The U.S. under-20 women’s national team, loaded with some of the USA’s top young talent, headed to Germany for matches against the England and German U-19s, who are both preparing for the UEFA Under-19 Women’s Championships. For the U.S. roster …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
USA gets Egypt ’09 sneak preview
The U.S. under-20 men’s national team heads to Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday to continue preparations for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt. Thomas Rongen‘s Americans will play two international friendlies against Egypt on June 27 and June 29. For the U.S. roster …
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Surprises at Region IV boys quarterfinals
The Ventura County Fusion’s DMS 11 upset the defending champion Cisco Toros of Arizona, 3-2, in under-19 boys quarterfinal action Friday at the U.S. Youth Soccer Region IV Championships in Lancaster, Calif. In another surprise, the 2009 Dallas Cup U-15 champion Santa Clara Sporting fell to Sereno White of Arizona, 3-1, in boys quarterfinal action. For all of Friday’s quarterfinal results …
Posted inYouth Soccer Reporter, Youth What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“As the custom is with Nigerian football, if this show of shame were brought upon the nation by a national team failing to perform in a World Cup competition, the coach and every member of the team would have been sacked by now. So, why not do the same to administrators, managers and our so-called leaders who are bringing shame to the country everyday?”
— Former Nigerian women’s national and current Newberry College men’s coach Sam Okpodu, calling for Nigeria to replace those organizing the 2009 Under-17 World Cup in Nigeria before FIFA pulls the plug on the tournament. (Nigerian Guardian)
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
We pick MLS’s best players
The midpoint of the 2009 MLS season, conveniently enough, dove-tails with the start of summer, and thus a staggering load of international competitions and friendly matches. The first half of the league season won’t much resemble what follows, but for the past three months, these are the players who have been essential to their teams’ success.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Egypt Players Robbed During Game Against Italy
Members of Egypt’s team had their Johannesburg hotel rooms burgled while they were upsetting Italy 1-0 at the Confederations Cup on Thursday. Only one of the five rooms that had been invaded had cash, she said, but it was unclear how much money was stolen. “We’re busy investigating,” national police spokeswoman Sally De Beer said. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
South Africans Defend the Noisy Vuvuzela
As the rest of the world complains that the relentless noise created by vuvuzela trumpets during Confederations Cup games pains its ears, South African fans defend their noisemakers. South Africans take pride in instrument as a unique part of their culture. "This is our voice. We sing through it," said Chris Massah Malawai, a 23-year-old […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
New England Tests Veteran Striker Jankauskas
Edgaras Jankauskas, the 34-year-old Lithuanian striker, has appeared more than 50 times for his country. Jankauskas played for Portuguese giants FC Porto when the club won the UEFA Cup and the UEFA Champions League in 2003 and 2004. He also starred for Benfica, Real Sociedad, Hearts and CSKA Moscow at various points during his lengthy […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Semifinals Set for Copa Libertadores
Cruzeiro booked its spot in the Copa Libertadores semifinals with a 2-0 win over fellow-Brazilian team Sao Paulo on Thursday, while Estudiantes of Argentina defeated Uruguay's Defensor Sporting to advance. Sao Paulo had two players sent off and Cruzerio took advantage of its extra men to come away with a 4-1 aggregate victory after winning […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
U.S. Tries To Explain Itself After Brazil Loss
U.S. coach Bob Bradley and his players assesed their 3-0 Confederations Cup loss to Brazil on Thursday. Obviously, they lamented the early goal conceded and Sasha Kljestan‘s ejection, but Landon Donovan pointed out Brazil’s overall advantage: “They pass the ball very well. Athletically, even if you do get a chance to get around them and […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Goal spree Propels Toronto FC into Champions League
On Thursday, Toronto FC needed to win by at least four goals over the Montreal Impact to win the Canadian Nutrilite Championship and represent Canada in the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League. Toronto put in six goals, winning 6-1 with an epic attacking display to earn the first trophy in team history. With the heavens pouring […]
Posted inSoccer on TV., Story
Soccer on TV
The SuperLiga competition — Mexican clubs vs. MLS clubs — kicks off this weekend with a pair of games on both Saturday and Sunday. In the USL Game of the Week, Portland hosts Minnesota. The weekend is full of MLS action and a WPS clash between Los Angeles and FC Gold Pride. Weekend FIFA Confederations Cup action includes USA-Egypt and Italy-Brazil on Sunday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Not so popular
[OFF THE POST] Fans of Brazilian club Palmeiras who want to see its coach, Vanderlei Luxemburgo, sacked because of the team’s elimination from the Libertadores Cup have created a website called “Luxa Out.” The site received nearly 50,000 hits in the first day.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The Red Bulls must win
[MLS PREDICTIONS] With four teams participating in SuperLiga play, only five weekend league games are scheduled. (Toronto takes the week off from league play.) California Clascio rivals Los Angeles and San Jose square off in the Oakland Coliseum for the second time this season, Seattle crosses the country to play New York, Houston gets a chance to separate itself from Western co-leader Chivas USA when it hosts Real Salt Lake, and Eastern leader D.C. United continues its road trip in Colorado. 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, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“At times players are trying to push harder, but in the end make a rash decision and it ends up hurting the team for the rest of the game.”
