All Soccer links

Wigan coach and former Man U captain Bruce vows 100% effort against former boss Ferguson. The final games in the EPL will be played this Sunday. Chelsea and Man U are tied on points at the top of the league, with Man U holding a 17-goal advantage over Chelsea on goal difference. However, if Chelsea win, and Man U have anything less than a win against Wigan (who won the former League and European Cup honors with Man U), it will be the Blues taking the championship away from the current holders. All this, ahead of a Champions League final between Chelsea and Man U. It's all Man U's to lose. And it's happened before, exactly 40 years ago.

posted by worldcup2002 at 2:18 PM PST - 9 comments

Substitute  England won't be at Euro 2008, but neither will Frenchman Vikash Dhorasoo. Despite playing in every qualification match for the 2006 World Cup, Dhorasoo got just 16 minutes on the field during the tournament and retired from international football following France's defeat in the final. A year later he was gone from the game altogether.

Tomorrow the film Dhorasoo shot at the 06 World Cup, "Substitute" [Youtube] (warning: contains French), is released in the UK allowing you to watch a man fall out of love with football.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:02 PM PST - 4 comments

West Brom clinch Championship and promotion. They will be joined by Stoke, and one more team to be determined by playoffs between Hull, Bristol City, Crystal Palace and Watford.

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:59 PM PST - 15 comments

LA Galaxy reserve team uses ticket agent to fill out game day roster They didn't want to play short-handed. Anybody here know how to play this game?

posted by Landis at 11:25 AM PST - 44 comments

Chelsea beat Liverpool, set up final battles with Man Utd for Premier League and Champions League Chelsea broke their Liverpool and Champions League jinx with a 3-2 (4-3 aggregate) win to move into the final against Premier League leaders Manchester United. Has this ever happened before, where the same top two domestic teams (they are tied on points but United has far superior goal difference with two matches to go) are also in the Champions League final?

posted by worldcup2002 at 4:25 PM PST - 17 comments

Transvestite hooker tries to extort money from Ronaldo (the original) in Rio Ronaldo buys three hookers and gets unexpected packages.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 1:16 PM PST - 20 comments

"This fella, Ronaldo, he's a cod" RTE's TV pundits show they really don't like Cristiano Ronaldo (via). Why does he seem to polarise opinion in a way that other players don't?

posted by Fence at 3:44 AM PST - 30 comments

Billy Beane Gets Into Football And wants to find out if sabermetrics can be applied to the English Premier League. Will Moneyball work in the beautiful game?

posted by owlhouse at 9:08 AM PST - 2 comments

Basqueing in Glory: Athletic Bilbao is Europe's most exotic football club. For 80 years, the legendary club has managed to keep itself in Spain's top division, fielding players recruited exclusively from the Basque region. But how long can the fiercely independent club continue to resist the trends of globalization?

posted by rumple at 2:35 PM PST - 13 comments

Football and Music No, not this kind of football music. This kind of football music.

posted by goddam at 12:17 AM PST - 5 comments

If you don't give my football back... Just as Ebbsfleet United is about to play one of the biggest ties in its history, it looks like the teams' 29,000(+/-) owners are having a little trouble with the "pick the team" part of their tagline. And with only 2,000 of those owners committed past the first year of the experiment, there is some concern about the future of the model.

posted by terrapin at 8:01 AM PST - 6 comments

Liverpool Co-Owner: Fans Hate Tom Hicks American billionaire George Gillett is kicking himself for buying Liverpool FC with fellow Yank Tom Hicks. Since Hicks scuttled a deal by a Dubai group that wants to buy out Gillett's 50 percent, the owners have gotten an enormous amount of hate mail and calls from angry fans, according to his co-owner. "The thing that angers fans the most is the prospect I might sell even one share of my stock to my partner," Gillett said in a radio interview. "They do not want him to have any controlling interest in this club -- they do not even want him to have any ownership in the club. As a result of that -- and it's been very difficult for my wife with the amount that I travel -- we receive many phone calls in the middle of the night threatening our lives -- death threats."

posted by rcade at 6:43 PM PST - 14 comments

Minnow's harpoon on target again 19th place in the Championship hosting No. 3 in the Prem and for the second round in a row the Tykes do the business. 96 years since they were last in the semi-finals and they won the trophy that year. With Harry Redknapp's Pompey taking down the Red Devils, the last four will include at least two second division or lower clubs. And possibly a third depending on if Middlesbrough or Cardiff play to recent form tomorrow. Cliche or not, this is the beauty of the FA Cup.

posted by billsaysthis at 2:12 PM PST - 18 comments

How QPR Will Conquer the World and drape it in cashmere. A profile of new Rangers' co-owner Flavio Briatore. That jersey I picked up on clearance last year is looking like a brilliant investment.

posted by yerfatma at 12:00 AM PST - 6 comments

Football Filter is a new "online community a la digg that concentrates on quality links on the world of football (soccer)". via Metafilter Projects.

posted by rumple at 12:54 AM PST - 15 comments

Arsenal's Eduardo Da Silva injured in outrageous tackle, possibly ending his career. A truly horrific injury, broken pieces of bone were sticking out of his sock as he was stretchered of the field. This is the sort of injury that you never truly recover from (See Alex Smith). I hope the FA bans Martin Taylor for life.

posted by Goyoucolts at 1:12 PM PST - 73 comments

Manuel Almunia hears dead people. "ARSENAL goalkeeper Manuel Almunia’s house is being HAUNTED by the ghost of a monk. The star’s wife spotted the ghoul at their swish pad on the site of an old asylum. Spaniard Almunia, 30, has also heard chains rattling and had stereos turning on at full volume on their own." Looks like he and Lehmann are competing for the Goofy Gooner Goalie award.

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:46 PM PST - 7 comments

Liverpool bundled out of FA Cup by Barnsley. Championship League side Barnsley came to Anfield and did the unthinkable, scoring a last-gasp winner 30 seconds from the end to knock out Liverpool, a team currently 29 places above them. Will Rafa Benitez walk alone after this?

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:05 AM PST - 13 comments

Italian to lead the Irish. Don Giovanni Trappatoni (late of Juventus, AC and Inter Milan, and now the mighty Red Bulls Salzburg) will become Ireland manager in May. With Don Fabio in charge of England, when will the other Home Countries get on the bandini wagon?

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:45 PM PST - 4 comments

Asian Football Confederation joins growing backlash against EPL globalization plan. [Follow-up to an earlier post ...] Reacting to the EPL's proposal to play an extra week of league matches outside of England (beginning January 2011), the AFC head said, "With relation to the overall principle, it is my belief that it is not a good idea to organise domestic leagues in territories other than their own." The US Soccer Federation has already said the same thing. Australia, Japan and Korea FAs also echoed the sentiment. The English FA is grilling EPL chairman Richard Scudamore today on the proposal.

posted by worldcup2002 at 1:40 PM PST - 15 comments

Why do African teams need European coaches? Paul Doyle reflects on the African Cup of Nations.

posted by yerfatma at 7:24 AM PST - 7 comments

Feck off to Vile Park is a favourite response to opinions that may be unkind to my chosen team on the various message boards that I frequent. It's the same on every other board, apparently. This is a great article which one or two on here might relate to.

posted by Fat Buddha at 11:28 AM PST - 6 comments

2 men shot in Houston's Reliant Stadium parking lot after the US and Mexico play to a thrilling 2-2 draw. In a sick sort of way, is it possible this shooting is good for soccer in America? This "friendly" was played before 70,103 fans and the nosie was so loud the players couldn't communicate with each other or hear the official's whistle.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 2:20 PM PST - 16 comments

