This is the second post in a series of five recommendations for USSF President Sunil Gulati International tournaments are soccer’s Holy Grail. Club soccer has exploded around the world and changed the business of game, but it’s still the World Cup that grabs the attention of fans like no other competition. Europe’s continental championship is [...]
Filed under: Future of American soccer, Internationals, USMNT | 10 Comments »
There are some hand ball decisions that are hard on the player because the ball simply deflects off their hand or arm and they couldn’t really do much about it. Then there are the times when a player moves his hand and opens his palm to play the ball. Thierry Henry did the latter for [...]
Filed under: Internationals | 1 Comment »
You know there is a problem when a match is played in Sudan to avoid violence. But that’s what will happen Wednesday when Egypt face Algeria in a playoff for the last African berth to the first World Cup played on African soil. These two neighboring North African nations have a deep, and at times [...]
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After rigging the draw by suddenly ranking teams following the completion of the group stages – thereby ensuring that none of the top sides would play each other – the first round went according to plan for Fifa and UEFA but barely. Here is a review of the four first round games and some predictions [...]
Filed under: Internationals, World Cup 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Saudi striker Nawaf al Abed scored the fastest goal ever recorded, just two seconds into a match between al Hilal and al Shoalah. 2 seconds!!!!
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National and international politics impact soccer far more than most Americans appreciate. Whether it’s the Soccer War (seriously, a real war) fought between Honduras and El Salvador after rioting during a 1969 World Cup qualifying match, or “more than a club” FC Barcelona serving as a proxy for Catalan nationalism and resistance against Franco-supported Real [...]
Filed under: Internationals, Soccer and Politics, USMNT | 7 Comments »
“We’ve qualified via play-offs in the past and nobody died” – Diego Maradona. We shall see
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Odd to say in win-obsessed America, but no matter the result in Mexico City later today, soccer in the United States has already won. While the first ever win by the U.S. Men’s National Team at the Azteca Stadium would be the icing on the cake, a cathartic summer of success has brought soccer into [...]
Filed under: Future of American soccer, Internationals, USMNT | 4 Comments »
Is the long national nightmare over? The news out of England points to Italian Fabio Capello as the man set to replace Steve McClaren as England manager. If the FA can tie up the details of Capello’s contract—a big if with this crew—the former Milan, Juventus, Roma, and Real Madrid coach will take over a [...]
Filed under: England National Team, Internationals | Tagged: Capello, England National Team | Leave a Comment »
Max Bergmann
Ken Gude
Pat Garofalo
Jay Heidbrink