— U.S. coach Bob Bradley after his team’s 3-0 loss to Brazil in which Sacha Kljestan was red-carded. Ricardo Clark was ejected in the USA’s first Confederations Cup game, a 3-1 loss to Italy. (USsoccer.com)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Kljestan and Beasley disappoint the most
[BRAZIL-USA REPORT CARD] Soccer America’s Ridge Mahoney grades the U.S. players and comments on their performance in Thursday’s 3-0 loss to Brazil at the Confederations Cup.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
South Africa ’09 on television
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] The USA concludes play in Group B at the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa against Egypt on Sunday. For the tournament’s complete television schedule …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Pharaohs produce enviable performance
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] In beating Italy, 1-0, on Thursday, Egypt produced a performance one would have hoped from the USA — plenty of good soccer, spirited play and spectacular goalkeeping. The result kept all four teams contending for Group B’s two spots in the semifinals — though the USA is a longshot even if it beats the Pharaohs on Sunday.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Atlanta follows WUSA Beat
[WPS] Atlanta was confirmed as Women’s Professional Soccer ‘s ninth team. The Beat — named after the WUSA team of the same name — will begin play in 2010 along with the Philadelphia Independence as expansion teams. The Beat, owned by Atlanta businessman Fitz Johnson, named former FC Dallas front-office executive and SMU associate athletic director Shawn McGee its general manager.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Athletica-Freedom, the rematch
[WPS] The first Saint Louis-Washington match remains the most-discussed game in WPS’s short history, producing six goals, two suspensions and a season-ending injury to Athletica’s Brazilian midfielder Daniela on a foul from the Freedom’s Abby Wambach. The rematch takes place Saturday at the Soccer Park. For a look at all the weekend action …
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
The weak links who doomed the USA against Brazil
[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] He went with his veterans against two of the best teams in the world and they let him, and the country, down with a crashing thud. All along, we can surmise, Coach Bob Bradley‘s plan was to take his strongest squad to the Confederations Cup and tinker at the Gold Cup, assuming he could juggle the schedules and commitments of domestic and international players without too many complications by injuries.
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Heat and Hydration Guidelines for Summer Soccer
Summer camps and tournaments in most parts of the country will be played in hot, humid conditions. With the weather change, athletes are at higher risk for heat-related illness. What I would like to do below is to present a common sense guide to a preventable problem: heat-related illnesses, including dehydration, cramping, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
D.C. United Salvages Another Point on the Road
There's an air of invincibility for D.C. United, even when trailing late in matches on the road. In these games, D.C. United has gritted out four ties and two wins in six close contests. On Wednesday night, the Eastern Conference leaders dug out another result against the Seattle Sounders at Qwest Field. They earned a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
D.C. United Probe Fans on Stadium Dilemma
As part of its epic search to find a new stadium, D.C. United has provided a survey that asks fans to rank their preferred location for construction. Available on the club's website, http://www.dcunited.com, the survey provides three options: lower Montgomery, Loudoun, and the District. "We're engaging fans for some thoughts on a few different municipalities," […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Nacional Advances to Libertadores Semifinal
On Wednesday, Uruguayan club Nacional advanced to its first Copa Libertadores semifinals since 1989 thanks to a scoreless draw with Brazil's Palmeiras at Centennial Stadium. Nacional advanced on the away-goal rule, thanks to Santiago Garcia's goal 10 minutes from the end of the 1-1 draw in San Pablo three weeks ago. On Wednesday, Nacional was […]