[FRANCE] Paris Saint-Germain has lost the right to defend its French League Cup trophy. The French soccer federation banned the team because of incidents that occurred during the club’s 2-1 final victory over Lens this past spring.
Tag: france
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Arsenal’s Gallas gains revenge against Chelsea
Arsenal captain William Gallas was the hero for the Gunners in their victory in their much-anticipated showdown against his old club, Chelsea. Elsewhere in England, Liverpool’s problems against Manchester United at Anfield. Bayern Munich’s lead has evaporated heading into the German Bundesliga’s winter break. In France, another coach was ousted.
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International Year in Review
It was a year for triumph and tragedy. Champions were crowned on three continents, and a new generation of stars dominated the international club scene. But 2007 was also marked by tragedy as Italian soccer descended into violence.
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OFF THE POST: Czech striker sets speeding record
Czech forward Milan Baros of French club Lyon’s was ticketed for driving his Ferrari 168 mph, which police said broke the record in that French region set by a motorcyclist who was tagged at 154 mph.
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Henry dedicates record goals to ill father
[MAKING A LIST] Thierry Henry broke the French record of 41 goals he shared with Michel Platini when he scored twice in two minutes to lead the Bleus to a 2-0 win over Lithuania in Euro 2008 qualifying on Wednesday.
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Euro ’08 qualifying moves into home stretch
[PREVIEW] The first of the two remaining double fixture weekends in Euro ’08 qualifying begins on Saturday. Here’s a look at seven key matches …
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WEEKEND PREVIEW: International Soccer Headliners
Arsenal’s fast start has led to comparisons between Arsene Wenger‘s young Gunners and his “Invincibles” of four seasons ago. Manchester City’s Brazilian, Elano, is one of the best summer signings in the English Premier League. After Marseille’s victory at Liverpool on Wednesday, Belgian coach Eric Gerets must get down to the work he was this week hired for at the French club. Sunday’s River Plate-Boca Juniors derby isn’t the only sporting event that has Argentines talking.
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Chelsea rises to occasion, Liverpool sinks at home
[CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REACTION/VIDEO] The results for English powerhouses Chelsea and Liverpool were exactly the opposite what you would have predicted when they took to the field Wednesday on Day 2 of the UEFA Champions League. Chelsea, which has yet to win an EPL game under new manager Avram Grant and was coming off a 1-1 tie at home to Rosenborg in its Champions League opener, won, 2-1, at Valencia, which took a seven-game winning streak into the game. Unbeaten in its first 11 games of the season, Liverpool lost, 1-0, at home to Marseille, which had won just one of its first nine French league game.
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European Market Frenzy
Spending on the European summer transfer market reached $2 billion in 2007. What's behind the spending boom? And who spent wisely and who spent foolishly? Spending on the European summer transfer market – the two-month window during which European teams stock up on players for the new season – reached $2 billion in 2007. […]
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MIDWEEK PREVIEW: International Soccer Headliners
There’s midweek league action in Germany, Italy and Spain and League Cup action in England and France. Roma and Real Madrid look to hold on to their leads in Italy and Spain, respectively, while Bundesliga leader Bayern faces Energie Cottbus, which has made a coaching change. In France, the derby du Nord between Lens and Lille highlights League Cup play.
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WEEKEND WRAPUP: International Soccer Headliners
[VIDEO]Manchester United downed Chelsea, 2-0, in Avram Grant‘s first game as the Blues’ new manager. With Ronaldinho sidelined, Argentine Leo Messi starred for Barcelona in its win against Sevilla. Unfancied Nancy remained the leader in France’s Ligue 1, while former Mexican national team captain Tomas Boy took charge at struggling Atlas.
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Scots pull Euro upset
Scotland beat France for the second time in European Championship qualifying with a stunning 1-0 win Wednesday night in Paris. Other key results: England picked up its second 3-0 victory in four days, beating Russia at Wembley. The Czech Republic’s 1-0 win over Ireland all but ended the suspense in Group D. Poland and Finland remained 1-2 in Group A after their 0-0 tie in Helsinki. Portugal and Serbia tied, 1-1, in an ill-tempered affair in Lisbon.
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France Preview: Case for and against Lyon and Marseille
Lyon is bidding for a seventh successive title in France’s Ligue 1, which begins its 2007-08 season on Saturday, but it should get a serious challenge from Marseille, which is looking for its first title in more than a decade. Here’s the case for and against Lyon and Marseille.
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French players go for big money
[TRANSFER TALK] A year after the 2006 World Cup, at which France finished second, three Bleus starters have been sold by French clubs for big money. Indeed, French players continue to command a premium on the transfer market. The top seven transfers of French players from French clubs to foreign clubs have commanded fees of almost $150 million. For a rundown on the French stars moving abroad …
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U.S. Abroad 2006-07: Americans Shine and Suffer
A record number of Americans saw English Premier League and German Bundesliga action in 2006-07, and a 20-year-old U.S. export played regularly in the Mexican League — but relegation victims included venerable legionnaires Kasey Keller and Eddie Lewis.
