Ghana, which will face the USA at the 2006 World Cup, began a three-week training camp Dec. 27 in Tunisia in preparation for the African Nations Cup Jan. 20-Feb. 10 in Egypt.Ten players made the trip û six local and four foreign-based players. Most of the players will not join the team until late January. The Black StarsÆ first friendly is Jan. 5 against Egypt.Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic will rely heavily on players used during GhanaÆs World Cup qualifying campaign. They hail from clubs in 12 different countries.Ghana RosterGoalkeepers: Sammy Adjei (Mohadon Sports Ashdod, Israel), George Owu (Ashanti Gold), Philemon …

(Schedules are always subject to change. Check your local listings) WEDNESDAY, Dec. 28 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL England EVERTON-LIVERPOOL (live), 3 pm. England BOLTON-MIDDLESBROUGH (delay), 5 pm. England BIRMINGHAM-MANCHESTER UNITED (delay) 8 pm. FOX SPORTS EN ESPANOL England BOLTON-MIDDLESBROUGH (live), 3 pm. England EVERTON-LIVERPOOL (delay), 6 pm. England BIRMINGHAM-MANCHESTER UNITED (delay) 8 pm. THURSDAY, Dec. 29 ESPN DEPORTES Netherlands PSV-TWENTE (live) 11:55. FRIDAY, Dec. 30 No live games. SATURDAY, Dec. 31 FOX SOCCER CHANNEL England ASTON VILLA-ARSENAL (live) 7:30 am. England TOTTENHAM-NEWCASTLE (delay) noon. England CHARLTON-WEST HAM (delay) 3 pm. …

DECEMBER 3-4Germantown Invitational ShowcaseDec. 3-4Dec. 10-11TennesseeUnder 19 BoysLou Fusz 2 CISA 0Under 17 BoysLittle Rock FC 1 Jackson FC 0Under 16 Boys PremierStars SC 1 CUP White 0Under 15 Boys PremierScott Gallagher 2 MTSC Magic 0Under 19 GirlsOhio Galaxies Elite 1 FC Texas Blue 0Under 17 GirlsDallas Texans Red West 4 Citadel FC 0Under 16 GirlsSilverbacks Select 1 J.B. Marine Fazio 0Under 15 GirlsTexas Lightning Black 1 Silverbacks Select 0Mid-Atlantic Premier/MSSL Winter ShowcaseDec. 3-4New JerseyUnder 16 Boys Blizzard1. VE WildcatsUnder 16 Boys Nor'easter1. FC Frederick PremiereUnder 16 Boys Snowstorm1. Thistle FC MatiasUnder 15 Boys Glacier1. Matchfit Academy FC HighlandersUnder 15 …

U.S. womenÆs national team head coach Greg Ryan has called in 28 players for a week of training Jan. 3-9 at the Home Depot Center before the team heads to Guangzhou, China, for the Four Nations Tournament Jan. 18-22 against host China, Norway and France.The USAÆs tournament opener against Norway could mark a historic milestone for U.S. captain Kristine Lilly, as she is poised to earn her 300th cap. Lilly would become the first player in soccer history to play 300 times for her country. Lilly earned her first-ever cap at the age of 16 in China more than 18 …

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WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP. Sao Paulo was crowned world club champion after beating Liverpool 1-0, in the final Sunday in Yokohama, Japan. A goal from Mineiro in the 27th minute was the first Liverpool had allowed in 12 games. CONCACAF champion Saprissa of Costa Rica beat Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, 3-2, for third place in the six-team FIFA competition. COPA SUDAMERICANA. Boca Juniors of Argentina repeated as Copa Sudamericana champion after it beat UNAM of Mexico, 4-3, on penalty kicks. The second leg in Buenos Aires ended in a 1-1 tie, the same result as in Mexico City. Boca Juniors goalkeeper …

ROUND OF 16Chelsea-Barcelona (!)Real Madrid-Arsenal (!)Werder Bremen-JuventusBayern Munich-AC MilanPSV-LyonAjax-Inter Milan Benfica-LiverpoolRangers-Villarreal First Leg: Feb. 21-22 Second Leg: March 7-8

