By Ridge Mahoney It has played six Hexagonal matches already, yet in the next two games the USA will encounter perhaps the most treacherous ofsituations: opponents that are desperate for a win. Costa Rica and Mexico are expected to qualify, along with the USA, yet each has its own demons to deal with. Costa Rica […]
men’s national team
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
More depth means lots more close calls
[USA MEN] What do you take away from the roster U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann named for the World Cupqualifiers Sept. 6 at Costa Rica and Sept. 10 against Mexico in Columbus, Ohio? He has considerably more players to choose from than he did at the beginning of the year or even for the […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Di Canio Backs Altidore and Fletcher to Form Deadly Partnership
Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio has tipped Jozy Altidore and Steven Fletcher to forge a prolific partnership for the Black Cats. Fletcher only justreturned to the Sunderland fold after damaging his ankle ligaments in March. “Fletcher is a player who gives us another option,” Di Canio said after Sunderland’s 4-2 comeback win against MK Dons […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Donovan: 'Decision became very easy'
[MLS SPOTLIGHT] Like David Beckham before him — at least for a year — and more recently Robbie Keane and Omar Gonzalez — the first American DP, Landon Donovan, decided to stay put in LosAngeles and he says the decision came easily. With free agency looming at the end of the year, Donovan sat down […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Frontline battle: Wondo vs. Aron Bacon
[HEXAGONAL COUNTDOWN] Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore, who form the frontlinetandem, are along with central defender Omar Gonzalez and midfielder Michael Bradley the only U.S. players to havestarted every game in the Hexagonal. Dempsey, appointed the U.S. captain in 2013, has started every game of qualifying, while Altidore has reasserted himself with goals in his […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Capos, tifos and who's in charge
[USA-MEXICO] It says a lot about how far American soccer has come that the Wednesday morning soccer news cycle centered on fans who’ll be attending a match thatwon’t take place for another 12 days — specifically, who will or won’t be in charge of the 9,000-strong supporters section for the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier in […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Is MLS Brazil-ready?
By Ridge Mahoney The long-term MLS deals recently signed by U.S. internationals Clint Dempsey, Omar Gonzalez, ClarenceGoodson and Landon Donovan are being cited as proof of the league’s true emergence on the world stage. These deals are noteworthy, yes, but theydon’t necessarily indicate anything of the sort. Many MLS teams have paid high prices for […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Gold Cup success breeds fierce midfield competition
[HEXAGONAL COUNTDOWN] Nowhere has the USA made more improvement in its play in recent months than in midfield, where U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann has some very difficult choices to make about whom to bring into camp in Miami Monday, let alone whom to start againstCosta Rica and Mexico. Klinsmann has played 16 different […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA set in goal, backline makeover continues
[HEXAGONAL COUNTDOWN] U.S. national team team Jurgen Klinsmann will need to finalize this weekend his roster for theupcoming World Cup 2014 qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico. Over the next three days, Soccer America will update how things look from back to front, beginning with goalkeepers and defenders. GOALKEEPERS. The one position where there has […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying
“It’s been great to see how players came along over the last two years and make the decisions for us even more difficult. That’s a good thing. The tricky part now is how to unite therosters from the Gold Cup and the games from May and June. There are going to be very tough decisions. […]