EPL Makes Pitch for International Audience Beginning in 2011, England's Premier League may play matches in Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Miami and Shanghai during the season. One football supporters' group was none too pleased. "Are we going to see local derbies played in a foreign country thousands of miles away?" asked Football Supporters' Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke. "Are supporters supposed to accept missing the biggest games of their season because it's being played on the other side of the planet?" Foreign TV viewership of the league has skyrocketed during this decade. Though it's likely a vast overstatement, the article repeats a claim that one billion people watched Arsenal's match with Manchester United last November.

posted by rcade at 10:12 AM PST - 14 comments

Munich disaster for Manchester United - 50 years ago today. A day of remembrance Eight Busby Babes, including Duncan Edwards, died in the air crash. Manager Matt Busby was pronounced dead twice before rising to lead the team into the next decade, winning the European Cup in 1968. Many English clubs came to the aid of United, providing players so United could continue their season.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 12:28 PM PST - 3 comments

From Exeter City to the 2010 World Cup... via Singapore? After struggling to forge a professional career in the lower leagues of English football, John Wilkinson was about to pack it all in and quit the sport. Then the Singaporean FA came calling, and he now has a realistic chance of competing at the next World Cup in two years time.

posted by afx237vi at 10:10 AM PST - 9 comments

South Korean soccer players dislocate their shoulders to become draft dodgers Why bother with serving your country when the U.S is there as your minders? Makes me reminisce of my days eating kimchi and swigging ginseng from the bottle.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 3:40 PM PST - 10 comments

All the goals from the world's major footie leagues, as YouTube-like Flash video highlights. The interface is in Spanish, but navigation is straightforward. Premiership, La Liga, Calcio, Bundesliga and much, much more. Eat my goal!

posted by Abiezer at 5:58 AM PST - 4 comments

The Globalization of Sport. David Stern has made efforts to grow the NBA into a global league. The British Empire exported soccer so well that it is often called The World's Game. Simon Kuper contrasts the ways the British and American empires have exported their sports.

posted by Steve-o at 3:26 PM PST - 15 comments

I own part of a football team

posted by justgary at 10:20 PM PST - 1 comments

Puerto Rico: Emerging Caribbean Soccer Power? With over two years of inactivity at the international level, Puerto Rico had sunk to a lowly ranking of 196 of 207 prior to this last two week’s return to action with successful warm-up friendlies against Bermuda and Trinidad & Tobago. The seeds of a renaissance were planted in 2004 with the birth of the Puerto Rico Islanders in the USL First Division . Now, as Puerto Rico heads toward World Cup qualifying, the island’s top club team and National Team are on the cusp of becoming regional powers.

posted by BoriQa at 7:18 AM PST - 6 comments

Fans make Liverpool takeover move Liverpool supporters are to launch an ambitious plan to buy the football club from its current American owners and turn it towards the Spanish/German model. "The Champions League has been won on six occasions in the last 15 years by clubs owned and run in such a way," said football business lecturer Rogan Taylor, one of the three prime movers.

posted by billsaysthis at 10:31 PM PST - 12 comments

How soccer explains the US elections. Hillary (Hillisco is her Brazilian soccer name) would win by a mile. Soccer cred includes playing on her high school varsity team, and soccer team-named daughter Chelsea also playing soccer. Highlights include pic of Bill Clinton (Clintosa!) playing soccer with Pele, and video of Chuck Norris, greatest soccer player in the world.

posted by worldcup2002 at 6:16 PM PST - 55 comments

Why Liverpool shouldn't suck up to DIC Lovely title, isn't it? It's Friday, and Liverpool is my team, but read the article, and see if it doesn't generate some distaste as to the prospect of having your team be owned by the Dubai International Corporation. Perhaps it can save as a warning to fans of other teams, should DIC swing its attentions away from Liverpool.

posted by worldcup2002 at 1:26 PM PST - 18 comments

The American Revolution continues in London Eddie Johnson signs for Fulham of England's Premier League, joining fellow Americans Brian McBride, Carlos Bocanegra, Kasey Keller and Clint Dempsey.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 1:45 PM PST - 49 comments

The Premier League's Pound-for-Pound Champion
"Some may say that Everton have failed, but in essence they have been let down by the system. Pound for pound, Moyes could have the best team in the country and it is to football’s shame that a fat lot of good it may do him."

posted by yerfatma at 7:57 AM PST - 19 comments

Lacrosse: NLL Weekend recap, news & quotes --- Tavares makes history as the Buffalo Bandits (2-1) hold on to defeat the New York Titans (1-1) 17-13. Current NLL champion Rochester Knighthawks (1-2) fell to the Philadelphia Wings (2-0) 15-14. Toronto Rock (2-2) defeats the Edmonton Rush (0-2) 14-9

posted by BoriQa at 9:28 PM PST - 7 comments

World Soccer: January Friendlies Update Puerto Rico is on a roll with victories 2-0 and 1-0 over Bermuda last week in preparation for the first phase of the 2010 World Cup qualifying that begins next month in the Caribbean. The last time Puerto Rico won as many as two games in a row came in 1993. Among some of the other friendly results: Barbados 3-2 Antigua & Barbuda, Guyana 1-2 Grenada, and USA 2-0 Sweden. Still to play in January are Haiti vs. El Salvador, Puerto Rico vs. Trinidad & Tobago, El Salvador vs. Estonia, and Iran vs. Costa Rica.

posted by BoriQa at 10:54 AM PST - 6 comments

World Soccer: Puerto Rico shutouts Bermuda again! On Friday January 18th, for the 2nd time this week, the Puerto Rico National team defeated their Bermuda counterpart, this time 1-0, at the National Sports Centre in Hamilton, Bermuda. Puerto Rico had already defeated Bermuda 2-0 on Wednesday January 16th. The Puerto Rico national team, which hasn't played since 2004, is undergoing a renaissance as they build towards a World Cup qualifier against Dominican Republic next March. According to FIFA rankings, the Puerto Rico team is ranked 196 (out of 207) in the world. According to the Northern Irish Head Coah of the national team Colin 'General' Clarke the Puerto Rico team is not that bad and says that their position at the bottom of the pile - compared to Bermuda's 146th - to be more to do with inactivity than lack of ability. The Puerto Rico team had not played since 2004. Clarke who also coaches the USL 1st division Puerto Rico Islanders said that the squad had been galvanized by a sense that a genuine national program was starting to come together for the first time in years.

posted by BoriQa at 11:54 AM PST - 2 comments

"We're in heaven, we've got Kevin" Kevin Keegan makes a dream return to manage Newcastle United.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 12:56 PM PST - 9 comments

Soccer by Ives Ives Galarcep, a blogger, soccer beat reporter for a Jersey newspaper and ESPN.com for the last decade, took the increasingly common plunge and left his newspaper home to launch a global soccer news site for the American fan. Tagline: "Spanning the world of soccer with an American voice and a Jersey flavor"

posted by billsaysthis at 11:16 PM PST - 2 comments

2007 in Futbol

posted by yerfatma at 2:56 PM PST - 3 comments

Champions League 2nd round provides clash of titans galore Pick of the crop: Arsenal v AC Milan, Liverpool v Inter, Roma v Madrid, Celtic v Barcelona. Others: Schalke v Porto, Fenerbahce vs Sevilla, Man U v Lyon. And Chelsea v Olympiakos, likely the easiest tie of the two-leg (home-and-away) knockout round.

posted by worldcup2002 at 1:10 PM PST - 7 comments

Fulham dirty Sanchez. EPL relegation strugglers Fulham have sacked Lawrie Sanchez. They need to find a manager to stop them losing goals and games in the last 20 minutes of a match. Who's up for it? Former England boss Steve McLaren? Too little, too late?