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Trezeguet decides to stay at Juventus
[TRANSFER TALK] While Thierry Henry completed his $32 million transfer from Arsenal to Barcelona on Monday when he passed a physical and was introduced to a Barca crowd of 20,000, David Trezeguet, with whom he broke into the professional ranks at French club Monaco in the 1990s, has made an about-turn and extended his contract with Juventus until 2011.
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Thierry Henry on move to Barcelona: ‘It’s now or never for me’
Thierry Henry arrived at FC Barcelona on Sunday to be introduced as the Spanish club’s new signing after it agreed to pay Arsenal $32 million for the 29-year-old France striker. “Nothing has been signed yet but both sides reached an agreement on Friday,” Henry told French sports newspaper L’Equipe on Saturday. “I have chosen Barcelona for the soccer they play, for their history and their stadium.” For more behind Henry’s shock decision to leave Arsenal a year after he signed a four-year contract extension …
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Speculation grows that Thierry Henry will leave Arsenal
[TRANSFER TALK] Will Thierry Henry leave Arsenal for Barcelona? There has been rampant speculation that Henry, reportedly unhappy about the Gunners’ future, has signed an agreement with Barca on a three-year contract (plus an option year) worth $11 million a year. There’s even been talk that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who brought Henry to Highbury in 1999, would take over for Frank Rijkaard as coach at Barcelona
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Angloma and the ‘Gwadaboys’
The surprise of the Gold Cup has been Guadeloupe, the French department making its debut in the CONCACAF championship. The “Gwadaboys” have already beaten Canada and Honduras and meet Mexico Thursday in the quarterfinals. Here’s a look at some of its stars …
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Beckham is happy to be with the lads
David Beckham set up two goals in his first competitive game for England since the 2006 World Cup and his 96th international appearance. Beckham’s promising comeback set the stage for more England appearances late in the summer and into the fall — just as the Galaxy moves into the stretch drive of the MLS regular season. With England still fourth in Group E, Coach Steve McClaren will be counting upon Beckham to play for England in its five remaining qualifiers.
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First-timer Guadeloupe taps into pipeline
[GOLD CUP PREVIEW] Like Martinique, which played in three Gold Cups, Guadeloupe is an overseas French department with a population of 450,000, so it is ineligible for FIFA competitions like the World Cup. But the French departments are CONCACAF members and compete at a high level within the Caribbean. Many high-profile French stars have roots in Martinique and Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe, this year’s only first-time entrant, is tapping into that pipeline of current and former European-based pros for the Gold Cup.
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Inzaghi saves Italy from embarrassment
[EURO ’08 QUALIFYING WRAPUP] Filippo Inzaghi, the hero of AC Milan’s recent UEFA Champions League triumph, saved world champion Italy from embarrassment as his two first-half goals were barely enough to give the Azzurri a 2-1 victory over the Faeroe Islands in Saturday’s Euro 2008 qualifier. The win was good enough to move Italy into second place in Group B behind France, which beat Ukraine 2-0, but the Azzurri came in for harsh criticism in the Italian press. For complete Euro ’08 qualifying results and goalscorers …
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Powers limp into key Euro 2008 qualifiers
[TV PREVIEW] Saturday is a key day for powers Italy, Spain and Portugal, who are all fighting to stay in contention in Euro 2008 qualifying. Unfortunately, they find themselves depleted of firepower at the end of a long season. Italy is fourth in Group B with 10 points, two points behind leaders Ukraine, Scotland and France, and it will be missing many key strikers for its trip to the Faeroe Islands on Saturday and Lithuania on Wednesday. Spain is third in Group F, four points behind leaders Northern Ireland and three behind Sweden, and also has problems up front. With Atletico Madrid’s Fernando Torres injured, uncapped Osasuna striker Roberto Soldado may start up front with David Villa against Latvia on Saturday. Portugal is second in Group A, five points behind Poland, going into its game at Belgium on Saturday, but Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo is suspended and Benfica attackers Simao Sabrosa and Nuno Gomes are injured. The biggest clash takes place at the Stade de France, where 2006 World Cup runner-up France hosts quarterfinalist Ukraine. Both teams will be without their scoring aces. Nicolas Anelka should fill in for Thierry Henry, out with a groin injury, in the Bleus’ attack. Andriy Voronin will be the main Ukraine threat in the absence of Andriy Shevchenko, who underwent hernia surgery last month.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
Article 21911
“Refereeing with three people is obsolete. Three referees can’t see everything.”
— New UEFA president Michel Platini, the former French star, wants to add two more officials, in addition to the referee and the two linesmen. These additional officials would stay next to the goals and could monitor what happens in the penalty areas. (France Football)
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Sochaux wins first French Cup in 70 years
[EUROPEAN ROUNDUP] Sochaux twice fell behind Marseille on goals by France international Djibril Cisse but recovered to win the French Cup for the first time in 70 years, beating OM, 5-4, on penalties after their thrilling final at the Stade de France ended, 2-2, on Saturday. Anderlecht (Belgium) and Fenerbahce (Turkey) clinched league titiles, while Juventus is on the brink of returning to Italy’s Serie A.