By Ridge Mahoney A blown transformer and subsequent power failure at Robertson Stadium in Houston forced a postponement of the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup semifinal first leg between the Dynamo and Pachuca originally scheduled for Wednesday night. Instead, the game will be played at Robertson at 6 pm (ET) on Thursday, setting up a Fox Soccer […]
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4. MLS: Right Side Fred
By Ridge MahoneyDiscussions were held last night to resolve the situation of Brazilian midfielder Fred, who is poised to join D.C. United though his contract with Australian club Melbourne doesn’t expire until June 30. Under FIFA rules, players under contract are free to negotiate with other clubs during the last six months of their contract’s […]
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7. OFF THE POST: Photographer arrested for blackmailing Italian players
The Italian press has reported that photographer Fabrizio Corona has been arrested for taking pictures of celebrities, including four top soccer players, in potentially embarrassing situations and demanding payments by threatening to sell the photos to newspapers. Three soccer stars admitted paying Corona after he took shots of them at nightclubs with female companions.
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1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
"I don’t understand how Thierry Henry was injured in March due to a match he played in Bosnia in August. I am not a physiotherapist, but I can’t understand how he can be injured because of a match six months ago." — Michel Platini, UEFA president and former France captain and coach responds to Arsenal […]
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6. ODP: US Youth Soccer champs meet in Frisco
Sixteen teams will compete in the 2007 US Youth Soccer ODP National Championships March 16-18 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Regional ODP champions in the 1989 and 1991 age groups will play in semifinal matches on Friday and championship matches on Sunday. FINAL FOUR ENTRANTS: 1989 Girls: Eastern Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Texas and […]
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5. UEFA: Hammer falls on Valencia and Inter Milan
UEFA came down hard on Valencia and Inter Milan following their postgame brawl in last week’s Champions League. Valencia defender David Navarro was suspended for seven months — one of the harshest penalties UEFA has ever handed out — five other players were also suspended, and both teams were fined $204,000. After Inter midfielder Nicolas […]
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3. ALGARVE CUP: USA completes dominant performance
The USA will be installed as the heavy favorite to win the 2007 Women’s World Cup thanks to a dominating performance at the 2007 Algarve Cup in Portugal combined with shockingly bad showings by reigning world champion Germany and 2007 Women’s World Cup host China. The USA beat Denmark, 2-0, Wednesday on goals by Kristine […]
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NYRB’s Balance Sheet Under the Microscope
In a column for the North Jersey Herald on Tuesday, Ives Galarcep said energy drink giant Red Bull had proved to be a bad owner of the MLS New York franchise after losing so much money in its first year. Later, on his blog, Galarcep clarified his position. Last year, Red Bull NY spent $14 […]
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Cristiano Ronaldo: World Player of the Year?
Barca’s Ronadinho, Roma’s Francesco Totti and Inter Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic have all made compelling cases this season, but Paul Gardner believes that Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the world’s best player. And many of the English game’s best players agree. Ronaldo’s United teammate, Wayne Rooney, who just 10 months ago was dumped out of […]
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‘Dinho’s Brother Hints at Milan Switch
Along with Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Real Madrid, the departure of Barcelona great Ronaldinho for AC Milan, where he would be reunited with Brazil teammates Ronaldo, Cafu and Kaka (presuming he doesn’t leave for Madrid, either), would top the shortlist of big off-season moves in Europe this summer. Those rumors were lent […]
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Bradley: Togetherness Will Bring U-20s Far
Yanks Abroad spoke with Heerenveen midfielder Michael Bradley about the upcoming 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada this summer. Bradley, 19, is the son of U.S. nen’s national team coach Bob Bradley; he’s expected to be named to the U-20 squad that will be announced on Thursday for an upcoming friendly against a still […]
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NE Rookie Gets His Chance
The New England Revolution has failed to make a big-name signing since Clint Dempsey left for England in January, but that doesn’t seem to bother Revs coach Steve Nicol, who’s turned his focus instead toward blooding some of his first-years. Injuries to forward Pat Noonan and defender Michael Parkhurst have presented rookie Adam Cristman with […]
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MLS Aims To Make Its Own Stars
MLS clubs are taking a variety of approaches in response to the league's Youth Development Initiative, which requires them to have youth programs in place this year. David Beckham signed a contract with Manchester United on May 2, 1988 — the day he turned 13. Cristiano Ronaldo left home at age 11 for Sporting Lisbon. […]
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MLS: New Maestros in Town
Four creative midfielders have changed clubs this season: Freddy Adu (Real Salt Lake), David Beckham (Galaxy), Amado Guevara (Chivas USA), and Claudio Reyna (New York). How they fare will shape not only the fortunes of their teams but also the league's style and caliber of play. Maybe MLS coaches and general managers didn't get the […]
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Claudio Reyna: Home At Last
After nearly 13 years abroad, Claudio Reyna comes full circle back to New Jersey. Claudio Reyna played his youth ball in a New Jersey environment that bridged eras of American soccer and an array of cultures. The center of the activity was a German-American social club in the town of Union called Farcher's Grove, which […]
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Yanks Abroad: At Home in the Cottage
More than a dozen Americans are playing in the Premier League and for the first time, there are three with the same team. Brian McBride, Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey are living the football life in London with Fulham FC. They are at different phases of their careers, they play for one of the less […]
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MLS-BUNDESLIGA DEAL: '08 tour in works?
MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Bundesliga CEO Christian Seifert unveiled on Tuesday an agreement between the two leagues The agreement MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis and Bundesliga executive board member Tom Bender ironed out two weeks ago in New York was dubbed a ''knowledge pact'' — an agreement to share experience, expertise and best practices […]
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TV PREVIEW: USA-Mexico showdown in CONCACAF
The CONCACAF Champions Cup moves into the semifinals this week with both first-leg games being played on U.S. soil. The defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo hosts Pachuca on Wednesday at Robertson Stadium (TV: Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol, live, 8:30 pm ET), while D.C. United takes on Guadalajara Thursday at RFK Stadium […]
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SCOUTING REPORT: Algarve Cup finalist Denmark
The USA faces Denmark Wednesday in the championship game of the Algarve Cup, the biggest women's tournament in the world, at at Municipal Stadium in Vila Real de San Antonio, Portugal (kickoff: 12:30 pm ET). While the USA leads the series with a 12-4-2 record, the Danes have been tough opponents. The USA's 3-1 loss […]
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YOUTH: U-17s go scoreless in Honduras
The U.S. under-17 national team went scoreless in two games against Honduran U-17 national team in games played in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It appeared the U.S. had gotten revenge for their 1-0 loss two days earlier when Mykell Bates headed in a Jared Jeffrey's free kick in the 93rd minute, but the goal was called back […]
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5. MLS-BUNDESLIGA DEAL: ’08 tour in works?
MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Bundesliga CEO Christian Seifert unveiled on Tuesday an agreement between the two leagues The agreement MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis and Bundesliga executive board member Tom Bender ironed out two weeks ago in New York was dubbed a “knowledge pact” — an agreement to share experience, expertise and best practices […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
4. THIERRY HENRY: French star’s season is over
With two months left in the English Premier League season, Arsenal star Thierry Henry is out for the season with an assortment of injuries, and Gunners manager Arsene Wenger blames France for Henry’s woes. Wenger believes Henry was “badly managed” by France after the World Cup — and maintained the Arsenal captain was now “paying […]
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6. YOUTH: U-17s go scoreless in Honduras
The U.S. under-17 national team went scoreless in two games against Honduran U-17 national team in games played in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It appeared the U.S. had gotten revenge for their 1-0 loss two days earlier when Mykell Bates headed in a Jared Jeffrey‘s free kick in the 93rd minute, but the goal was called back […]
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3. SCOUTING REPORT: Algarve Cup finalist Denmark
The USA faces Denmark Wednesday in the championship game of the Algarve Cup, the biggest women’s tournament in the world, at at Municipal Stadium in Vila Real de San Antonio, Portugal (kickoff: 12:30 pm ET). While the USA leads the series with a 12-4-2 record, the Danes have been tough opponents. The USA’s 3-1 loss […]
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2. TV PREVIEW: USA-Mexico showdown in CONCACAF
The CONCACAF Champions Cup moves into the semifinals this week with both first-leg games being played on U.S. soil. The defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo hosts Pachuca on Wednesday at Robertson Stadium (TV: Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol, live, 8:30 pm ET), while D.C. United takes on Guadalajara Thursday at RFK Stadium […]