Graham Poll, England’s only referee at the World Cup, will not be moving on to the next round, unlike his compatriots. The man widely regarded as one of Britain’s best referees had a terrible time yesterday overseeing the crucial Group F decider between Croatia and Australia. Poll bizarrely booked one player three times before sending […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Reyna’s Sad Send-Off
What a way to go out: caught in possession in the last third of the field, tackle leads to painful injury, giveaway leads to goal, goal leads to World Cup exit. It was not a good day for captain Claudio Reyna against Ghana yesterday, a day that would be his last on the international stage. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Why Did We Fail?
Poor officiating aside, the reasons for team USA’s first round exit from the World Cup are obvious enough, says the New York Times. Poor tactics (a 4-5-1 when the team hadn’t scored a goal yet), poor preparation (secrecy with respect to the line-up leading to a rift between coach and players), and a lack of […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
Section 1: Klinsmann sets high goals
By Paul Kennedy Managing Editor Soccer America Germany was one of only four teams to win all three group games at the 2006 World Cup — its first clean sweep in the first stage since 1970 — but that will be all forgottten if it doesn’t make a long run in the tournament. Germany faces a […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
WORLD CUP: Bruce's Future in Doubt
By Mike Woitalla in Nuremberg When the final whistle blew, many of the U.S. players saluted the American fans who had created a home-field atmosphere for them in Nuremberg's Franken Stadium. But Coach Bruce Arena swatted his hand through the air in three dismissive waves at referee Markus Merk and charged into the locker room. […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
U.S. YOUTH SOCCER: Region IV Final Group Standings
U19 boys Teams w l t gf ga pts GROUP A R LV Premier 87 (NV) 3 0 0 6 1 9 R Portland State (OR) 1 1 1 3 3 4 R Striker IV (NM) 1 1 1 4 4 4 R WC1 Rush Cheetas (NM) 0 3 0 2 7 0 w l […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
WORLD CUP: USA-Ghana Report Card
Missteps and Misfires USA-GHANA REPORT CARD By Ridge Mahoney in Nuremberg The bounces, the calls, and the fates smote the Americans once again in their Group E finale against Ghana, and battle though they did, recovery and redemption eluded them. An egregious error by sure-footed captain Claudio Reyna, an Oguchi Onyewu ôfoulö better described as […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
SOCCER ON TV (games through 6/26): Your World Cup Viewing Guide
For listings of all the week’s World Cup action, as well as weekend MLS pay-per-view games: https://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562137287
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS: Wednesday’s Roundup
Runaway Eastern Conference leader D.C. United extended its unbeaten streak to eight games with a 1-0 win over Chicago on Clyde Simms‘ long-range strike in the 17th minute. United extended its lead in the Eastern Conference over second-place Kansas City to nine points. — New England was four minutes away from its first win six […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
OFF THE POST: Lifers go on World Cup hunger strike
Bulgaria didn’t qualify for the 2006 World Cup, but interest is still high in the former Eastern bloc country. Two prisoners seving life sentences at the Pazardzhik prison went on a hunger strike to try to get televisions placed in their cells. They sealed their mouths to show the seriousness of thei effort. Said Prison […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
ONLINE: Beware of ‘Naked World Cup’ e-mails
Some hackers try to trick computer users with nude photos. Others have preyed on their interest in the World Cup. One hacker has combined the two to attack computers around the world. The Sixem-A worm has infected the computers of soccer fans by tricking them into clicking on attachments that disable their security software and […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“It’s more interesting to watch soccer than those dummies talking nonsense and fighting each other.” — Mexico City human resources officer Claudia Alvarez on the popularity of the World Cup in Mexico, where the closest presidential campaign in decades concludes July 2 with election day. Former Mexico City mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador holds a six-point […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
More Than a Nil-Nil Draw
And so it had to be that the most anticipated match of the first round, the only game the experts might have ventured to call a preamble to the final, ended in a drab 0-0 draw. For those looking for flair and goals and lots of running and excitement, Argentina versus the Netherlands was a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Bankrupt Brazilian Airline Could Leave World Cup Fans Stranded
