Manchester United and Chelsea showdown is the Super Bowl of soccer

By Martin Rogers
March 29, 2010


The lack of a playoff system in the English Premier League is often a source of bewilderment to American sports fans, who argue that a sudden-death finish is the only way to cap off a season. European soccer purists defend the structure just as vehemently, claiming a straight league format is the only way to go.

read more

World Cup Soccer profile: Chile

SI
March 18, 2010


Coach Marcelo Bielsa is a believer in attacking soccer with two wingers, and Alexis Sánchez on the right is the jewel in his crown. Wonderfully tricky, dangerous in one-on-one situations, Sánchez is the man Chile looks for to carve open defenses.

read more

English Fans Find an Unlikely Love for a Yank

By Chuck Culpepper
March 14, 2010


LIVERPOOL, England — Beside the gallant city park in perhaps the world’s most zealous sports neighborhood, an unanticipated love has sprouted this winter and ripened into wistfulness this weekend.

read more

Chelsea 4 - 1 West Ham United

March 13, 2010


Chelsea went back to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable win over West Ham at Stamford Bridge.

Brazilian defender Alex headed Chelsea in front in the 15th minute but Scott Parker levelled with a stunning volley on the half-hour mark.

read more

World Cup Debate: Which Of The Contenders Are In The Safest Hands?

Goal.com
March 9, 2010


While much of the cynosure ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup concerns the race for the Golden Shoe, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Didier Drogba and David Villa all battling for individual honours, it is only natural that the least glamourous position on the field, that of the goalkeeper, is relegated to a footnote.

read more

South Africa marks 100 days to World Cup

By Donna Bryson
March 2, 2010


JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — With 100 days to go before the World Cup, jackhammers shuddered and bulldozers rumbled Tuesday as workers wearing "Proud to be building Soccer City for 2010" buttons readied South Africa's main stadium.

read more

Joorabchian defends Carlos Tevez over City absence

By Harry Harris
February 22, 2010


Kia Joorabchian has defended Carlos Tevez's commitment to the Manchester City cause after Roberto Mancini "ordered" the striker to return to the club from Argentina, following the premature birth of his daughter.

read more

Will Freddy ever be ready?

By Martin Rogers
February 14, 2010


This was always supposed to be Freddy Adu’s year. And Freddy Adu’s World Cup.

From the surreal moment in May 2003 when Nike pulled out its pocketbook and slapped a cool million dollars on the back of a precociously talented ninth-grade soccer sensation, Adu was earmarked for success in 2010. Back then, it was not a case of if the Ghana-born, Maryland-raised 13-year-old would emerge as a superstar, but when.

read more

First XI: Potential World Cup stars

By Robin Hackett
February 6, 2010


The likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba, Kaka, Franck Ribery, Fernando Torres, Xavi and Wayne Rooney are all expected to light up the stage this summer, but World Cups have had a habit of producing unexpected heroes.

learn more

Good news on Donovan, Dempsey

By Martin Rogers
January 23, 2010


CARSON, Calif. — The storm clouds gathered over the United States national team in Southern California this week, with uncharacteristically torrential rain, lightning and even a tornado warning causing head coach Bob Bradley to tinker with training plans.

learn more

Togo soccer team leaves Angola

By Samuel Petrequin
January 10, 2010


CABINDA, Angola — Togo withdrew from a continentwide soccer tournament and its players reluctantly left Angola on Sunday, two days after a deadly ambush on the team bus killed three and injured eight. A separatist leader warned, however, that violence would not likely end.

learn more

The Lion King: Lionel Messi's Reign Has Begun

By Gian-Tomaso Mazzocchi
December 23, 2009


With the official affirmation of the FIFA World Player of the Year award, Leo Messi has his crown firmly in place as king of the soccer world. An unprecedented season both personally and with respect to his club team FC Barcelona has led to well deserved accolades.  Messi has proven to be a great team player capable of mesmerizing feats as well as instinctive and unselfish brilliance.

learn more

Road to South Africa: Regarding Henry

By Martin Rogers
November 19, 2009


The defining moment of World Cup qualifying’s final day was one that had no place being associated with the greatest event in international soccer.

Thierry Henry’s deliberate handball that set up France’s playoff victory against the Republic of Ireland has already sparked heavy and heated debate across the soccer globe. However, there is only one thing that needs to be known about the incident, and now, about Henry.

