Hall of Famer Umberto Abronzino, a Northern California soccer pioneer, passed away July 1 at the age of 85. Abronzino came to the United States from Italy in 1937 at the age of 17 and moved to the Bay Area from Connecticut in 1952. He organized the Peninsula Soccer League and served as an officer in […]
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4. OFF THE POST: Playing hard ball
Berlin pranksters injured at least two soccer fans by inviting them to kick soccer balls that they had secretly filled with concrete. At least six concrete-filled soccer balls were found chained to lampposts, trees and handrails across the city next to the spray-painted message “Can you kick it?” Two young men suffered badly bruised feet. Police […]
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3. MLS: D.C. United rolls on
D.C. United beat FC Dallas, 1-0, in a battle of MLS conference leaders on Tuesday night to extend its winning streak to five games and improve its record to 10-1-5. Argentine Cristian Gomez scored the game’s only goal in the 34th minute. The game drew a crowd of 16,240 fans at Pizza Hut Park. — […]
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2. MLS: T&T World Cup star Hislop signes with FC Dallas
FC Dallas signed 37-year-old Trinidad & Tobago goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, who starred for the Soca Warriors at the World Cup. Hislop, who played at Howard University, had one of the best inidividual games of the 2006 World Cup, making numerous saves as the Soca Warriors tied Sweden, 0-0, in their World Cup debut. Hislop was […]
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1. WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“There are a huge number of people watching the World Cup that don’t watch soccer at any other time. We’ve got to play to that audience.” — Jed Drake, executive producer of remote production for ESPN and ABC Sports, defending the networks’ approach to their World Cup coverage in trying to expand soccer’s audience beyond […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Big Phil and ‘the Art of Deco’
Brazil may be out, but these Brazilians are still in it: Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and the sublime Barcalona midfielder Deco advanced to the semifinals, two very different, very important Brazilians to this Portuguese side. He’s “Big Phil” or “General Felipao” to those who know him, the no-nonsense coach of Portugal, and the same man […]
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Real Unveil Capello as Coach, New Players to Follow
Real Madrid, one of the world’s richest clubs, is set to unveil Fabio Capello as the team’s new coach, the Guardian reports. This will be Capello’s second stint as Real coach; he also coached the La Liga side during the 1996-1997 season, where he brought them the league title. Ramon Calderon, Real’s newly elected President, […]
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Strange Doings Prior to France-Portugal Semi
BBC Sport reviews the bizarre press room scenes involving World Cup semifinals France and Portugal. “Big Phil” Luiz Felipe Scolari was the first of the two victims to enter the courtroom. Brazilian journalists, leftover from their country’s exit at the hands of France, clapped politely as Phil, who guided them to their 2002 success, walked […]
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What Now of Klinsmann?
There can be no question that the decision about whether German coach Juergen Klinsmann remains with the national team now belongs solely to Klinsmann himself, writes Chris Bryant of the German paper Der Spiegel. There can be no doubt that Klinsmann extended his team to the limit, a team that almost no one gave a […]
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Ecstasy on the One Hand, Agony on the Other in Italy
The Italian press is in raptures following the extraordinary extra-time display that saw the Azzurri beat host Germany 2-0 in its traditional fortress, the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund. “We love you,” ran the headline form the Corriere dello Sport. The sports paper predicted the performance would become legend. “We knocked them out in their own backyard, […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
Section 1: ‘The night of tears’
Germany’s dream of winning a fourth World Cup title ended Tuesday night when it fell to Italy, 2-0, in overtime in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup. All across Germany, fans were glued to the game, hoping that the improbable run of Juergen Klinsmann‘s team would continue, and a lot of tears were shed […]
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U.S. YOUTH SOCCER: FC Delco and PDA each claim three Region I titles
FC Delco and PDA won three boys and girls championships, respectively, at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region I Championships in Virginia Beach, Va. The U-18 FC Delco Crunch earned its first trip to the National Championships after seven regional appearances. Sisters Sara Murphy (Wildcats), Erin Murphy (Pride) and Melissa Murphy (Charge) all won titles with PDA. […]
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U.S. CLUB SOCCR: Region B, D & G Champions
