[PREDICTIONS] Brazil faces Ivory Coast Sunday in one of the most-anticipated matches of the first round of the World Cup. For a look at Sunday’s threegames and Soccer America’s predictions … SLOVAKIA (1 pt., 1-1) vs. PARAGUAY (1 pt. 1-1) June 20 inBloemfontein Kickoff: 7:30 a.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision. Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles). PREDICTIONS: Paul […]
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Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
My World Cup: Beware of coaching nonsense
By Paul Gardner We’re now reaching the stage of the World Cup when we are forced to put up with a good deal of crap about coaches and coaching. From the coachesthemselves, of course, but also from their players (how would they dare contradict their coach?), and from their followers in the media. Of the […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Handanovic stands tall in Slovenian goal
[PORTRAIT] The USA is generally regarded as having the best goalie in Tim Howard among the Group C teams at the WorldCup, but you’ll get quite an argument from Slovenia, whose first-choice goalie Samir Handanovic is one of the top young keepers in Europe. Only 25,Handanovic debuted for Slovenia at the age of 19 and […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Rating the big seven
[MY VIEW] The seven seeds other than host South Africa were considered the favorites to win the World Cup. How did they do in their openers? They ranged fromGermany, magnificent in its 4-0 win over Australia, to Spain, upset by Switzerland, and Italy and England, both lackluster at best in opening ties. Here’s how we […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Silverdome to host Milan-Panathinaikos
[DATEBOOK] The Silverdome, the first domed stadium to host World Cup matches, will host an international on Aug. 6 when Italy’s AC Milan plays Greek clubPanathinaikos. The game in Pontiac, Mich., will mark Milan’s second trip of the year to North America. It recently concluded a three-game tour where it played D.C. United, the Chicago […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Dramatic goal earns underdog New Zealand tie
[GROUP F] In a World Cup seriously lacking in entertainment, it was nice to see an underdog be rewarded — and in dramatic fashion at that. Former Danish youthstar Winston Reid‘s goal in stoppage time gave New Zealand a 1-1 tie with Slovakia on Tuesday. For what we liked and didn’t like about the two […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Oranje and Azzurri open without stars
[PREDICTIONS] The Netherlands and defending champion Italy, two pre-tournament favorites, will both be without key players for their first game. For more onMonday’s three games and Soccer America’s predictions … NETHERLANDS (0-0-0) vs. DENMARK (0-0-0) June 14 inJohannesburg (Soccer City) Kickoff: 7:30 a.m. ET. Television: ESPN/Univision. Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France). THE LOWDOWN: Both Cameroon and […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Dutch fear over Robben injury
[WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] Arjen Robben, one of perhaps a half dozen players capable of carrying his team to the 2010 WorldCup championship, became the latest World Cup injury casualty, suffering a hamstring injury in the Netherlands’ 6-1 win over Hungary. “He felt a sharp pain — that can’t begood,” said Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Impact congratulates itself
Montreal confirmed that it’s a major North American soccer market when the D2’s Impact drew 47,861 fans at Olympic Stadium for its game against touring AC Milan. No matter Milan won,4-1, to earn its first win on the tour. The Impact was ecstatic with the turnout, which included a walkup crowd of almost 10,000. “For […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Big boost to Tri's confidence
[MEXICO] Against defending champion Italy, which was fielding close to what is expected to be its starting lineup at the World Cup, Mexico earned an emphatic2-1 win in Thursday’s friendly played before a pro-Italian crowd of 30,000 fans in Brussels. Giovani dos Santos set up Carlos Vela for the first goal and former MLS star […]