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:18 PM PST - 5 comments

Derby to become Mickey Mouse club? Roy (nephew of Walt) Disney's Shamrock Holdings investment group is reported to be heading a US consortium that is seeking to buy bottom-of-the-EPL Derby County. New Rams chairman Adam Pearson denies holding talks with them or with the Walt Disney Co., of which Roy Disney is "director emeritus". Pearson also thinks calling Derby a "Mickey Mouse club" is "cheap and potentially damaging."

posted by worldcup2002 at 6:28 PM PST - 12 comments

Fabio Capello to be crowned as England manager. Capello, who won nine league titles and an European Cup (before it became the Champions League) with teams you may not have heard of, such as AC Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid, will soon be revealed to the public as the new England manager. I daresay this is quite a positive turn of events for the FA. What I've read about the consultative process the recruiting team used "across all of football" gives me some confidence about their choice. Of course, Capello's credentials don't hurt either.

posted by worldcup2002 at 9:36 PM PST - 14 comments

Arsenal unbeaten no more. EPL leaders Arsenal saw their unbeaten record fall and their four-point lead cut down to one after a 2-1 upset by lowly Middlesborough. Coincidentally, the only other unbeaten team this season, Liverpool, also had their record swept aside by a resurgent Reading yesterday.

posted by worldcup2002 at 6:33 PM PST - 7 comments

Six great soccer books. The Guardian's Scott Murray lists his top six soccer books: "From a history of German football to leftwing rages on fans' rights ..." Don't forget to check out the reader faves in the article's comments. And, of course, add your own here.

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:55 PM PST - 8 comments

US goalkeeper Hope Solo talks about World Cup fiasco Read story

posted by smdragon at 9:41 PM PST - 23 comments

Police hunt for laser-toting fan. Police will examine CCTV footage of Saturday's match involving Chelsea and West Ham in a bid to find the culprit who shone a green 'laser beam' into the face of Didier Drogba.

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:53 PM PST - 14 comments

Five Arrested in Football Corruption Investigation. Portsmouth FC Manager Harry Redknapp and Chief Executive Peter Storrie are among five men arrested by UK police as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption within football.

The arrests follow a raid by police on Newcastle, Portsmouth and Glasgow Rangers football clubs earlier this year.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 3:06 PM PST - 7 comments

Jewell in the rough. Former Wigan manager Paul Jewell is crowned the new manager at EPL bottom club Derby. His former assistant and recently-ousted replacement at Wigan, Chris Hutching, is expected to join him in leading the Rams. In other bottom-club manager moves, Birmingham has surprisingly secured Scotland manager Alex McLeish (who'll be earning four times what he did with Scotland). Meanwhile, Birmingham caretaker manager Eric Black has left to join former Blues boss Steve Bruce at Wigan. Whew.

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:26 AM PST - 9 comments

Mourinho for England manager? The Guardian makes perhaps the most compelling set of arguments for the former Chelsea coach's selection: he's eager (but still awaits contact from senior FA officials), his family and coaching staff are eager to get back to England, he's coached six of the current England side at Chelsea, including national captain John Terry. Recently sacked England assistant manager Terry Venables thinks a foreigner may be better suited to the pressure. Or will Alan Shearer be the dark horse?

posted by worldcup2002 at 5:26 PM PST - 8 comments

World Cup 2010 qualifiers offer England revenge against Croatia. The draw for World Cup 2010 (South Africa) qualifying rounds was held today and put England and Croatia, who kept the English out of Euro Championship 2008 just this week, in Group 6 along with Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra. What's your take on how this group will play out? What about the other groups?

posted by worldcup2002 at 1:48 PM PST - 8 comments

Fergie bungles at Bolton. With the "Big Four" teams playing mostly drop-zone teams today, defending champions Manchester United lose a shocker 1-0 to Bolton, who were the top of the bottom three at the start of the matchday but scrabbled out of the relegation zone with today's upset. Ferguson decided to rest Ronaldo (after he played two Euro qualifiers for Portugal in a week), his top performer this season, by not even naming him to the squad. This, with firebrand Wayne Rooney also out, turned out to be a bad gamble. Fergie also got sent into the stands by the referee after a prolonged outburst. Arsenal went on to beat second-from-bottom Wigan 2-0, and now heads Man U and the league by three points, with an extra game to play. Chelsea is, in the meantime, leading bottom-boys Derby 1-0. Also, Liverpool thumped Newcastle 3-0 to move into fourth. Has Ferguson lost the plot?

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:30 PM PST - 16 comments

McClaren sacked for big loss After only 18 matches as England's coach, Steve McClaren and assistant coach Terry Venables have lost their positions after their side's failure to qualify for Euro 2008. The Football Association said was a unanimous decision by the board. So who's next? The speculation begins.

posted by terrapin at 11:24 AM PST - 17 comments

Sven gets £150 million shopping money for three stars. Ronaldinho, Messi and Kaka are rumored to be top of Manchester City's list when the January transfer window opens. Holy moly. Anyone has corroborating reports?

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:55 AM PST - 4 comments

McLaren drops Robinson and Beckham for final Euro 2008 qualifying group match. After riding the qualifying rollercoaster almost off the rails, and having their campaign pulled back on the tracks by an improbable 2-1 win by Israel over Russia, England manager Steve McLaren has opted for relatively junior players Scott Carson (Aston Villa keeper) and Shawn Wright-Philips (Chelsea winger) instead of stalwarts Paul Robinson and David Beckham. With England only needing a draw to qualify for next year's competition, is McLaren making another unnecessary gamble? (Last Friday's friendly with Austria that ended with Michael Owen injured, and only one viable striker left for tomorrow's match is considered another recent example.)

posted by worldcup2002 at 9:59 PM PST - 24 comments

Walter Tull was born into a poor family and orphaned at an early age. Conditions were tough and opinions prejudiced but by the age of nineteen Walter Tull was playing first team football for Spurs – the first black outfield player in history. Then came the Great War. Tull signed up as a private but within three years he had become the first British-born black officer.

posted by Abiezer at 2:52 PM PST - 4 comments

Foreign player quota gathers steam in England. UK Sports Minister wants to study the impact of foreign players on the local game. I've been noticing a recent increase in reports of various soccer notables calling for foreign player limits in Europe. FIFA president Sepp Blatter seems to have re-ignited the debate by saying he'll challenge the EU anti-discrimination laws in order to instate the "only five foreign players in the starting 11" quota system. Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson agrees. Steve Coppell (Reading manager) claimed it would improve the quality of the national team. Steve Gerrard (Liverpool captain, local boy and England midfielder) agrees. What's going on here? It's not like this is a new issue. And lots of these managers and their high-end teams are first in line to benefit from open trade in international players. Why is this an issue now? What's your take on this?

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:49 PM PST - 16 comments

Fence, I, and maybe a few other SpoFites, are officially proud new owners of a bouncing baby football club. Ebbsfleet United are about to set sail. (Click on "NEWSDESK" at the top of the page).