He is a cheat.

learn more

Barcelona, Real Madrid still finding their stride

By Martin Rogers
November 8, 2009


Two Spanish giants, two hated rivals and two unexpected Champions League headaches for Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Both teams began the new campaign with rightfully lofty European expectations. Barca’s imperious march to last season’s trophy was so impressive that it was impossible to foresee any slipups in the early stages this season. For Real Madrid, the combined talents of newcomers Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema were thought to be enough to give the team a legitimate shot at dominating at Champions League level.

learn more

Can the English Premier League succeed in the United States?

By Chris Chase
October 27, 2009


On Sunday, the NFL played a regular season game in front of a sellout crowd at London's Wembley Stadium for the third straight year. In recent months, the English Premier League has openly discussed returning the favor to the United States by adding a 39th game to its schedule and holding it at various sites around the world, including in the States. This begs the question: If the Brits are so accepting of American football, would Americans be interested in English football?

If it's done right, there's no reason to think why playing one EPL game per season in the United States wouldn't be a rousing success.

learn more

Spanish Inquisition: Reflections On Real Madrid’s First Test — Raul, Guti, Marcelo Under The Microscope

Cyrus C. Malek
October 6, 2009


If there is one thing to take from Real Madrid’s five victories thus far in La Liga, it is that they have been misleading. That is to say that predominantly through Ronaldo’s individual efforts or the relative weaknesses of the opposing teams have Madrid been superior to their opponents.

With ‘CR9’ unable to regain fitness in time for Sunday’s match and Madrid facing one of the stronger teams in La Liga - an exciting Sevilla side that is beginning to remind many of the championship squad that won so many trophies under Juande Ramos - Los Blancos would be required to assert their dominance through a balanced team effort.

learn more

Ronaldo, Kaka give Real 2-0 win at Villarreal

By Iain Rogers
September 23, 2009


MADRID — A superb early goal from Cristiano Ronaldo and a second-half Kaka penalty gave Real Madrid a 2-0 win at 10-man Villarreal in La Liga on Wednesday.

Real paid around 160 million euros ($236 million) for the Portuguese winger and Brazilian playmaker in the close season, including a world record 94 million euros for Ronaldo, and the gulf in class was evident from the start.

The home side were rocked back in the second minute when Ronaldo sped down the left wing, cut inside and struck with a low shot from just outside the penalty area for his fifth league goal in four matches.

learn more

Soccer - Brazil eye profit in Argentina's need

By Rex Gowar
September 4, 2009


ROSARIO, Argentina — Brazil can take advantage of Argentina's desperation for points when the great South American rivals clash in Saturday's World Cup qualifier, goalkeeper Julio Cesar said.

There are two reasons why Argentina, precariously placed in qualifying, could feel the pressure more than Brazil, Julio Cesar told a news conference on the eve of the match at Rosario Central's stadium.

"One, they are playing at home, and two, they need a result and that's positive for the (Brazil) national team," he said.

learn more

Mexico wins Gold Cup, routs US 5-0

By BARRY WILNER
July 26, 2009


EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Vindication. Satisfaction. Domination.
After finally earning a win against the Americans on U.S. soil, Mexico’s players used all of those words Sunday to describe the 5-0 romp that gave them their fifth Gold Cup championship.

Oh, and one other noun: pride.

“I believe this is a great win for Mexico because we showed the pride we have in our hearts today,” Giovani Dos Santos said. “This is a huge step for us in the process.”

That process had included no progress this decade when the United States hosted its southern rival. The Mexicans were 0-9-2 since a March 1999 victory at San Diego.

learn more

World Cup of soccer a tough sell to Afrikaners

By Paul Logothetis
July 1, 2009


BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa - In the first few months after apartheid finally ended, a single sporting event in 1995 turned a nation of soccer fans into rugby followers and helped begin a movement of atonement.

Wearing a Springboks jersey, Nelson Mandela's presentation of the rugby World Cup trophy to South Africa on home soil was a defining moment for a country barely removed from its segregated past, with Mandela's gesture accelerating racial reconciliation in a country that had been divided since 1948.

learn more

Questions remain for U.S. squad

By Martin Rogers
June 7 2009


A year plus change to go until the World Cup and the stars are aligning for the USA.
Despite its often tortuous stagger to the halfway point of the 10-game Hexagonal pool that will decide CONCACAF’s representatives in South Africa next year, there is something inevitable about Bob Bradley’s team’s qualification for soccer’s biggest show.

