The Barcelona tour returned to the United States, where the Spanish club was scheduled to play three friendlies in early August. Interest in the tour, part of its long-term agreement with Major League Soccer, increased when high-scoring Barca swept the 2009 UEFA Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey.
Tag: international
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
The new Galacticos
North American fans were to get a sneak preview of the new-look Real Madrid with superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka when the Spanish club faced MLS clubs Toronto FC and D.C. United in early August.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Americans Abroad: Making An impact
Americans continue to celebrate success of various degrees in foreign leagues. We look at 11 who stood out during the 2008-09 season, including young Marco Vidal, the latest Mexican-American whose career required a move south of the border.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Americans Abroad: Maurice Edu’s Wild Ride
Sidelined for the summer by a knee injury, U.S. midfielder Maurice Edu has some time to reflect on a wild ride that has taken him from college soccer to the U.S. national team and Scotland in less than three years.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Backline: Coach Bora Feeling ‘Super’ About Latest Challenge
It’s past midnight when Bora Milutinovic answers the phone in Qatar, but no matter what time, no matter where he happens to be, the Bora optimism prevails.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
World Cup Qualifying: No Surprises In The Bunch
The USA’s five opponents in the Hexagonal, which kicks off Feb. 11, are all familiar foes. It’s faced each team at least once in the final round of Concacaf qualifying. All five teams have at least one player who came through the U.S. youth or college ranks.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Euro ’08: Where Are They Now?
It was six months ago that fans were treated to a scintillating European Championship. Here’s a look at how the leading actors of Euro ’08 are now faring.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
U.S. Abroad: Mixed Fortunes
There was considerable movement for Americans abroad over the summer transfermarket. Eleven U.S. internationals moved from MLS to Europe or switched European clubs. A few have enjoyed instant success, but many have had to bide their time as they awaited their chance to get regular playing time.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
U.S. Abroad: The Saga of Subotic
Three years after playing for the USA at the U-17 World Cup, 19-year-old Neven Subotic is starring for Bundesliga power Borussia Dortmund. The long and winding path that brought him this far helps explain why his national team future remains undetermined.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Backline: Soccer is de Bontin’s Passion
After years of involvement in U.S. soccer, French-born Jerome de Bontin takes over at Monaco.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Americans Abroad: Exciting Season for U.S. Exports
Several Americans abroad suffered the indignity of relegation, but others helped their teams avoid the drop and four lifted trophies.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Euro 2008: Europe takes center stage
The 2008 European Championship will be held this June in eight cities. Co-hosts Austria and Switzerland are decided underdogs in a 16-team field that includes Italy, France, Germany and Portugal, the top four teams from the 2006 World Cup. Along with Spain and the Netherlands, they are the favorites in a tournament that has a history of producing surprises.
Posted inSoccer America Magazine, Story
Backline: Martin Vasquez’s great adventure
Following up on a unique playing career with a historic coaching appointment.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Fulham stays alive; Reading remains in limbo
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Fulham, the English Premier League’s Yankee team with five Americans in its ranks, kept hopes alive of avoiding relegation with a 3-2 win at Manchester City. Marcus Hahnemann made three key saves for Reading as it mustered a scoreless tie against Wigan to remain one point above the relegation zone.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Santana replaces Parreira as coach of World Cup 2010 hosts
[SOUTH AFRICA] Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira won’t be coaching World Cup 2010 co-host South Africa. Parreira, who led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup championship, resigned Monday as the Bafana Bafana coach to spend more time with his family. Johannesburg’s Sunday Times reported that Parreira’s wife, Leila, was suffering from cancer. Fellow Brazilian Joel Santana was named as Parreira’s replacement, making him the 15th South Africa coach in 15 years since the national team returned to international play.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
PSV celebrates another title; Barcelona’s slump prompts threat
[WINNERS & LOSERS] PSV won its fourth straight Dutch league title, while Italians Luca Toni and Alessandro Del Piero continued their hot streaks. Barcelona’s troubles have prompted star Samuel Eto’o to threaten to leave the Catalan club, while the English press lambasted Chelsea manager Avram Grant after his bizarre press conference following the Blues’ win over Everton.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Michael Bradley finishes 5th leading scorer in Netherlands
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Dutch Eredivisie club Heerenveen, for which 21-year-old Michael Bradley scored 15 goals, has qualified for the Dutch Eredivisie UEFA Champions League playoffs and will meet Ajax Amsterdam, which finished runner-up to PSV Eindhoven, the league’s automatic Champions League qualifier. In its last regular season game, Heerenveen thumped Excelsior, 5-0, and finished in fifth place, edging Feyenoord on goal difference.
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Lost in Translation
A multilingual dictionary of soccer terms sounds like a pretty good idea. Indeed, it is a good idea — provided it includes the terms and the languages that really matter.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Fenerbahce dances to samba beat
[IN THE SPOTLIGHT] Brazilians have long had a big impact in countries like Portugal, Spain, Italy and France, but their influence has now spread to countries like Turkey, where Fenerbahce, coached by former Brazilian great Zico, is expected to start five Brazilians on Wednesday when it hosts Chelsea in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal series.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Manchester United breaks open EPL race
[WINNERS & LOSERS] Manchester United extended its lead in the English Premier League to four points with 3-0 win over Liverpool at Old Trafford while Arsenal’s title hopes are fading after it fell to Chelsea, 2-1, in the second half of the Easter Sunday Grand Slam in the English Premier League. Spanish teenager Bojan Krkic was instrumental in keeping Barcelona very much alive in Spain’s La Liga race, while AC Milan’s 18-year-old Brazilian Alexandre Pato kept up his torrid pace.