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 12:08 PM PST - 10 comments

Violence Threatens Italian Soccer "The recent soccer-related violence hit a little too close to home," Nicole Martinelli writes from Italy, where riots and protests followed a soccer fan being shot and killed by a police officer during a scuffle. "Officials made the bad call of not canceling the day's games immediately. So when they finally decided to it was a better idea not to hold the Inter-Lazio face-off at Milan's San Siro stadium, they turned a river of irate young men into the streets."

posted by rcade at 7:03 AM PST - 12 comments

Pele has choice words for MLS. On Beckham: "They announced him as a scorer of goals ... He isn't a goal scorer. That was a mistake." On MLS player salaries and trade restrictions: "This was one of the mistakes. They have to give freedom to the owners of the teams to buy the players and (chose) which players they want to put (out) ... The big mistake in the league now is to control the level of the teams. If they opened this up, it would be much better."

posted by worldcup2002 at 4:54 PM PST - 9 comments

Liverpool bury Besiktas 8-0. Liverpool takes the first step in salvaging its Champions League campaign by recording the highest-margin in a Champions League match. Hilarious Guardian match coverage ensues. Notes: 1. Liverpool needs to win its remaining two matches to qualify for the next round. 2: How the hell did we lose 2-1 to these clowns just two weeks ago? 3. Rafa, please keep this starting 11 for this weekend. Please.

posted by worldcup2002 at 4:04 PM PST - 13 comments

Beckham beats Hollywood strikers. No, not those Hollywood strikers. I'm talking about Beckham's LA Galaxy beating by 12-4 Vinnie Jones's Hollywood United FC last night to raise money for victims of the Southern CA wildfires. Apparently, England manager Steve MacLaren was in town to assess Beckham's fitness, unbeknownst to the England FA, and that is adding further controversy to an already contentious management stint.

posted by worldcup2002 at 2:17 PM PST - 16 comments

Pyramid passion One man's odyssey around the lower reaches of British non-league football. Lots of quirky reading about such luminaries of the game as Staveley Miners Welfare and Gala Fairydean. Much photography of various ramshackle grounds and the supporters who half-fill them. You can almost smell the Bovril.

posted by Abiezer at 6:29 AM PST - 5 comments

Pictorial: How a soccer ball is made. 39 pics chronicling the making of an Adidas football, from the pressing of a single panel until the ball is packed in the box.

posted by worldcup2002 at 7:19 PM PST - 4 comments

Kicking the ball to Holland. I explain that few people are even aware that Suriname exists, yet, far away ... where the stars of European soccer shine, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard are famous names. They have Suriname in their past, but the jerseys they wear, or did wear, are Dutch. ... There are countries twice the size of Suriname without half its number of celebrity names. ... But the tragedy is that none of them can come and play for their country of origin.

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:58 PM PST - 3 comments

American to lead Iran? The Iran national men's soccer team, that is. Afshin Ghotbi, US citizen, and veteran of three World Cups, serving on the coaching staff for the US and Korea, is currently manager of table-topping Tehran team, Persepolis. With the World Cup 2010 qualifiers approaching, and Iran without a manager, it would seem Ghotbi's time has come.

posted by worldcup2002 at 10:56 AM PST - 0 comments - Post a Comment

Steve Nash Wants to Buy Spurs No, not those Spurs -- Tottenham Hotspur in the Premiership. "I'd like to be an owner," he told the New York Times. "It's something I could do for the rest of my life after my little window of popularity dies." Nash, who played soccer in Canada as a youth and has a brother with Football Association experience, is a lifelong fan of the team like his London-born father.

posted by rcade at 6:22 AM PST - 7 comments

Brazil Awarded 2014 World Cup The World Cup tournament will be held for the first time since 1950 in Brazil, the country that has won a record five times and played in all 18. History was made in that tournament 57 years ago, as Reuters recounts: the largest crowd ever to see a soccer match, over 200,000 fans, witnessed Brazil lose to Uruguay.

posted by rcade at 10:43 AM PST - 15 comments

Martin Jol sacked by Tottenham! Sevilla's Juande Ramos to take over. In other shocking news: The sun, reportedly, will rise tomorrow.

posted by lawn_wrangler at 10:26 PM PST - 16 comments

Belated birthday wishes to football! Sheffield FC, the oldest club in the world celebrated its 150th birthday yesterday. Meanwhile, the muscular Christians responsible for starting many of our clubs also deserve a bit of recognition. Who would have thunk it, from a sport which was popularised as result of attempts to keep scraggy arsed working class males from marmalising one another in pubs ............................to David Beckham.

posted by Fat Buddha at 5:38 PM PST - 5 comments

Greg Ryan Fired as U.S. Women's Soccer Coach Ryan, who was 45-1-9 since taking over in 2005, led the U.S. team to a third-place finish in the World Cup, a tournament it was favored to win. Hope Solo did not comment on the move.

posted by rcade at 8:03 AM PST - 21 comments

Drogba vows to leave 'broken' Chelsea as soon as possible. "My decision is taken," Drogba said. "Nothing could keep me here now. I know there's talk of Ronaldinho and Kaka coming here next season but that won't change my mind. I won't go back on this decision. No doubt because there's something broken with Chelsea." Is Roman's house of cards beginning to fall?

posted by lawn_wrangler at 6:33 AM PST - 5 comments

Sammy Lee bolts off from Bolton. Second EPL manager to bite the dust this season. (Jose Mourinho was the most notable first.) I must say Bolton's performance and results have been nothing short of disappointing so far. With star players like Anelka saying they're "waiting for a big club" (immediately after signing a four-year Bolton contract no less) and Speed dropping his coaching role to focus on playing (just last week), who's going to want to take Sammy Lee's place?

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:51 AM PST - 10 comments

Tartan Army takes the high road Beating Ukraine 3-1 at Hampden to continue their unexpected Euro qualifiers group-topping run was probably more than enough to make Scotland supporters feel good about themselves. But they've gone a bit better; their half-time rendition of Loch Lomond [Amateur video] will be made into a single with uber-folksters Runrig, proceeds to charity Children in Need.

posted by Abiezer at 11:32 AM PST - 6 comments

Morality and soccer 2: Catholic church takes over Italian pro team AC Ancona. "Our aim is not to save football, but to give a valid witness. We hope that witness gets picked up by other clubs and used as a sort of template. What is needed is to bring the true values of sport back into the professional game."

posted by worldcup2002 at 5:55 PM PST - 21 comments

Morality and soccer 1: Thai prosecutors in London to discuss extradition of Thai PM and Man City owner Thaksin The visit to see British officials about Thaksin's corruption charges is the latest move in a campaign by the military junta that deposed Mr Thaksin in September last year in a bloodless coup while he was in New York at the UN general assembly.

posted by worldcup2002 at 5:43 PM PST - 4 comments

Liverpool inconsistency not caused by Rafa's rotation but by Gerrard's lack thereof. I've blamed the former. Scott Murray of the Guardian makes a compelling case for the latter. He points to recent results, Gerrard's swashbuckling but undisciplined performances (a la Beckham) and the resulting observations that you can't build your team around Gerrard and, as much as Stevie wants to be the midfield dynamo, he really can't. With the quality of players we've bought and the results where Stevie didn't feature this season, I'd have to say it's hard to argue against.

posted by worldcup2002 at 1:35 PM PST - 18 comments

Ajax coach Henk ten Cate joins Chelsea. The Guardian has aggressively reported that Ajax has released ten Cate to join Chelsea's coaching staff, reporting to Avram Grant. BBC is more conservative, saying that Chelsea is being "allowed to talk to Ten Cate." Soccernet reports that Chelsea ain't talking. Looks like a done deal. The bigger question is: How long before Avram is pushed out and Henk takes over?

