[WORLD CUP 2014: Germany] Even with mediocre talent, the Germans tend to do well at World Cups. Examples: 1986 and 2002 when they were runners-up to Argentina andBrazil, respectively. This is no mediocre team Germany is sending to Brazil. USA-Germany: June 25, 12 p.m. ET, Recife Germany wasonly starting to rebuild when U.S. coach Jurgen […]
men’s national team
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Young guns make Black Stars Africa's best hopes
[WORLD CUP 2014: Ghana] Our Group of Death is their Group of Death. Ghana has reached the knockout phase of both World Cup finals in which it has participated, andit’s been tipped as the likeliest African team to one day challenge for the title, but Friday’s draw that put the Black Stars in Group G […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Suwon debacle won't be repeated
[WORLD CUP 2014: Portugal] When you think of USA-Portugal, it means one thing: June 5, 2002, Suwon, the opening game of the 2002 World Cup. Portugal came in as oneof the favorites, but it was the USA 3-0 after 36 minutes, and Bruce Arena‘s boys hung on for a 3-2 win. For the USA, it […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Well, it could have been worse, but not by much
By Ridge Mahoney First impressions from the 2014 World Cup draw as filtered through the U.S. prism: GHANA AGAIN? The Americans will be searching for positives for being matched once again with the nation that beat the USA in the 2006 group phase and the 2010 round of 16. Therearen’t many. If there’s an African […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying
“We hit worst of the worst. Every coach I talked to said, ‘Everything but Manaus.’ We get Manaus.” — Jurgen Klinsmann on the USA being drawn into a position that includes a trip toManaus in the Amazon — against Portugal on June 22.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
World Cup 2014 Schedule
[THE DRAW] The USA was drawn with Germany, Ghana and Portugal, all familiar World Cup foes, in what is its Group of Death. At G4, it will have the worst travelschedule, including a trip to Manaus in the Amazon, the venue every team dreaded. For the complete schedule. GROUP A June 12 in Sao Paulo […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying
“The U.S. needs to avoid landing in a group with Spain, Brazil, Argentina and Germany, and draw only one European country in their group and hopefully dodge playing the Netherlands and Italy, aswell.” — Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, who led the U.S. team in the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, writing in a […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Fulham Targets Dempsey, Defoe January Loans
Fulham’s new manager Rene Meulensteen has signaled an interest in securing loan deals for Jermain Defoe and former Cottagers favorite ClintDempsey as he seeks to find goalscorers to help lift his team out of the relegation zone. While Seattle Sounders forward Dempsey has been identified as a short-term loan target for severalclubs, Defoe is understood […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
FIFA Confirms World Cup Pots
FIFA on Tuesday officially announced the pots for the 2014 World Cup draw, which takes place Friday in Brazil. Pot 1 consists of the tournament’s top eight seeds, which includes host Braziland the top seven teams in the world according to FIFA’s ranking system: Spain, Argentina, Colombia, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and Uruguay. Pot 2 contains […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Bruce Arena: Donovan 'Going Nowhere' in January
USA and Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan apparently won’t be returning to Everton or any other English Premier League club on loan in January, according to Galaxycoach Bruce Arena. In a podcast posted on LAGalaxy.com, the former USA coach said that Donovan and fellow Designated Players’ Robbie Keane and OmarGonzalez are “going nowhere” during […]