(All times Eastern unless noted. TV programming is always subject to change. Check your local listings and soccerTV.com) MONDAY, Feb. 12 GALAVISION CONCACAF/UNCAF Copa de Naciones NICARAGUA-BELIZE, Group A (live), 6 pm ET/PT. CONCACAF/UNCAF Copa de Naciones EL SALVADOR-GUATEMALA, Group A (live), 8:30 pm. TUESDAY, Feb. 13 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL England MIDDLESBROUGH-BRISTOL CITY, 4th Round […]
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5. ITALY: Play to resume conditionally
The Italian soccer federation gave the green light for teams to resume play this weekend after the government approved tough measures to fight violence. All play has been suspended since last Friday following the killing of a policeman in rioting by fans outside the Catania stadium in Sicily during the Serie A match between the […]
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4. FRIENDLIES: Unimaginative English fall to Spain at home
England struggled again, walking off the Old Trafford field Wednesday night to a chorus of boos from Manchester fans after a 1-0 loss to Spain. Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta scored the winner in the 63rd minute to extend England’s winless streak to four games. England, which was missing several key players, including Wayne Rooney, rarely threatened […]
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U.S. Soccer’s Promotion Problem
Success is the best way of promoting U.S. soccer, says federation president Sunil Gulati, and tonight’s match against Mexico in Arizona is a good place to start. It’s about promotion, he says, and there’s no better promotion than good results. “Most of the promotion is centered around two things: specific games and the buildup to […]
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Inter Could Face Stadium Ban
Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti on Wednesday expressed his concern about whether Champions League matches would be open to fans at the San Siro if the special cabinet that’s convened to assess the safety of Italian stadiums deems the Milan stadium unsafe. “We will see, we will have to face one problem at a time,” […]
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A Liverpool Owner’s Meddlesome Baseball Past
If his sports record is any indication, co-owner Tom Hicks could prove to be a bad omen for Liverpool FC, says Dave Hannigan of The Guardian. Apart from two American League Western Division titles in his first two seasons, Hicks has had little success with MLB’s Texas Rangers, the team he bought from a George […]
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Is EPL Foreign Investment Short-Sighted?
BBC Sport on Wednesday issued a special report on the finances of English soccer clubs relative to their Italian and Spanish counterparts, bringing in the question of foreign ownership. For starters, they say the margins for owning a big soccer club have traditionally been small. So why are foreign investors clamoring to take over English […]
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Mexico Serious as Rivalry Resumes
Mexico is taking Wednesday night’s friendly at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., very seriously, says Grahame L. Jones of the Los Angeles Times, reporting from Mexico’s training camp. Why? Because for the past six or seven years, the U.S. national team has had the Tricolores’ number, and they know it. As veteran […]
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USA-MEXICO: A sold-out showdown in Arizona
(TV: Wednesday, ESPN2 & Univision 9 pm ET, kickoff 9:25 pm ET.) By Ridge Mahoney Senior Editor, Soccer America in Glendale, Ariz. There's turmoil in the Mexican camp. The American players are forecasting a World Cup atmosphere. The sellout crowd of 62,000 will be mostly attired in green. It's USA-Mexico, what else? ''This game will […]
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FRIENDLIES: Portugal hands Dunga first loss with Brazil
Late goals from Simao Sabrosa and central Ricardo Carvalho gave Portugal a 2-0 win over Brazil in a friendly international at London's Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. The goals were set up by well-struck balls by Ricardo Quaresma and Hugo Viana. It was Dunga's first defeat in six internationals as Brazil coach since taking over from […]
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OFF THE POST: German club's goals too small
German newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt discovered that the crossbars of Bundesliga club Hamburg SV's goals in its AOL-Arena, a 2006 World Cup venue, were 2 inches too low. Last-place Hamburg SV, whose squad includes American midfielder Benny Feilhaber, has scored a league-worst seven home-field goals in nine games while conceding nine goals.