Mexico will play five 2006 World Cup tune-ups in the United States. Four opponents are set; the obvious choice for the fifth opponent, at the Rose Bowl May 12, is the USA. The two teams have met in the buildup to the last three World Cup. DATE OPPONENT CITY STADIUM Jan. 25 Norway San Francisco Monster Park Feb. 15 South Korea Los Angeles L.A. Coliseum March 1 Ghana Dallas TBD March 29 Paraguay Chicago Soldier Field May 12 TBD Pasadena, Calif. Rose Bowl

The following are the individual and pool bonuses U.S. national team players will receive for the 2006 World Cup with 2002 World Cup bonuses in parentheses. INDIVIDUAL $37,5000 ($25,000): Making World Cup roster $3,750 ($2,500): For each game played during World Cup. POOL $1,350,000 ($900,000): For qualifying for the World Cup. $150,000 ($100,000): For each point earned in the first round of the 2006 World Cup. $2,775,000 ($1,850,000): For advancing to the second round. $2,250,000 ($1,500,000): For advancing to the quarterfinals. $2,625,000 ($1,750,000): For advancing to the semifinals. $500,000 (-) …

U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena named 30 players to the training camp roster that will begin workouts Jan. 4 at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The group will prepare for three World Cup 2006 warmups this winter in California. All but one player (Heath Pearce of Danish club FC Nordsjaelland) plays in MLS. Five players were called into the national team for the first time: Freddy Adu, Todd Dunivant, Brad Guzan, Ugo Ihemelu and Nate Jaqua. U.S. National Team Camp Roster GP=games played in World Cup …

The U.S. Under-15 boys national team will take on France during the Disney's Soccer Showcase Dec. 27-30 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Also competing are four U.S. Youth Soccer U-16 regional teams. Out of the 22 players, 13 of them are already in U.S. SoccerÆs Residency Program, while the other nine are hoping to get picked for the 2006 spring semester, which begins in January. GOALKEEPERS:Josh Lambo (Middleton, Wis.), Chris Miller (Garland, Texas).DEFENDERS:Brandon Lee (Tenafly, N.J.), Thomas Meyer (St. Louis), Mykell Bates (Roseville, Calif.), Ian Kalis (Plano, Texas), Shawn Barry (Miramar, Fla.).MIDFIELDERS:Daniel Wenzel (Federal Way, Wash.), Jared Jeffrey (Dallas), Kirk …

The Bakersfield Brigade of the PDLÆs Southwest Division has hired Eric Wynalda as technical director of player development.Eric Wynalda, a three-time World Cup veteran, is a commentator for ESPN2 on its MLS broadcasts.

By Ridge MahoneySenior EditorSoccer AmericaFinally. We get a real chance to match Mexico.On the heels of disbelief and disgruntlement that they, not us, had received a World Cup seed came the news of their easy draw and our worst nightmare. Supposedly.I beg to differ. Nay, the Group of Death this is not. This is the Group of Redemption and Hope, of Attainment and Atonement. Yes, we can bop Mexico anywhere but at Azteca, and thus we claim to be better. Head-to-head, yes, we are. Which amounts to squat anywhere south of the equator or east of the Atlantic. In 2002, …

2005 Women's Player of the YearChristine Sinclair, Portland In a season marked by exceptional individual performances, Sinclair stood out, setting an NCAA Division I record for goals in a season with 39. Her last two goals came in PortlandÆs 4-0 victory over UCLA in the WomenÆs College Cup final. The title was the second for Sinclair, who led UP to the 2002 championship.2005 Women's MVPsDanesha Adams, UCLA The sophomore midfielder out of Ohio emerged as one of the biggest threats in college soccer. She set an NCAA Tournament record with four goals against Virginia.Lori Chalupny, North Carolina The senior midfielder …

2005 Men's Player of the YearJason Garey, Maryland The senior from Gonzales, La., led the nation with 22 goals and helped the Terrapins win their first national title in 37 years. During the regular season, he put together a string of seven straight games with at least one goal, helping the Terrapins achieve a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament. He finished his career with Maryland record 60 goals. 2005 Men's MVPsThis year marks the 30th year Soccer America has been honoring men's college soccer top players with its MVP awards. Soccer America's editorial staff picks the 11 players …