In the latest edition of the MLS Power Rankings, beside the name of last place Real Salt Lake, the ESPN Soccernet staff writes: “Weren’t they supposed to bring in some fresh talent?” Yes, they were, but, no, they have not: Jason Kreis and company were testing out a trio of Argentines but have not as […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Becks to Play for L.A. Tonight, England Next Week
David Beckham looks set to be named in Steve McClaren’s England squad against Germany on Aug. 22, despite having made just two short appearances for the L.A. Galaxy since his move from MLS. “He (Beckham) will be in the squad,” McClaren said. “I want him to come over and play a part against Germany but […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
D.C. United’s Barra Brava
The Washington Post serves up a profile of D.C. United’s “Barra Brava,” or brave fans section, where the music, singing, dancing and beer flinging go on all game long. Indeed, United’s faithful offer up one of the only experiences in MLS that could be compared with what goes on at South American and European soccer […]
Posted inSoccer Business Insider, Story
The Corporate Sponsorship-Youth Soccer Disconnect
We have heard for years that marketers are salivating to tap into the youth soccer market. Various soccer entities from US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, AYSO, MSL, state youth associations, clubs, and individual teams claim they can deliver the goods.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
OFF THE POST: Spiderman is red carded
Pablo Salinas of Bolivia club The Strongest was red carded when he donned a Spiderman mask to celebrate a goal in his club’s 2-0 win over La Paz archrival Bolivar on Sunday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“The other day I came in and I’d caught quite a bit of sun. They said, ‘Did you go to the beach?’ I said, ‘No, I’ve been in the garden.’ They all went quiet and they said, ‘With the roses and the bushes?’ I was like, ‘No, by the swimming pool. OK, the backyard.'”
— David Beckham, who says his Galaxy teammates are teasing him for his use of English expressions. (AP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Galaxy takes homefield advantage (and perhaps Beckham) into D.C. game
[SUPERLIGA PREVIEW] Not much has gone right so far for the Galaxy in what is supposed to be an historic season, yet against rival D.C. United in this SuperLiga semifinal on Wednesday, it has homefield advantage, and it may have David Beckham. Beckham trained with the team Tuesday and after the training session said of his left ankle, “It’s not perfect yet, but I think I can at least play half a game tomorrow.”
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Fluffed penalties thwart heroic Houston effort in SuperLiga
Another enthralling contest with Pachuca meant another bitter defeat for the Houston Dynamo. Pachuca prevailed on penalty kicks, 4-3, in a SuperLiga semifinal Tuesday after the teams toughed out a 2-2 tie in 120 minutes of regulation and overtime, most of which Houston played a man down following the ejection of defender Patrick Ianni in the 12th minute.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Defending champion Germany announces squad for Women’s World Cup
[WOMEN’S WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] Germany’s squad for the 2007 Women’s World Cup includes 12 holdovers from the team that won the 20023 competition in the United States.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Red Bull Girls National League Results
Results and goalscorers from the first three days of the 2007-08 Red Bull Girls National League, held at Mustang Soccer Complex and Diablo Vista Middle School in Danville, Calif.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Bradley names roster for USA-Sweden game
U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley has named the 19 players — 16 European-based players and three MLS players — who will travel to face Sweden next Wednesday in Gothenburg (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 2:30 pm ET; Galavision — East Coast: live, 2:30 ET; West Coast, delay, 2:30 pm PT). For USA and Sweden rosters …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Champions League Results
Spaniard Nacho Novo, who came on for American DaMarcus Beasley, scored in the 90th minute to give Rangers a 1-0 win over Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third-round qualifying series.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Freddy Adu debuts in Benfica victory
[VIDEO] American teenager Freddy Adu didn’t need to wait long to make his European debut, but it was another offseason acquisition, veteran Portuguese midfielder Rui Costa, who rescued Benfica with both goals in its 2-1 victory over FC Copenhagen Tuesday in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third-round qualifying series.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Galaxy Looking Like Cosmos
The Los Angeles Galaxy is beginning to look a lot the New York Cosmos of the NASL, says J Hutcherson of USSoccerPlayers. First Becks, then the media, then the red carpet at Home Depot and the celebrities, and now, the team is getting to charter its own flights. Soon, Galaxy members and staff will have […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
ESPN Criticized for Too Much Becks
ESPN’s Beckham coverage is out of control, say soccer critics across the blogosphere. The Washington Post Soccer Insider’s Steven Goff coined the term “BSPN” to refer to the network’s coverage of Becks. The New York Times soccer blog also went off on ESPN’s irksome “Beckham Obsession”: “Close-up of [Beckham’s] facial expressions. Shot of him […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
The Beckham No Show
There’s this old media adage that any press is good press. As long as people are talking about you, right? Well, the merits of that claim are now being tested to the limits after the limited number of appearances made by David Beckham in his first month in MLS. The Beckham backlash is evident in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Injury Woes Pile Up for England
Wayne Rooney’s fractured foot, David Beckham’s questionable left ankle, Michael Owen’s perennial injury problems, and some seven other England internationals are awaiting the green light to return to full fitness for Coach Steve McClaren. And the timing couldn’t be worse, as his Lions are three weeks away from two must-win Euro 2008 qualifiers. England […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Riquelme: I’m Staying at Villarreal
It looks like the Juan Roman Riquelme saga is now over. According to Sporting Life, the Argentine wizard won’t be returning to Boca Juniors, he won’t be going to Atletico Madrid, and no, he won’t be going to MLS, either. Instead he’s going back to Villarreal, where a tenuous relationship with Coach Manuel Pellegrini caused […]
Posted inGrassroots Soccer Biz, Story
Soccer Advocacy 101
The good news is that every non-for-profit soccer organization can (and in many cases should) lobby, within limits!
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS’s Red Bulls name Montgomery to head youth program
MLS club Red Bull New York named long-time Adelphi coach Bob Montgomery as its Director of Youth Development to oversee its player development system.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. under-15 girls national team roster
The U.S. under-15 girls national team will play its first-ever full international matches, facing the Japanese U-16 girls national team twice at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. For the complete U.S. roster …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“Adu has only had seven days of training, but he has enormous potential and he is available. But we have to be careful with him under these conditions.”
— Benfica coach Fernando Santos on 18-year-old American Freddy Adu, who could make his debut for the legendary Portuguese club on Tuesday against FC Copenhagen. (AP)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Bradley players held in death of teammate Danny Dahlquist
Four young men, including three members of the Bradley men’s soccer soccer team and roommates of Dahlquist, were charged with setting a fire that led to the death of their Bradley teammate, Danny Dahlquist. The 19-year-old Dahlquist, a sophomore, died Sunday of smoke inhalation after the four men allegedly set a fire in his bedroom in their West Peoria, Ill., house by lighting a roman candle under his bedroom door that started a fire.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Freddy Adu’s European adventure begins
Freddy Adu will suit up for Portuguese club Benfica’s first official match since it recently signed him from MLS. The 18-year-old Adu will be available to come off the bench in Benfica’s UEFA Champions League qualifying match against Denmark’s FC Copenhagen on Tuesday at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon (TV: Setanta-PPV, live, 3:15 pm ET).
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA-Brazil, battle of the Americas champions
So it won’t be Mexico-USA at Azteca on Sept. 9.
An even better treat is in store for U.S. fans: USA-Brazil at Chicago’s Soldier Field. The game, to be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Univision, will pit the 2007 CONCACAF champion against the 2007 South American champion. Both teams are repeat champions.