posted by worldcup2002 at 1:38 PM PST - 8 comments

Hope Solo Kicked Off Team for Consolation Game In response to Hope Solo's comments after the Brazil loss, Coach Greg Ryan said the benched goalkeeper won't play in Sunday's third-place World Cup game and won't even be on the bench, in spite of her apologies to the public and her teammates. "We have moved forward with 20 players who have stood by each other, who have battled for each other," said Ryan. "And when the hard times came -- and the Brazil game was a hard time -- they stood strong. Now it's the 20 who have stuck together who will be ready to go out and compete against Norway."

posted by rcade at 8:02 AM PST - 61 comments

Heartbreak for women's US soccer team. As Brazil head to the World Cup final with Germany.

posted by Ricardo at 10:04 AM PST - 54 comments

Austria fans petition for Austria-free Euro 2008 Thousands of Austrian soccer fans dismayed at their national side's poor showing ahead of co-hosting Euro 2008 are petitioning for their team to be withdrawn from the tournament. A group of fans have collected more than 4,000 names since launching the petition last Wednesday. "This is not about criticising players or coaches," said Michael Kriess, one of the fans who launched the petition.

posted by billsaysthis at 12:39 PM PST - 5 comments

Sportsmanship hasn't gone away. Last month the Carling Cup match between Leicester City and Nottingham Forest was abandoned after Clive Clarke suffered a heart attack. At the time Forest were leading, so, in a sporting gesture Leicester allowed Forest a "free goal" at the start of the rematch.

posted by Fence at 4:47 AM PST - 20 comments

Mourinho Departs from Chelsea The celebrated manager Jose Mourinho has left his position at Chelsea with immediate effect. Mourinho joined Chelsea in the summer of 2004 and led them to the Premiership title in each of his first two seasons.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 8:01 PM PST - 30 comments

Women's World Cup 2007. Good grief. I didn't even know it was on, and it's almost in the quarterfinals by now. Germany, Brazil and England thru to the quarters. The final first round matches to be played over the next two days will decide the rest (top contenders include Korea, USA, Australia, Norway and Denmark). Match schedule (from ESPN Soccernet, including results and ESPN telecast times).

posted by worldcup2002 at 6:51 PM PST - 35 comments

Stephen Ireland busted for lying. First he said his grandma died so he could skip the Republic of Ireland Euro 2008 qualification match (they lost 1-0). She was surprised to see the news in the paper. Then he said it was his other grandmother who had died. She was also surprised to see that in the newspaper. Oh, no, he meant his divorced grandfather's partner had died. Umm, nope. So now it turns out he was spending time with his "lonely" girlfriend. LMAO.

posted by worldcup2002 at 10:44 PM PST - 21 comments

Third footballer dies from heart problems in 10 days. What the ... ?!! ... Chaswe Nsofwa, a former Zambia international, collapsed and died of heart failure during a training session with his Israeli club side, Hapoel Beersheba. The tragedy came less than 24 hours after Clive Clarke, the Leicester City player on loan from Sunderland, suffered a heart attack during Tuesday's League Cup tie at Nottingham Forest. Clarke was recovering in hospital yesterday. On Tuesday afternoon ... Sevilla ... left-back, Antonio Puerta, had died after suffering "five cardio-respiratory stoppages". Little more than a week earlier Walsall's 16-year-old youth-team player Anton Reid inexplicably collapsed on the training ground and died.

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:15 PM PST - 20 comments

Mourning in Seville Thousands turned out for the memorial service for 22-year-old Antonio Puerta, a defender who died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack on the pitch. Spanish newspaper La Razon said, “the heart of football has stopped.” News24 has a brief history of recent soccer deaths; amazing how so many young adults, in peak physical condition, are felled by cardiac problems that go undetected by team doctors during physicals.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 4:50 PM PST - 3 comments

Liverpool play city rivals' theme song for first time in stadium. Football rivalries were cast aside in honour of the 11-year-old Evertonian Rhys Jones, who was shot dead a week ago today in Croxteth Park. At the request of Liverpool supporters and following consultation between chief executive Rick Parry and the family of the murdered schoolboy, the Z-Cars theme synonymous with rivals Everton sounded for the first time inside this old stadium. Nice touch, Reds. I always thought the Reds fans had a touch of class.

posted by worldcup2002 at 9:47 AM PST - 5 comments

Platini's first move If a new UEFA committee he organized after taking office earlier this year approves, the winners of domestic Cups from sixteen nations will play two knockout rounds with the four survivors winning direct entry to the group stage of the Champions League. This is separate from their standing in the league table, though if a Cup winner already qualifies through an automatic spot the CL place goes to the next team in the table and not the Cup final loser. Michel Platini campaigned for the UEFA presidency on a platform of broadening the riches of the modern game and sees this as his first step.

posted by billsaysthis at 12:00 AM PST - 7 comments

Kasey Keller signs for Fulham Pretty soon the American takeover of Fulham Football Club will be complete.

posted by Ricardo at 12:34 PM PST - 15 comments

"I prefer the whore that is your sister" = Headbutt

posted by garfield at 12:01 PM PST - 53 comments

Royal Reading Rule Reds. Starting their sophomore season in the Premiership, Reading (managed by Steve Coppell, a former Man Utd star) held the reigning champions to a 0-0 draw. Against players whose individual transfer fees cost more than most of Reading's team put together. At Man Utd's stadium. After having one man sent off with 20 minutes remaining. Rah rah, Reading!

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:09 PM PST - 20 comments

Premier League team previews. The BBC (ok, ok, it's just Mark Lawrenson's poorly-written short thoughts) forecasts team prospects ahead of the 2007-08 kickoff this Saturday. Also see previews from Soccernet and the Guardian (poorly-organized but worth a read).

posted by worldcup2002 at 7:06 PM PST - 13 comments

Stromtroopers break up the Alliance. Alliance for "Beijing-style cursing" from the terraces at Beijing Guoan's home matches that is. Another sad day for sporting tradition.

posted by Abiezer at 8:57 AM PST - 4 comments

9 year old sign with manchester united (no really)

posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 5:37 AM PST - 13 comments

We bid you a fond Adu. MLS brokers a transfer of Freddy Adu to Portuguese club Benfica worth $2 Mill. with a percentage on any future transfers in the backend.

posted by lilnemo at 2:12 PM PST - 11 comments

With one shot, Iraq conquer Saudi Arabia and Asia. With a strikeforce consisting of a Kurd, a Sunni and a Shiite, Iraq secured their first Asia Cup championship with a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. The winning goal was scored by captain Younes Mahmoud. Iraqis the world over celebrate this triumph and national unity in the face of continued violence.

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:37 AM PST - 6 comments

Women's football in Egypt Decent short report from Al Jazeera on the growth of the women's game in the big African nation.

posted by Abiezer at 2:02 AM PST - 3 comments

Iraqi Soccer Fans Killed. Two suicide bombers killed over 50 people in Baghdad as they gather to celebrate a victory by their national team.

posted by FonGu at 5:41 PM PST - 4 comments

Football player deserts Asian Cup to get married For the second time during this Asian Cup a player will desert his team to get hitched. Vietnam playmaker Phan Van Tai Em is to miss the biggest game of his life on Saturday as he has already organised his wedding on the same day.

posted by commander cody at 3:26 AM PST - 12 comments

Police taser Chilean team Brawl breaks out after soccer game, Police use tasers, billyclubs, and handcuffs to quell the commotion. In Toronto!

posted by tommytrump at 12:40 AM PST - 10 comments

Report: San Jose Gets Expansion MLS Franchise According to the San Jose Mercury News, Major League Soccer will award the league's 14th team to the San Jose Earthquakes, an expansion franchise that's taking the team records (but not the team) back from Houston. Portland and New York are next in line for franchises, according to MLS Rumors.

posted by rcade at 9:06 AM PST - 31 comments

Chelsea is a Mickey Mouse company. Chelsea ties up with Disney in a youth football partnership, as official pro soccer club for Disney's Wide World of Sports and presenting sponsor of the Disney Soccer Showcase Series. Perhaps ESPN will take soccer seriously now: "Further talks are planned to see how Chelsea can work with the various entertainment and media brands within Disney."

posted by worldcup2002 at 9:30 AM PST - 6 comments

Beckham Comes to the Colonies

posted by FonGu at 4:06 PM PST - 59 comments

'Mein Fuhrer, I Have Today's Football Results' As this video shows, one fan of Sheffield United took the team's relegation from the Premiership last season -- which wouldn't have happened if West Ham United lost points over the Carlos Tevez signing -- particularly hard.

posted by rcade at 10:04 AM PST - 9 comments

Hawk-Eye for EPL? Technology for seeing if balls are in or out in tennis will be tested for goal-line decisions by the EPL. The technology is to be used by "the referees, not TV."