Bradley can reflect on a campaign that has produced plenty of mediocrity after a flying start and the five matches so far have offered little in the way of real perspective as to the team’s chances of making a splash at the World Cup.

This week marks 12 months remaining before the tournament’s big kickoff yet USA fans are no nearer to getting answers from the side than they were a year ago.

learn more

Left Back Misery: Can Heath Pearce Really Start in a World Cup?

By Kartik Krishnaiyer
February 19, 2009


Two years ago, Heath Pearce declared himself the best left back in the US National Team player pool.  This came after an outstanding Janaury camp in 2006 which saw Pearce enter the discussion for a spot in Germany 2006 only to see an injury and lack of experience thwart his chances to make the final World Cup squad for manager Bruce Arena.

Arena instead counted on Eddie Lewis, a star of the 2002 World Cup who had shifted from his natural left midfielder position to play left back for national team, and Carlos Bocanegra, whose left foot made it possible for him to play outside on the left, but whose lack of speed and recklessness eventually doomed the idea to failure. Cory Gibbs, a left footer who can play outside back or in the middle suffered a devastating injury in a friendly just prior to the World Cup, and has still not returned to his previous form.

learn more

Afghanistan Crowned Homeless World Cup Champions
The Homeless World Cup is an annual international tournament, which provides the opportunity for people who are homeless to represent their country and change their own lives.

By Salem News
December 7, 2008


MELBOURNE - Today Afghanistan defeated Russia 5-4 in the final of the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup. And in the final of the first Women’s Homeless World Cup, Zambia had a comfortable win over Liberia, 7-1.

In a thrilling match in front of 50,000 spectators packed into Federation Square throughout the day, the Afghanistan and Russian teams battled it out for the sixth Homeless World Cup Trophy.

Russia opened the scoring, but Afghanistan responded quickly and at the end of the first seven-minute half were ahead 3-2. The two teams traded goal for goal in the second term, with Afghanistan holding the lead. Despite some intense last-second attacks by the determined Russians, the Afghan defence held up to take victory.

learn more

Soccer by the numbers: Chapter One

By Grahame L. Jones
November 3, 2008


Sports is all about numbers, financial and otherwise, so here are a few to ponder on an an election-eve Monday:

0 -- What remains of the Mapaches (Raccoons) of Nueva Italia after the Mexican soccer federation expelled the third-division team from the league and expunged all its records because of the club's alleged ties to drug trafficking.

1 -- The number of professional players on the East Timor national team, which recently tied Cambodia in Phnom Penh to earn its first point in six years as an independent nation. The lone pro is Portuguese-born defender Alfredo Esteves, who used to play in the U.S. with the Minnesota Thunder and New Hampshire Phantoms.

learn more

Messi Bails Out Barcelona

By STUART CONDIE
October 1, 2008


LONDON (Oct. 1) - Lionel Messi scored two late goals Wednesday to give FC Barcelona a 2-1 victory at Shakhtar Donestsk and AS Roma also avoided a shock defeat in the Champions League by rallying to win 3-1 at Bordeaux.

Things were more straightforward for Liverpool, which defeated PSV Eindhoven 3-1, and Atletico Madrid, which beat Marseille 2-1. But Chelsea drew 0-0 at unheralded CFR Cluj in another of the day's eight group matches.

Shakhtar looked set to embarrass two-time European Champion Barcelona when Ilsinho scored in the 45th minute, but Messi struck in the 87th and then deep into injury time to take his team clear at the top of the Group C standings.

learn more

•  Soccer, World Cup News Archive Index
2010
•  Soccer, World Cup Tickets

South Africa’s political drama and World Cup 2010

By Clive Leviev-Sawyer
September 25, 2008
 

The South Africa official 2010 mascot, a leopard known as Zakumi, with Danny Jordaan, CEO of the Local Organising Committee during a launch in Johannesburg on September 22 2008. Fifa opted for a leopard for the showpiece football tournament's first visit to Africa. ‘Zakumi is young, vibrant, energetic, smart, self-confident, sociable and ambitious, but also warm-hearted,’ Jordaan said at the televised launch.

learn more

Arsenal ride their luck to spoil McClaren's debut

August 13, 2008


FC Twente Enschede player Elia Eljero reacts after missing an opportunity during their champions league qualifier against Arsenal in Arnhem. Arsenal won 2-0.

Arsenal ruined Steve McClaren's FC Twente debut as goals from William Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor secured an unconvincing 2-0 win in the Champions League third qualifying round, first leg on Wednesday.

learn more