Super Group Boys Region G Champions U13 — Santa Clara Sporting FC (CA) U14 — Santa Rosa United (CA) U15 — USA17/Ruckus (CA) U16 — San Francisco United Lobitos (CA) U17 — Crossfire Premier James (WA) Premier Boys Region G Champions U12 — LaRoca Ovalle (UT) U13 — Atlas Academy (CA) U14 — San Juan […]
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The World Cup and the Economy
What are the economic implications of the World Cup? Is it overrated? The British Center for Economics and Business Research estimates that the World Cup will provide a consumption boost worth $25 billionmost of it netted by Europe. Goldman Sachs published a guide of World Cup nations and history, tipping the now-defeated Brazilians to take […]
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Soccer Good for National Psyche
According to the New York Times, almost everything in Germany comes back to soccer these days. A few days ago, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced tax increases coinciding with changes in the health care system. More than one commentator noticed how Ms. Merkel tried to slip that in there while everyone was cheering on the […]
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Ribery: It’s a Dream to Play with Zidane
The canonization of France legend Zinedine Zidane continues. Midfielder Franck Ribery says he looks forward to the day when he can tell his grandchildren how he played on the same field with the great Zidane. “He is great, extraordinary,” Ribery said, “and it will be great when later on in my career, or even when […]
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Italian Prosecutor Calls for Relegation of Implicated Clubs
Stefano Palazzi, chief prosecutor of the Italian soccer federation, has called for all four clubs involved at the center of the match fixing scandal to be thrown out of Serie A. These would be champion Juventus, Lazio, AC Milan and Fiorentina. Palazzi also asked that Juve’s 2005 and 2006 titles be revoked. Coach Fabio Capello’s […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
WOITALLA: The Dortmund boost fails Germany
By Mike Woitalla in Dortmund If Bruce Springsteen were German, he’d write songs about Dortmund. The Ruhr city was once a leading producer of steel, coal and beer, but its last coal mine closed two decades ago, the last blast furnace folded in 2001, and the eight breweries that once produced a tenth of Germany’s […]
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U.S. YOUTH SOCCER: Region I Champions
Boys Under-12 Spirit United Celtic (E-PA) Under-13 BW Gottschee (E-NY) Under-14* Bethesda Roadrunners (MD) Under-15* FC Delco Hammerheads (E-PA) Under-16* Casa Mia Bays (MD) Under-17* Bethesda United (MD) Under-18* FC Delco Crunch (E-PA) Under-19* FC Delco Black IV (E-PA) Girls Under-12 PDA Charge (NJ) Under-13 South Coast Scorpions (MA) Under-14* Hershey Attack (E-PA) Under-15* PDA […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
Section 1: Ribery enjoys spotlight
By Paul Kennedy Managing Editor Soccer America Franck Ribery came out of nowhere to be one of the stars of the World Cup. He’s only played two seasons of top level soccer and never played for France before being called up for the World Cup, but he’s emerged as one of the key players in […]
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WORLD CUP: The Fan Fest Phenomenon
By Mike Woitalla in Hamburg Fans who take the S-Bahn to the Hamburg Fan Fest get out the Reeperbahn station and walk east down the red-light avenue. The McDonald's is flanked by Erotik Heaven and Blue Banana's Table Dance Club. Across the street is the St. Pauli Theater, soon to stage ''The Threepenny Opera'' by […]
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Japanese Star Nakata Quits Soccer
Hidetoshi Nakata, Japan’s most famous player, has decided to quit the game altogether he announced on Monday. Nakata is Japan’s most adored player, having played in three World Cups and having won a Scudetto with Roma in 2001. The midfielder became the first Japanese to play professionally in Italy, when he signed for Perugia in […]
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Judgment Day Approaches for Four World Cup Coaches
Reuters profiles the four coaches whose teams remain to battle it out for the ultimate prize in soccer: Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann, Italy’s Marcelo Lippi, France’s Raymond Domenech and Portugal’s Luiz Felipe Scolari. Italy’s Lippi, the cigarette-smoking former Juventus boss who Alex Ferguson once dubbed “Paul Newman” for his serious, stoic looks tomorrow takes on a […]
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Germans: Italy a Tougher Test Than Argentina
Italy head into tomorrow’s semifinal clash with Germany with the best defense in the tournament and growing confidence after an impressive offensive display against the Ukraine on Friday. The Azzurri haven’t lost in 23 matches, and have only conceded a single goal at this World Cup, an own goal by Cristian Zaccardo in the 1-1 […]
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Ronaldinho is Bode Miller; Zidane, ‘A Master Without Equal’
It comes as no surprise that the Brazilian media, that 800-pound monster that accompanies the team wherever it goes, should turn on them so abruptly following Brazil’s failed campaign in Germany . The New York Times notes the media couldn’t understand or forgive how Ronaldinho of all people, the man touted as THE star of […]