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:49 AM PST - 11 comments

Svenchester City. Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is the new Manchester City boss, a move triggered by a controversial takeover at the club by former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:51 AM PST - 9 comments

The very worst You can really tell that it is the off season for soccer, a few weeks ago it was the fifty best players, and now the Times takes a look at the fifty worst footballers to play in England. Can you guess who this refers to?

Told Kenny Dalglish he intended to bite off his ear and spit in the whole. And they said there were no characters left in the game.

posted by Fence at 9:30 AM PST - 8 comments

CONMEBOL not pleased with U.S. The South American Soccer Federation feels disrespected that the USA sent a second-tier team to the Copa America, the continents most important tournament. As an invited guest has the USMNT embarassed itself on the field and off?

posted by urall cloolis at 6:57 AM PST - 44 comments

USA 2-1 Mexico FSC's Christopher Sullivan said before the game that while El Tri generally outplay Uncle Sam, the Americans find the chances and win and that was certainly what happened this afternoon. Donovan got his fourth goal of the tournament, all PKs, emerging star Bennie Feilhaber had the best goal of the competition with a volley to the top far corner off a poor Mexican clearance for the winner and the US improved to 10-0-1 under Bob Bradley. Next: Bradley takes an extremely young team to Venezuela since even the strongest side he could have fielded were unlikely to make it out of the group stage.

posted by billsaysthis at 5:59 PM PST - 33 comments

Thierry Henry Bound for Barcelona One of the Premiership's greats will net $13.5 million a year in a four-year deal with the storied Spanish side that failed to get him last year. One fan's succinct response on Arsenal Mania: "Gutted. Spurs are better than us."

posted by rcade at 10:11 AM PST - 16 comments

"This is high-calibre marketing - taking an inferior product and improving it through packaging." Top quality trolling from Alexi Lalas, who responds to sniping from across the pond with tongue-in-cheek praise of the Premiership's capacity to sell Wigan-Charlton as a Super Sunday spectacular.

posted by etagloh at 4:01 AM PST - 9 comments

In Praise of 'Soccer' Steven Wells: "... soccer-playing America is massively liberal, loving, caring, socially conscious and nice. While soccer-hating America consists of increasingly isolated gangs of Bush-supporting, bible-bashing, gun-crazed, dungaree wearing, banjo-playing, quasi-fascist chicken-lovers and their twelve fingered, pin-headed, cyclopic, drooling monster children."

posted by Fat Buddha at 5:02 AM PST - 46 comments

America! Beware of young Haitian soccer playing terrorists!

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 5:24 PM PST - 22 comments

Bluebirds and Vikings A product of English football's centre of excellence, Rhys Weston made his debut for Arsenal on the same day as Ashley Cole, has been capped multiple times for his country and has played more than 200 professional games. But now, along with hundreds of other footballers each off-season, he's out of a job, thinking about mortgage payments and waiting for the phone to ring.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 5:47 PM PST - 9 comments

The Blame Game: after a UEFA report blamed Liverpool fans for crowd trouble Rick Parry, Liverpool chief executive argued otherwise. Now Platini agrees saying that Reds fans cannot be blamed for the trouble. Martin Samuel isn't so sure.

posted by Fence at 5:13 AM PST - 4 comments

Sheffield United back to EPL? Relegated Sheffield United have an arbitration hearing overturn the EPL's decision to fine rather than dock West Ham points for illegally fielding players that were not "owned" by the club. Sheffield claim they will be returned to the EPL next season if they win the arbitration. The fallout may be West Ham taking Sheffield's place in the First Division or (horrors!) 21 teams in the EPL next season. In a related proceeding, actor Sean Bean (of Lord of the Rings and Bond "GoldenEye" movies fame) will lead a Sheffield United delegation to Parliament to press the point. This is turning into a real spectacle.

posted by worldcup2002 at 3:49 PM PST - 4 comments

Fan's punch ends qualifier: The Euro 08 qualifier between Denmark and Sweden was abandoned after a fan attempted to punch the referee. By all accounts an exciting game, with Denmark fighting back from 3 goals down to level the game before Danish midfielder Poulsen was sent off. The ensuing penalty seems to have been what led to the fan's attack. UEFA is to investigate the incident.

posted by Fence at 6:47 AM PST - 2 comments

Ten of the Best - The Times ranks every player in the Premiership, from 1 to 403, and take a look at five of the best and five of the worst by poisition. Let the arguments commence!

posted by JJ at 10:49 AM PST - 15 comments

Derby is the newest EPL club. The Rams pipped West Brom in the playoff final to fill the last promotion slot. Derby pick up a £52-million bonanza and join Sunderland (managed by former Man Utd captain Roy Keane) and Birmingham in the EPL next season.

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:02 PM PST - 27 comments

No more football at high altitude following a ban on playing matches at more than 2,500m above sea level. FIFA cite health and safety considerations. The impact of the ruling will be felt most in South America. Brazilian and Argentine sides have suffered in cup matches in Andean nations like Bolivia, and some attributed Ecuador's success in the last World Cup qualifying campaign to Quito's 2,800m altitude. Not necessarily sour grapes, as Peru have considered shifting their home matches for a similar benefit.

posted by Abiezer at 3:54 AM PST - 15 comments

"We must spend big." Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, smarting from his team's loss in yesterday's Champions League final, vowed to spend serious money on the transfer market this season. Apparently, the new American owners have finally given him the budget to do so. Here are some possible buys, including Eto'o, David Villa, Alves, Gamst Pedersen and Tevez. What do you think? Also, who gets sold? (Thanks for the previous post, Abiezer. It's nice to find more Reds fans.)

