
From time to time the media checks in on the progress in South Africa, host of the 2010 World Cup. According to a Reuters report, everything seems to be on track for a successful first World Cup in Africa-except for the quality on the field. Danny Jordaan, chief of the South Africa 2010 organizing committee, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
England Ref Chief Supports Goal-Line Technology
Keith Hackett, chief of England’s Professional Game Match Officials association, says that the latest round of English Premier League games illustrates the need for goal-line technology. At Craven Cottage this weekend, Fulham was denied a late equalizer against Middlesbrough that replays clearly proved went over the line. Assistant referee Ian Gosling was suspended from officiating […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham: How not to like the guy?
“No, Beckham did not leave a trail of glory wherever he trod, but he triumphed nonetheless,” writes Paul Gardner in the New York Sun. Beckham did his job last Saturday. He brought 66,237 people to Giants Stadium and made three assists, but the Galaxy lost. And it’s clear that Beckham may not be enough to […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Red Bulls’ Big Opportunity
For the New York Red Bulls, David Beckham’s first trip to Giants Stadium could only be construed as a huge success: nine goals, 90 minutes for Beckman (60 of which were quite good), and a win for the home team in front of a 65,000-plus crowd that was decidedly rooting for them. Ives Galarcep of […]
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MLS enjoys attendance boost
Last weekend’s six MLS games averaged nearly 26,000 fans, upping the leaguewide attendance average to 15,836. The highest regular-season attendance since the inaugural season’s 17,406 was 15,822 in 2002. Last weekend’s biggest crowd was the 66,237 at the Beckham game at New York Red Bull, but games at Toronto, Columbus, Salt Lake and Houston had announced attendance of more than 18,000. … Luciano Emilio‘s goal against Columbus upped his league-leading total to 14. … New York’s five goals against L.A. upped its goal-per-game production to a league-leading 1.70.
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Colombia comes back for 3-3 tie with Germany
[U-17 WORLD CUP RESULTS] It was a high-scoring Monday at the U-17 World Cup in South Korea as Group E and F opened play on Day 3 of the tournament. In Group E, the USA fell, 4-3, to Tajikistan while the Tunisia trounced Belgium, 4-2. In Group F, Germany and Colombia played to a 3-3 tie while Ghana thumped Trinidad & Tobago, 4-1.
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Mexico calls up 20-year-old U.S.-born Castillo
Edgar Castillo, who was born and raised in Las Cruces, N.M., has been named to Mexico’s roster by Coach Hugo Sanchez for its friendly against Colombia in Commerce City, Colo., on Wednesday. Castillo, who has dual citizenship, has not been called into U.S. national team or Olympic (U-23) camps despite starting at left back for Santos Laguna of the Mexican First Division since January.
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USA stunned at U-17 World Cup
[VIDEO] The USA got off to a bad start at the U-17 World Cup when it fell, 4-3, to Tajikistan, the former Soviet republic making its world championship debut. The loss came despite U.S. leads of 1-0 and 3-2. “For us, we feel like we let the game slip away,” said U.S. coach John Hackworth
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“When they insult you, you put up with it, but when they spit at a linesman, they’ve gone over the limits and that cannot be tolerated.”
— Referee Olivier Viera, who abandoned the Uruguayan league game between Progreso and Miramar Misiones in the 83rd minute after Progreso’s visiting fans spat on the linesman. In the first half, Viera stopped the game for five minutes after Progreso fans spat at a Miramar player. (Reuters)
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New York’s goal rush
[VIDEO] The New York Red Bulls’ 5-4 win over Los Angeles on Saturday marked the 10th MLS game in league history in which nine or more goals were scored. The Red Bulls (nee MetroStars) were involved in five of those games – four victories and one tie. For highlights of New York’s 5-4 win over Beckham and the Galaxy, click HERE.
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Wings of an Angel
Here’s Kansas City coach Curt Onalfo‘s take on New York’s Juan Pablo Angel: “He’s been an unbelievably great addition to the league.” Angel earned the Red Bulls three points in their incredible 5-4 win over the Galaxy Saturday with hustle, desire and skill.
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Stoking the Fire
Chicago coach Juan Carlos Osorio has brought a new player who should shore up one of the team’s weak spots. Colombian international defender Wilman Conde, 24, comes to MLS from Colombia’s Millonarios, which Osorio coached for 18 months prior to joining the Fire in late June. Conde takes a senior international slot on the team’s roster and in exchange, a youth international slot has opened up with the release of Brazilian Willian Oliveira.
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Central issues for West-leading Dynamo
Houston keeper Pat Onstad earned his eighth shutout and the Dynamo regained first place in the Western Conference by beating in-state rival FC Dallas, 1-0, Sunday, yet a few times the Dynamo escaped despite soft defending in the middle.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Real, Inter Lose their Super Cups
The champions of Spain and Italy fared poorly in the respective curtain-raisers to the La Liga and Serie A seasons, as both Real Madrid and Inter Milan fell to domestic cup winners Sevilla and AS Roma. At the Santiago Bernabeu, last season’s Spanish cup winner Sevilla routed league champ Real Madrid 5-3 in Madrid to […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Anfield Referee Banned for Poor Performance
The majority of soccer neutrals will tell you that the worst part of Sunday’s Liverpool-Chelsea clash at Anfield was the performance of referee Rob Styles. Not only did Styles award Chelsea a penalty that clearly wasn’t, he also gave Michael Essien two yellow cards before insisting that the second was directed at captain John Terry, […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Soccer Club of the People Eyes Takeover Targets
A Web site called MyFootballClub.com, which aims to put its members in charge of club ownership and administration, may be close to buying its first club, having raised more than $1 million, according to the Independent. The concept, created by soccer journalist Will Brooks, is to create a democratic system of ownership that essentially makes […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Adu’s Team in Turmoil
After just two professional games this season, Freddy Adu’s Benfica coach Fernando Santos has been sacked. Apparently, a dressing room bust-up with club President Luis Felipe Vieira coupled with a disappointing 1-1 draw with promoted side Leixoes led to the prompt dismissal of both Santos and his assistant Jorge Rosário. Former Spain and Real Madrid […]
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USL-2 final set; four clinch USL-1 playoff spots
Portland, Seattle, Rochester and Montreal clinched USL First Division playoff spots. Harrisburg and Richmond will meet in the USL Second Division final.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Brazil romps in U-17 World Cup opener; Argentina stifled
Brazil routed New Zealand, 7-0; Peru beat host South Korea, 1-0; and Spain downed Honduras in opening games of the 2007 U-17 World Cup. Costa Rica and Togo tied, 1-1, while Argentina and Syria played to a scoreless tie. Nigeria beat France , 2-1; and Japan celebrated a 3-1 win over Haiti.
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Beckham, Blanco and Angel deliver
[MLS WEEKEND REPORT] David Beckham, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Juan Pablo Angel deliver on a great day for the Designated Players: The Red Bulls outlast the Galaxy in a nine-goalapalooza; Houston beats Dallas to regain top spot in the West; New England widens its Eastern lead by beating Kansas City again; Chicago wins in Utah to tighten up the playoff race; D.C. dumps the Crew; and Chivas USA extends Toronto’s drought.
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Gregg Berhalter strikes twice for 1860 Munich
[AMERICANS IN GERMANY] Defender Gregg Berhalter scored with a 55th minute header and an 87th minute penalty kick to lead 1860 Munich to a 3-1 win over Kaiserslautern. His American teammate, Josh Wolff, assisted on Berkant Goektan’s goal. Two Americans saw action in the German First Division.