Brazilians who’ve made the pilgrimage to Germany to see the national side defend its title may have found themselves stranded, after Varig, the largest Brazilian airline carrier, was forced to suspend service to several German cities, the Associated Press reports. In a statement Wednesday Varig officials said it would cancel 180 of 365 flights in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Owen Feels ‘Guilty,’ Roeder Likens Loss to Rooney
The media’s coverage of the hapless Michael Owen continues, as the striker says he feels he’s let his club down, after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament against Sweden on Wednesday. Owen told reporters that he feels guilty for Newcastle more than self-pity for an injury that will likely see him out of action until 2007. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Lippi Hails Team Effort
Italy Coach Marcello Lippi praised the “terrific spirit” demonstrated by the Italians in their victories over Ghana and the Czech Republic. “This team has … probably the most fighting spirit I have had in any team,” Lippi said, adding that finishing top of Group E was important for several reasonsone of which is the likelihood […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. Crash Out; Arena Blames Ref
After his team’s 2-1 loss in its last game at the World Cup, U.S. coach Bruce Arena blamed the Americans’ exit at the hands of a very beatable Ghanaian defense on the crucial penalty call awarded by Markus Merk, widely considered to be one of the world’s best referees. Center back Oguchi Onyewu was called […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
MLS: Summaries (June 21)
June 21 in Washington, D.C. D.C. United 1 Chicago 0. Goal: Simms (Gomez) 17. D.C. United — Perkins, Namoff, Boswell, Erpen, Gros, Mediate (McTavish, 44), B.Carroll, Gomez (Wilson, 72), Simms, Adu, Moreno (Walker, 77), Chicago — Thornton, Pause, Brown, Robinson (Franks 88), Segares, Mapp, Armas (Carr 77), Thiago, Guerrero, Herron, Jaqua. Yellow cards: Chicago — Herron 44, Pause 58. Referee: Alex Prus. Att.: 12,385 June 21 […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
WORLD CUP: USA must contain Essien
USA-GHANA PREVEW By Ridge Mahoney in Nuremberg So severe are the physical labor and tactical savvy demanded of midfielders in the modern game that most of them play complementary, not dominant, roles. Players imbued with attacking skills leavened by defensive instincts abound and holding midfielders are common. Playmakers, such as Argentine Juan Roman Riquelme are […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
WORLD CUP: Hosts are gathering steam
By Ridge Mahoney in Berlin The players believe. The coach believes. And maybe now, most of the nation believes. Germany swayed many Germans who doubt their team can win the World Cup by easing past Ecuador, 3-0, to finish atop Group A on Monday. As they streamed out of the Olympiastadion, site of the final […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
WORLD CUP: The Ambassador
By Mike Woitalla in Hamburg Steve Cherundolo may not be a household name in his own country, but he's a famous, respected and well-liked American in Germany. The Southern Californian is among the ''Bundesliga's most simpatico players,'' says the Weltfussball Web site. His Hannover 96 bio calls him a perpetual optimist and reads, ''If smiling […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
WORLD CUP: Boca answers the call
By Ridge Mahoney in Hamburg First game on the bench, second game at left back, third game somewhere else? That might be the scenario for defender Carlos Bocanegra, who has bounced between positions for club and country since leaving MLS for English Premier League club Fulham two and a half years ago. Bocanegra didnÆt get […]
Posted inSoccer America Site, Story
WORLD CUP: Do the math
By Ridge Mahoney in Hamburg The final days of group play are upon us. Slots are still to be decided in several groups, of course, and oh, yes, the USA staffers will be keeping an eye on the Italy-Czech Republic game, but there isn't any room for manuevering, since the Americans must beat Ghana to […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Argentina-Netherlands: Don’t Miss This
When you receive this, you will probably already be watching or about to watch what we hope is the spectacle that Argentina versus the Netherlands could be. Right now, everyone watching this tournament, and apparently, everyone playing in it too, is anxious to see how Argentina responds to its crushing 6-0 win over a Serbia […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
“Johnson” is the Call from the Sidelines
In the American press, those who don’t understand that the United States not only played one of the traditional defensive powerhouses of world soccer, but had to do so after two of its players were sent off, might look at the team’s goal-scoring record and conclude that team USA needs “an offensive paramedic.” Against Ghana, […]