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:41 AM PST - 23 comments

Are Chelsea and Liverpool bad for football? "The Philosopher of Football" seems to think so:

"Put a shit hanging from a stick in the middle of this passionate, crazy stadium and there are people who will tell you it's a work of art. It's not: it's a shit hanging from a stick."

posted by yerfatma at 7:12 AM PST - 11 comments

China's finest blind soccer players at last week's 7th National Disabled Games in Kunming. Camera work's a bit duff but the skills are silky. I'm more used to officials with visual impairments.

posted by Abiezer at 4:43 AM PST - 9 comments

Damn, Leroy. Rosenior loses his manager's job at Torquay United after ten minutes. Can anyone top that for the shortest reign as coach?

posted by Abiezer at 1:44 AM PST - 8 comments

Chelsea Win Play Off For Third Place. In Europe. They won some other trophy, too.

posted by owlhouse at 1:00 AM PST - 16 comments

Quiz where you have to guess the football (soccer) team from photos of their strips I did terribly.

posted by Abiezer at 12:38 AM PST - 19 comments

Best footballing nations per capita International sides ranked by their FIFA points per head of population.

posted by Abiezer at 2:50 AM PST - 14 comments

Glazers first Americans to win EPL. Manchester United CEO hails new owners for helping United win the EPL (one week before the end of the season at that - thanks to Arsenal). Wow, the Glazers have won premier championships on two continents. Hey, Liverpool's new American owners, pay attention!

posted by worldcup2002 at 10:37 AM PST - 18 comments

Can't beat 'em? Sue em! Wigan, sitting just above the relegation spots, is preparing to sue West Ham (one spot below Wigan) and the FA in order to have points docked for illegal transfers of two Argentinian players. (West Ham has already been fined several million pounds by the FA.) Now, Sheffield United, another team not quite out of reach of the relegation spots, is preparing a similar legal case against the Hammers. Separately, the former West Ham chairman, who oversaw the illegal transfers and subsequently sold the club, is also planning to sue because his ongoing compensation contract was severed by the Hammers in relation to the transfers and FA fines. I wonder if my team, Liverpool (in third place), will get sued by Arsenal (in fourth) for buying one of those players. Let the legal hijinks begin!

posted by worldcup2002 at 9:55 AM PST - 12 comments

AC Milan v Liverpool will determine European club Championship once again For the second time in three season, these two greats of world football go at it again. After AC Milan made Manchester United look very pedestrian and Liverpool beat Chelsea after 210 minutes for sleep inducing football on penalty kicks, who's the favorite to bring home the silverware?

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 9:57 AM PST - 9 comments

Keane Leaps Toward Glory With Sunderland now safely promoted the future looks bright for Keane (I know, I posted about Keane recently, but I really liked this blog entry).
Birmingham are the other Championship side team guaranteed to be promoted, while others must battle in the play-offs. While down the other end of the table Leeds are likely to fall even further.

posted by Fence at 3:29 AM PST - 18 comments

Gretna make history with third title in a row Club from a tiny Borders town secured promotion to the top flight after just five years in the league, winning their league's title in three straight levels. Can they pressurize the Old Firm next season?

posted by billsaysthis at 2:29 PM PST - 9 comments

The Real Winning Eleven Want to own a stake in an English football team, but don't have pockets as deep as Roman Abramovich, Malcolm Glazer, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, Randy Lerner, or possibly even Stan Kroenke? Now's your chance! MyFootballClub is recruiting 50,000 members to bid for an English football club. Hoping to make history together by voting on which team to purchase—as well as which players to buy and sell—members plan to guide a club up the leagues and share equal ownership and control. Just like a football management game, but for real.

posted by terrapin at 11:50 AM PST - 6 comments

Manchester United 3 - AC Milan 2
Chelsea 1 - Liverpool 0

posted by JJ at 4:26 AM PST - 14 comments

Alan Ball dies, aged 61 The youngest of England's World Cup winning team, Alan Ball died of a suspected heart attack after a fighting a bonfire at his home.

Everyone knows the World Cup winner, the little ginger bundle of energy who really won the Jules Rimet trophy, begging Sir Geoff Hurst's pardon. (BBC)

posted by Fence at 5:53 AM PST - 7 comments

Roy Keane to replace Fergie? So Eric Cantona believes as Sunderland look like returning to the Premiership. But questions remain over whether Keane has really proven himself as a manager. Especially considering the recent loss to Colchester.

posted by Fence at 3:59 AM PST - 7 comments

Leo Messi does a Maradona. The insanely-talented 19-year-old Barcelona midfielder shows why so many call him the new Maradona in a 5-2 drubbing of Getafe. For the second goal of the match, Messi first picks up the ball at the centerline, then jinks, cuts and scurries past 1-2-3-4-5 (the keeper)-6 players before slicing the ball into goal. There's a link to video of the goal in the article but I'll embed clips of both Messi's magic and Maradona's goal for the ages inside. Es fantastico.

posted by worldcup2002 at 8:18 PM PST - 23 comments

Newcastle wants England FA to pay more for Owen injuries. "The Premier League has backed Newcastle's claim for compensation from the Football Association for Michael Owen's serious injury on England duty. Owen, 27, suffered knee ligament damage against Sweden in the 2006 World Cup. Newcastle have received about £6m compensation from the FA, FIFA and, their insurer, but want to recoup £150,000 paid out in getting Owen fit." How prevalent is this kind of compensatory arrangement for pro players who are injured in international matches? How about in other sports? For example, do the MLS or NBA or NFL or MLB teams get compensated when their players get injured playing for Team USA? Will the increasing costs help return international sports to amateur status?

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:07 PM PST - 6 comments

Former UNC player Melissa Jennings accuses Anson Dorrance, the nation's most decorated women's soccer coach, of maintaining a hostile environment filled with sexual harassment 9 year old lawsuit is alive and kicking with the backup goalkeeper believing the abuse prevented her from reaping the benefits of college sports, a violation of Title IX.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 2:09 PM PST - 36 comments

Maradona back in hospital Just two days after his stay in hospital Diego Maradona is back in hospital. He is being treated for toxic hepatitis related to alcohol abuse.

posted by Fence at 7:30 AM PST - 9 comments

It was a close game... until it started. Manchester United thumped seven past Roma to win 8-3 on aggregate [links to goals inside]. Chelsea won too, so unless Eindhoven can score four at Anfield tonight, there will be three English clubs in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

posted by JJ at 3:57 AM PST - 14 comments

Dirk Gent(leman)ly Reading some English comments on the Marbury-LeBron sneaker war, I learned that Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt runs his own foundation to help the poor in Nepal and Ghana, as well as back home in his native Holland. I was suitably impressed.

posted by Abiezer at 6:58 AM PST - 6 comments

Planes, Taxis and Disco Pants Sunderland fans have their return trip paid for by the club chairman out of his own pocket, after being kicked off a plane for 'rowdy behaviour'. Which involved singing about the club chairman's dress sense. Not an April Fool's Day story.

posted by owlhouse at 11:08 PM PST - 5 comments

"Juventus, giants of Italian and world football, were cut down in Serie A's match-fixing scandal last summer and relegated to the second division for the first time in their 110-year history." This well-written article follows the team and their remaining star players in their year of shame.

posted by rumple at 3:11 PM PST - 8 comments

We're Not Brazil We're Northern Ireland!

posted by JJ at 6:01 AM PST - 20 comments

US 3-1 Ecuador Playing again at the level of 2001-2004 (that is, from leading the Earthquakes to the 2001 and 2003 MLS championships and the US to within a single late goal of the final four in the 2002 World Cup and before his winter visit with Bayern Leverkusen), Landon Donovan scored a hat trick over higher-ranked Ecuador and the US back four plus newcomer Bennie Feilhaber stood up against a strong set of forwards. Sunil Gulati, inquiring minds want to know when you're going to end this absurd search for a permanent coach; with this and the previous 2-0 win over Mexico and his inclusion of young talent, Bob Bradley has earned the removal of the interim tag.

posted by billsaysthis at 2:14 PM PST - 21 comments

Suspected Knee Ligament Damage for Beckham David Beckham, ... seemed to have twisted his right knee in the 69th minute, while attempting an on-the-run cross, and hobbled of the pitch clutching it.

posted by scottypup at 2:09 PM PST - 36 comments

The heroism-stupidity line. After John Terry's decision to leave hospital as quickly as possible, Martin Samuel wonders is he believing his own hype as "captain indestructible" and when bravery turns into stupidity.

