Despite playing without star playmaker Xavi, midfield partner Sergi Busquets and Brazilian Dani Alves, Barcelona cruised to a 4-0 win at Deportivo Coruna and upped its point total to 49 out of a possible 54 after 18 games. Barca got goals from Ballon d’Orfinalists Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta as well as David Villa and […]
netherlands
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Winter expected to arrive soon in Toronto
[MLS] As interim general manager Earl Cochrane tried to sort out the Dwayne De Rosariomuddle, reports out of Europe identified former Dutch international Aron Winter as the club’s new technical director and head coach. Winter, an assistant coach on the Ajax Amsterdam staff, told the Dutch newspaper DeTelegraaf that he is flying to Toronto today […]
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Keeper Blunder: Bad bounce for Dutchman
[VIDEO PICK] FC Twente goalkeeper Sander Boschker — a 40-year-old who has played more than 500 Dutch league games — didn’t do so well in hisChampions League debut on Tuesday. Twente didn’t have chance to advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League anyway — Inter and Tottenham having already clinch passage — butthat […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
'Cannibal of Ajax'
[VIDEO PICK] Uruguayan World Cup star striker Luis Suarez has been dubbed the “Cannibal of Ajax” by Dutch daily De Telegraaf after he bit PSVEindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal during a league game last Saturday. Ajax Amsterdam has suspended Suarez, who scored three goals at last summer’s World Cup, for twoleague matches. He could also face […]
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Spain dominates FIFA Ballon d'Or nominations
[AWARDS] Seven players from Spain’s World Cup championship team are among the 23 players nominated for the FIFA Ballon d’Or. FIFA Ballon d’Or(Golden Ball) is a new award following the merger of the FIFA Men’s World Player of the Year and France Football’s Ballon d’Or awards. LionelMessi, winner of both awards in 2009, is among […]
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Clubs assess injury toll
[EURO 2012 QUALIFYING] Another set of double international fixture dates brought a new rash of injuries impacting major European clubs. Powerhouses BayernMunich and Liverpool, both already struggling in their respective leagues, were hit the hardest. Bayern has gone so far as to threaten to sue the Dutch federation after it asked thatcaptain Mark van Bommel […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
The Dark Depths of Dutch Soccer
By Paul Gardner From being a fervent admirer of Dutch soccer — back in the 1970s, the days of “total soccer” — I have passed through the stages of being just anadmirer, sliding down to a grudging admirer, and now that of occasional admirer. Total soccer was, definitely, exciting. More, it placed the emphasis on […]
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Five on the comeback trail
[EURO 2010] Qualifying for Euro 2012 begins on Friday, and several major national teams have recalled stars who missed the 2010 World Cup. Here’s a look at fiveplayers on the comeback trail … ANTONIO CASSANO (Italy). The bad boy of Italian soccer was overlooked by MarcelloLippi for the World Cup but he’ll start up front […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Schalke 04 makes swoop for three players
After losing its first two Bundesliga matches, German club Schalke 04 made a transfer deadline-day swoop for three players: Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaarfrom AC Milan, Atletico Madrid midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado and Lille defender Nicolas Plestan. Huntelaarwas the big signing. His move to Schalke followed the transfer of Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Barcelona to […]
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Suarez instrumental in Ajax success
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Luis Suarez is at it again. The Uruguayan, who scored 35 goals in the Dutch league last seasonand was instrumental in the Celeste’s fourth-place finish at the World Cup, scored to help Ajax earn a thrilling 3-3 tie at Greek club PAOK and move into the playoff round of UEFA Champions Leaguequalifying […]