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GUUS HIDDINK: Prosecutors call for jail sentence
Prosecutors called for a 10-month jail sentence for Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, considered a candidate for the U.S. national team coaching job, and a 13-month sentence for Hiddink's adviser on tax fraud charges. They accuse Hiddink, currently the Russia national team coach, of evading almost $1.81 million in Dutch taxes for falsely claiming he was […]
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TV PREVIEWS: England-Spain,
England-Spain and France-Argentina friendlies highlight a heavy slate of games on Wednesday's international fixture calendar. England and Spain will be looking for a confidence boost after disappointing fall campaigns in Euro 2008 qualifying when they meet in Manchester (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 3 pm ET). England coach Steve McClaren will try again with a […]
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6. OFF THE POST: German club’s goals too small
German newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt discovered that the crossbars of Bundesliga club Hamburg SV’s goals in its AOL-Arena, a 2006 World Cup venue, were 2 inches too low. Last-place Hamburg SV, whose squad includes American midfielder Benny Feilhaber, has scored a league-worst seven home-field goals in nine games while conceding nine goals.
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1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Our players are certainly aware of the record. [Mexico coach] Hugo Sanchez has used those statistics as motivation for his team, so I think that just puts more on the line as we go into this game.” — U.S. interim head coach Bob Bradley, whose team on Wednesday faces archrival Mexico, which has failed to […]
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2. USA-MEXICO: A sold-out showdown in Arizona
(TV: Wednesday, ESPN2 & Univision 9 pm ET, kickoff 9:25 pm ET.) By Ridge Mahoney Senior Editor, Soccer America in Glendale, Ariz. There’s turmoil in the Mexican camp. The American players are forecasting a World Cup atmosphere. The sellout crowd of 62,000 will be mostly attired in green. It’s USA-Mexico, what else? “This game will […]
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My View:Youth Soccer Turf War
Do players benefit when an increasing number of organizations compete for a piece of the American youth soccer pie? ''National youth championships in the USA are the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard in my life,'' says Horst Bertl, the Dallas Comets longtime director of coaching. ''Whoever thinks these up should be stoned.'' That would […]
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7. GUUS HIDDINK: Prosecutors call for jail sentence
Prosecutors called for a 10-month jail sentence for Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, considered a candidate for the U.S. national team coaching job, and a 13-month sentence for Hiddink’s adviser on tax fraud charges. They accuse Hiddink, currently the Russia national team coach, of evading almost $1.81 million in Dutch taxes for falsely claiming he was […]
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4. FRIENDLIES: Portugal hands Dunga first loss with Brazil
Late goals from Simao Sabrosa and central Ricardo Carvalho gave Portugal a 2-0 win over Brazil in a friendly international at London’s Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. The goals were set up by well-struck balls by Ricardo Quaresma and Hugo Viana. It was Dunga‘s first defeat in six internationals as Brazil coach since taking over from […]
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3. TV PREVIEWS: England-Spain, France-Argentina clashes
England-Spain and France-Argentina friendlies highlight a heavy slate of games on Wednesday’s international fixture calendar. England and Spain will be looking for a confidence boost after disappointing fall campaigns in Euro 2008 qualifying when they meet in Manchester (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 3 pm ET). England coach Steve McClaren will try again with a […]
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1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“You wouldn’t argue with him. I think I’ll leave it to my assistant, Nigel Pearson, to tell him if he’s done something wrong.” — Newcastle head coach Glenn Roeder on Oguchi Onyewu, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound American defender who joined the English Premier League club from Belgium’s Standard Liege. (BBC)
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5. MLS: Beckham could visit every league city in 2007
Major League Soccer has announced its 2007 schedule that allows for David Beckham to play with the Los Angeles Galaxy in every MLS city after his expected arrival in mid-July, more than half way through the 2007 season. 2007 MLS Schedule (with television dates) Beckham’s contract with Real Madrid ends June 30, and he could […]
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Life In The Pros
By Mike Woitalla Executive Editor, Soccer America Top picks in the MLS SuperDraft hail from diverse backgrounds. John Cunliffe (Chivas USA) FROM MAN U FAN TO BECKHAM FOE John Cunliffe's hopes of becoming a pro began when he played for the youth teams of Blackburn and Manchester United, but most crucial to what would turn […]
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MLS Coaching 101
First-year head coaches will lead four MLS teams in 2007. Tom Soehn Steeped deeply in soccer cultures Soccer was a family affair for Tom Soehn growing up in Chicago. ''My parents came over from Germany on separate boats in the 50s and met at the Chicago Kickers club,'' says Soehn, named D.C. head coach in […]
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Beckham:Making of an Icon
The die is cast. MLS opened the bottle of competitive bidding amongst clubs for players, and the genie has already granted its first wish to Anschutz Entertainment Group and the Los Angeles Galaxy. David Beckham is bound for the USA, a country disdainful of his game but absolutely enthralled with his looks, his clothes, his […]