posted by Fence at 4:07 AM PST - 3 comments

The German World Cup Baby Boom. Last summer's mix of sun, beer and excitement during the football World Cup appears to have produced a massive hormone rush in German bedrooms, gardens and back alleys.

posted by Ufez Jones at 9:58 AM PST - 11 comments

Turbulent teammates turn heroes. After an "altercation" during training last week, Liverpool teammates John Arne Riise and Craig Bellamy both scored the goals in today's famous 2-1 victory over Champions League holders Barcelona, in the Nou Camp stadium no less. The best part: Riise scored the winning goal off a pass from Bellamy.

posted by worldcup2002 at 9:53 PM PST - 6 comments

We're not playing anymore! After Ryan Gigg's quick free kick, and resulting goal, Lille's manager, Claude Puel threatened to take his players off the pitch in protest. Not a smart move, as the match had already seen the use of tear gas on the crowd, and a crush scare.

posted by Fence at 3:14 AM PST - 31 comments

Good Save, the Queen In an effort to make up for missing the opening of Arsenal's Emirates stadium last October due to a back injury, Queen Elizabeth has invited the team—including captain Thierry Henry [YouTube video]—over to Buckingham Palace for tea. I just hope someone doesn't ask her to pass the crumpets.

posted by terrapin at 6:50 AM PST - 16 comments

Zidane to bite Big Apple? Will Zizou follow Becks on the money trail by joining the New York Red Bulls?

posted by worldcup2002 at 7:37 PM PST - 18 comments

EPL takeover trends. The recent takeover of my beloved Liverpool by American businessmen Gillett and Hicks led me to ask the question, wherein lies the ownership of England's premier football clubs? And what brought about the globalization of the EPL? The BBC answers.

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:45 PM PST - 7 comments

Liverpool FC recommends offer to shareholders. Looks as if LFC will shortly have new American owners. Their first interview.

posted by walrus at 1:41 PM PST - 1 comments

"We've Got The Software, We Just Need The Formula" Moneyball strategies applied to English football. And why baseball is like the Championship, but not the Premier League. From the ever readable Observer Sports Monthly.

posted by owlhouse at 4:36 AM PST - 9 comments

A Sad Day in Italy The most popular sport on earth has another horrible day.

posted by sauceysays at 6:37 PM PST - 10 comments

Liverpool bought by owners of Canadiens, Stars and Rangers. Yes, my beloved Reds have agreed to be purchased by George Gillett and Tom Hicks, American owners of rival NHL teams. Liverpool were apparently swayed by Hicks's stadium-building expertise, an earmarking of just under half of the £470m purchase price for a new stadium, and a commitment to not make the new stadium a groundshare with bitter rivals Everton. The Americans pipped an earlier offer by the Dubai royal family.

posted by worldcup2002 at 1:10 PM PST - 12 comments

Edgar Davids going back to Ajax- not to Dallas. Too bad Dallas couldn't get the deal done. Looks like Ronaldo will not be coming our way either. Who should MLS target next?

posted by urall cloolis at 6:44 PM PST - 8 comments

Former Portland Timbers star accused of scamming retired couple A former Portland Timbers soccer star is accused of stealing more than $100,000 from a retired couple, police said.

posted by lex2000 at 12:51 PM PST - 4 comments

Making a new life through soccer Luma Mufleh coaches the Fugees, a soccer team in Clarkston Georgia, and she is an example of the good that sport can do, because the Fugees are exactly that, refugees from all over the world, children with terrible pasts trying to make a new like for themselves. (via Metafiler)

posted by Fence at 5:36 PM PST - 7 comments

Liverpool Canadiens? American George Gillett Jr., owner of the Montreal ice hockey team and former owner of the Harlem Globetrotters (?!), has reportedly made a bid for the Reds that tops the Dubai royal family's earlier offer.

posted by worldcup2002 at 9:56 PM PST - 6 comments

Why Beckham is not Pele. A really excellent post on why MLS and NASL are in very different situations when they signed their aging superstars. (Related: why LA isn't getting an NFL team any time soon.)

posted by tieguy at 9:48 AM PST - 49 comments

Davids to bank it like Beckham? Edgar Davids, 33-year-old Spurs midfielder (formerly of Inter Milan and Holland) with the cool sports glasses, is reportedly in talks with FC Dallas. I wonder which other aging stars will be next to join Becks on the MLS Old-Timers Gravy Express? (C'mon, Zizou!)

posted by worldcup2002 at 11:03 PM PST - 39 comments

Beckham makes it official. He'll move from Real Madrid to the LA Galaxy this summer. What impact will this have on MLS and the state of the game in America? Can Becks conquer even a disinterested America?

posted by trox at 10:15 AM PST - 76 comments

Beckham's Real career ending with move to L.A. The world's most famous soccer star is coming to the USA!

posted by Aardhart at 10:02 AM PST - 1 comments

Clint Dempsey going the other way The American midfielder's work permit has gone through and he signs for Fulham. Can Deuce bring some flash to a team in need of a little sparkle?

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 10:53 AM PST - 8 comments

David Beckham's contract will not be renewed by Real Madrid Does this open the door for Becks to come to MLS? What impact will he make if he arrives stateside?

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 10:22 AM PST - 29 comments

Ownership group buys DC United for $33 million. This group includes former Duke basketball players Brian Davis and Christian Laettner. The group becomes the third ownership group to own the club.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 5:46 PM PST - 6 comments

Goat's Head Soup Christmas-wrapped and placed under the tree, GM in Italy's Serie A gets the message.

posted by Texan_lost_in_NY at 11:45 AM PST - 7 comments

David Beckham: Real Madrid's big mistake Selling shirts isn't enough. It's time for the Spanish giants to send Becks packin

posted by sportingo at 6:21 AM PST - 7 comments

Merry Christmas, Charlton. Recently-sacked West Ham coach Alan Pardew replaces Les Reed just two weeks after leaving the Hammers. West Ham just hired former Charlton manager Alan Curbishley, who promptly started his first game by beating EPL leaders Man Utd. Charlton (#19 of 20, six pts off the next rung) and West Ham (#18, one point away from the safety zone): Which of these teams will still be in the EPL next season?

posted by worldcup2002 at 1:54 PM PST - 7 comments

Donovan, Dempsey, Twellman picked for Bob Bradleys first training camp with the USMNT. I see some glaring omissions, not including the Euro based players. I am not sure that the team Bradley assembled could even finish in the top five in CONCACAF. In a side note, Twellman turned down the invitation to recover from a sports hernia injury.

posted by urall cloolis at 11:07 AM PST - 10 comments

English flags banned at the Emirates. That's the Emirates Stadium; Arsenal's home stadium.

"Some of our fans have been upset with the flying of certain flags denoting particular regions of the world"

posted by Fence at 4:22 AM PST - 26 comments

Dream start for new Hammers boss. EPL relegation strugglers West Ham welcomed new boss Alan Curbishley with a surprise 1-0 win over leaders Manchester United, in his first game in charge. An early Christmas gift to the new manager and new owners ... and defending champions Chelsea, who had their own narrow escape today, and now see Manchester's lead cut from five to two. Is this the turning point for West Ham's season?

posted by worldcup2002 at 5:22 PM PST - 4 comments

Almost 49 years since the Munich air crash, Manchester United and England icon Sir Bobby Charlton is still haunted "It was taking so long to get off the ground and I suddenly realised that everyone felt the same. Then it went really quiet and as I looked out the window we hit a fence. We knocked it flat and then everyone knew this was really serious."

posted by Texa