Soccer America Archives

Advantage Chelsea, or so it seems. In truth, English Premier League leader Manchester United fell away rather limply to West Ham United on Sunday, while Chelsea before it seemed to be headed for a similar fate until two fantastic out-of-the-blue strikes from Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. The Premiership champions produced more of the same […]

Just Another Day in the Life of Marco Materazzi

“Things just seem to happen to Marco Materazzi,” writes James Richardson of the Guardian. As such, he’s become such a cult figure in Italy, that his actions this weekend nearly overshadowed Fabio Cannavaro’s award as FIFA’s World Player of the Year. The man they call “Matrix,” who was responsible for just about everything that happened […]

FIFA Shame at MasterCard Verdict

In the world of soccer, FIFA’s word is law. What it says goes, usually without exception. This is not so in the real world, however, and FIFA was dealt a heavy dose of reality recently, as U.S. district judge Loretta Preska founded in favor of MasterCard over a case in which the credit card company […]

USA: Bradley calls up 29 players for first camp

U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley called up has 29 players to his first training camp since being named the interim coach. The camp will begin Jan. 4 at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center in Carson, Calif., and conclude the day after the USAÆs first match of 2007, a friendly against Denmark on Jan. […]

AWARDS: Cannavaro and Marta take world honors

Italian Fabio Cannavaro and Brazilian Marta were crowned 2006 FIFA World Player and 2006 FIFA Women's World Player, respectively, Monday at the 16th FIFA World Player Gala at the Zurich Opera House. Cannavaro's selection comes three weeks after he was named the European Player of the Year. Cannavaro edged three-time World Player of the Year […]

MLS CONFIDENTIAL: More moves at RSL

Panamanian striker Luis Tejada has officially joined Real Salt Lake as Coach John Ellinger continues to build the team that managed just five wins in its 2005 expansion season and narrowly missed the playoffs last year. Tejada, 24, starred at the 2005 Gold Cup and won MVP honors of the tournament. That same year he […]

U.S. ABROAD: McBride scores in Fulham win

American Brian McBride scored his fifth goal of the season to help Fulham beat struggling Middlesbrough, 2-1, in the English Premier League on Monday night. After Icelandic Heidar Helguson converted a penalty kick in the 12th minute, McBride scored in the 35th with a shot that deflected off Middlesbrough defender Chris Riggott. Middlesbrough pulled within […]

TRANSACTIONS: USL1 sensation headed to Norway

Cam Weaver, who went from being the last player to make the USL1 Seattle Sounders' 2006 roster to sharing the league scoring title with Brazilian great Romario, has been transferred to FK Haugesund of the Norwegian First Division (second level). ''We will certainly miss Cam and his goal-scoring abilities, but this is another great example […]

2. AWARDS: Cannavaro and Marta take world honors

Italian Fabio Cannavaro and Brazilian Marta were crowned 2006 FIFA World Player and 2006 FIFA Women’s World Player, respectively, Monday at the 16th FIFA World Player Gala at the Zurich Opera House. Men’s & Women’s Voting Cannavaro’s selection comes three weeks after he was named the European Player of the Year. Cannavaro edged three-time World […]

5. U.S. SOCCER: Athlete of the Year Candidates

Voting closes Wednesday for the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year Awards. The U.S. Soccer Male and Female Athletes of the Year Awards date back to 1984 for the men and 1985 for the women, while the Young Male and Young Female awards were added in 1998. ONLINE VOTING: U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year […]

4. TRANSACTIONS: USL1 sensation headed to Norway

Cam Weaver, who went from being the last player to make the USL1 Seattle Sounders’ 2006 roster to sharing the league scoring title with Brazilian great Romario, has been transferred to FK Haugesund of the Norwegian First Division (second level). “We will certainly miss Cam and his goal-scoring abilities, but this is another great example […]

3. U.S. ABROAD: McBride scores in Fulham win

1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“I do not preclude the possibility that the Vatican could in the future put together a soccer team of great value that could play on the same level as Roma, Inter Milan, Genoa or Sampdoria. Just think of all the Brazilian or African students who attend seminaries or pontifical universities. We could put together a […]

Soccer on TV., Story

1. GAMES: Live and same-day delay on national TV

(All times ET unless noted. Consult your regular television listings guides for availability in your area. Schedules are subject to change.) FRIDAY, Dec. 22 RAI INTERNATIONAL Italy JUVENTUS-AREZZO, Serie B (live), 2:30 pm. Italy MODENA-NAPOLI, Serie B (delay), 4:30 pm. SETANTA SPORTS USA England CRYSTAL PALACE-SUNDERLAND, League Championship (live), 2:30 pm. SATURDAY, Dec. 23 FOX […]

