Reports out of Buenos Aires indicate Diego Maradona will earn $1.2 million dollars for his first year (November 2008 to October 2009) at the helm of the Argentine national team. Maradona, who had been working without a contract, is thus making more than twice as much as his predecessors, Daniel Passarella, Marcelo Bielsa, Jose Pekerman […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The USA faces Brazil in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup final on Sunday. Spain takes on host South Africa in the third-place match. Mexico faces Guatemala in a friendly (Sunday). There’s also MLS, the WPS Game if the Week (Sky Blue FC-St. Louis) and SuperLiga action over the weekend.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Roster
The U.S. under-17 women’s national team, in the early stages of its preparations for qualifying for the 2010 world championship in Trinidad & Tobago, began a week-long training camp on Thursday in Pearl River, N.Y. For the complete roster …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
National Cup VIII regional champions crowned
National Cup VIII regional champions were crowned at three regional sites. PDA of New Jersey and FCX of Illinois led all teams with three championships at the Pittsgrove, N.J., girls regionals. For the winners in Pittsgrove, N.J., San Bernardino, Calif., and Modesto, Calif., …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Eclipse Select repeats triple feat
[REGION II GIRLS] For the second year in a row, Eclipse Select of Illinois captured three titles at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Championships.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Javanon completes double in South Dakota
[REGION II BOYS] Javanon won two titles at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Championships, which concluded Thursday in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Oklahoma club creates big surprise
[REGION III GIRLS] Edmond Soccer Club pulled the biggest surprise at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Championships when it beat the defending national champion Dallas Texans Red, 1-0, on Calli Cooper‘s goal off of a free kick in overtime of the U-18 girls final.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Prep star continues scoring streak
[REGION III BOYS] Enzo Martinez, considered by many to be the best prep player to ever come out of South Carolina, followed up on his national high school spring title with Northwestern High School by leading Discoveries SC to the under-18 boys championship at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Championships.
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“It’s a true indication of how strong this area is, soccer-wise. Because there’s plenty of competition just to get here.”
— Charlie Slagle, CEO of the Capital Area Soccer League, on the three titles teams from the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina won at the 2009 U.S. Youth Soccer Region III Championships in Frisco, Texas. (Raleigh News & Observer)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“There are sure to be some Betfair bettors praying for a U.S. victory. With the small matter of $51,000 to be won if they do.”
— Tony Calvin, spokesman for online betting emporium Betfair, which offered odds of 999-to-1 on the USA winning the Confederations Cup and received just $51 on that bet. The USA, which Betfair gave 699-to-1 odds to reach the semifinals, faces Brazil in the final on Sunday. (New York Times)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Uninspired Brazil slips past South Africa
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] U.S. players should be encouraged if they witnessed Brazil’s lackluster performance in defeating host South Africa, 1-0, to earn a final date with the Americans.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dangerous from Distance
[STATS] That Brazil scored its Confederations Cup semifinal-winning goal against South Africa with a Daniel Alves free kick from just outside the penalty area prompted FIFA.com to dig up this stat …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Will USA’s Giant-Slaying Continue?
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] Its first appearance in a FIFA final matches the USA against mighty Brazil, which beat the Americans, 3-0, in group play but only narrowly defeat host South Africa in its semifinal. With midfielder Michael Bradley suspended, Coach Bob Bradley could give Benny Feilhaber his first start of the season and move Landon Donovan into central midfield.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Crew set to add to Red Bulls’ woes
[MLS PREDICTIONS] SuperLiga commitments leaves just eight teams playing four games this weekend, and three of the teams also played Wednesday. The Crew can put pressure on idle D.C. United by beating New York, Toronto visits Rio Tinto Stadium for the first time, and two Western Conference matches close out the action on Sunday. For all of Soccer America’s predictions, as well as TV viewing information, and to see how we’ve fared so far this season. …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA takes ‘new’ squad to Gold Cup
[GOLD CUP] The USA’s 23-man roster for the Gold Cup (July 3-26) includes seven players who have never seen national team action. Just six players in the squad have made more than 10 U.S. appearances.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
All-Star game headed to Soccer Park
[WPS] The first Women’s Professional Soccer All-Star Game will be played at the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo., on Aug. 30, eight days after the WPS championship.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
South Africa ’09 on Television
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] On Sunday, the USA faces Brazil in the 2009 Confederations Cup final in South Africa and Spain meets South Africa for third place. For the tournament’s complete television schedule and results..
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mexico Pick Up Steam With Win Over Venezuela
Mexico's preparation for the Gold Cup could not have gotten off to a better start as the Tricolor trounced a fragile Venezuelan squad 4-0 at a friendly match at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in front 51,115.. Mexico, propelled by an on-fire Giovani dos Santos, showed glimpses of its old form that looked lost in […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Cruzeiro Take Lead Over Gremio
Cruzeiro took an important step toward reaching the Copa Libertadores final with a 3-1 win over fellow Brazilian club Gremio on Wednesday. Cruzeiro had won all its previous home matches in Libertadores play, but lined up against Gremio without the midfield inspiration of Ramires, who was on international duty for Brazil in the Confederations Cup. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Toronto’s Vitti Breaks Drought Against Red Bulls
After 13 games played and no goals scored, Toronto FC striker Pablo Vitti drew criticism and doubts about his future with the club. But Vitti finally broke his goalscoring doubt on Wednesday with a header that opened the scoring in Toronto's 2-0 win over New York. Toronto wore alternate pink jerseys in support of the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. Gold Cup Roster
The USA still has the Confederations Cup final on Sunday, but Coach Bob Bradley has announced his roster for the Concacaf Gold Cup (July 3-26): GOALKEEPERS Jon Busch (Chicago Fire), Troy Perkins (IK Start), Luis Robles (FC Kaiserslautern). DEFENDERS Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Jay Heaps (New […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Keeper Says Result Against USA is ‘One in 10’
Although admitting the United States was the better team, Spain believes its loss to the Americans in the Confederations Cup semifinals was an anomaly. "In all sincerity, only one time in 10 do I think we would lose against them," Spain captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas said one day after the Americans upset top-ranked Spain […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ranking the U.S. Upset of Spain
"We all know about the U.S. beating England back in the World Cup in 1950 but this result, in the semifinals of a major FIFA competition watched by millions around the world, has to rank right up there among the greatest upsets of all time," U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard told reporters. "On Sunday we thought […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
India’s ‘U-16’ Team Older
Sixteen of the 30 boys India selected for a training camp for the Asian under-16 championships qualifiers proved to be over-age, according to MRI tests in Goa, the Times of India reported on Thursday. “We are aware of the MRI results, but we are reinquiring with state associations,” All-India soccer federation general secretary Alberto Colaco […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Bradley’s Keys To Victory
After celebrating the USA’s historic win over Spain, U.S. coach Bob Bradley described the approach his team took into the game: “We really felt strongly that when we got the ball we needed to be aggressive. We needed to play some of the kind of balls behind their defense that could cause them trouble. We […]