Soccer America Confidential, Story

More moves at RSL

YOUTH: NSCAA/adidas Girls All-America Team

Lauren Alwine (Elizabethtown, Pa.), Shira Averbuch (Upper Montclair, N.J.), Jessie Baddley (Ogden, Utah), Yewande Balogum (Bowie, Md.), Courtney Barg (Plano, Texas), Andrea Barklage (Lake St. Louis, Mo.), Lauren Barnes (Upland, Calif.), Julia Bouchelle (Cockeysville, Md.), Amber Brooks (New Hope, Pa.), Carly Butcher (Anchorage, Alaska), Amy Caldwell (Braintree, Mass.), Molly Campbell (Mission Hills, Kan.), Hannah Cerrone […]

YOUTH: NSCAA/adidas Boys All-America Team

Andrew Adlard (New Berlin, Wis.), Jose Altimorano (San Diego, Calif.), Steven Amaya (New York, N.Y.), Anthony Ampaipitakwong (Carrollton, Texas), Bryan Arguez (Miami, Fla.), Matt Armstrong (Phoenix, Ariz.), Sam Arthur (Roswell, Ga.), Edgar Barajas (Pacoima, Calif.), Daniel Barrera (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Mykell Bates (Roseville, Calif.), Corben Bone (Plano, Texas), Cameron Brown (Garland, Texas), Brandon Bumpas (Denver, […]

NAIA: NSCAA/adidas Women's All-America Team

First Team Goalkeeper — Danielle Wagner (Saint Xavier). Defenders — Jackie Pronovost (Concordia, Ore.), Rowena Alsanea (Lindsey Wilson), Julie Fletcher (Azusa Pacific), Victoria Charnley (Martin Methodist). Midfielders — Hishamar Falconer (Lindsey Wilson), Justine Pronovost (Concordia, Ore.), Jolie Nitta (Azusa Pacific). Forwards — Theresa Broad (Azusa Pacific), Janaina Novaes (Lee), Mizuki Yoshida (Martin Methodist). Second Team […]

NAIA: NSCAA/adidas Men's All-America Team

First Team Goalkeeper — Nenad Cubic (Auburn Montgomery). Defenders — Kari Arsaelsson (Auburn Montgomery), Hugh Davey (Embry-Riddle), Tony Griffiths (Rio Grande), J.T. Searles (Biola). Midfielders — Conor Dawson (Rio Grande), Allan Nekuda (William Jewell), Daniel Whelan (Embry-Riddle). Forwards — Jeff Clark (Concordia, Calif.), Hjortur Hjartarson (Auburn Montgomery), Ricardo Pierre-Louis (Lee). Second Team Goalkeeper — Eric […]

Morrow Promises Big Things as Dallas Hires Internally

It didn’t take FC Dallas as long as the U.S. Soccer to replace its departed coach, though Colin Clarke’s replacement at FCD assumes the job under similar circumstances. For the undecided, the interim-coach has become the choice du jour in American soccer, and Steve Morrow, a former defender from the days when the club was […]

Wenger Losing His Cool

Throughout the years, he’s been one of the Premiership’s coolest customers, but this year-this week, even-Arsene Wenger’s been slapped with a hefty dose of reprisal. On Monday, the English Football Association charged the Arsenal boss with improper conduct for his behavior on Saturday just four days after he was forced to pay $20,000 for a […]

Howard Hints at United Exit After van der Sar Deal

American goalkeeper Tim Howard has expressed doubt over his Manchester United future after Edwin van der Sar, the first-choice at Old Trafford, signed a new deal that will keep him with the Red Devils until 2008. “Edwin’s contract affects my mind set,” Howard told Everton’s Web site. The 27-year old goalie, on a season-long loan […]

World-Class Strikes Mark Chelsea Win

For Manchester United fans and for neutrals who just want to see Chelsea lose, it was agonizing to watch brave Everton go down in the last 10 minutes to a pair of unstoppable strikes from two of Jose Mourinho’s so-called “untouchables.” Everton watched its hard-fought lead disintegrate twice as the Sky Blues came storming back […]

Barca Yawns as Internacional Crowned ‘World’s Best Club’

Internacional, the small club from the small Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, is the new king of club soccer, winning the Club World Cup final 1-0 against Barcelona of Spain. “Whatever,” says the rest of the world. Even though Barcelona brought most of its first-teamers to its week-long effort in Yokohama, Japan, and even though […]

4. WORLD: Man United’s lead cut to two points