[SPAIN] How angry are Spaniards about losing to Switzerland? Some are blaming sideline reporter Sara Carbonero — thegirlfriend of Iker Casillas — for distracting the Spanish goalie on the Swiss goal. To make matters, it was Carbonero’s job after the game to ask Casillas whatwent wrong … Carbonero, a sideline reporter for Telecinco, didn’t pull […]
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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 inSpecial Edition, Story
The favorite falls in shocker
[GROUP H] Switzerland stifled Spain and beat the European champion and tournament favorite, 1-0. Chile won its first World Cup game in nearly half a century bydowning Honduras. Here’s what we liked and didn’t like about the opening Group H games … WHAT WE LIKED … — GelsonFernandes, who immigrated to Switzerland at age 5 […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Pique plays D with style
[PORTRAIT] When he was 12 years old and a member of Barcelona’s youth program, Gerard Pique was taken aside by then coach Louisvan Gaal and the Dutchman told the boy he was too stubborn to ever make it as a Barcelona defender. Pique proved van Gaal wrong, and then some. Pique recalls that he went […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Spain heavily favored against Swiss
[PREDICTIONS] Spain, perfect in the group stage at the last two World Cups, will open its 2010 campaign against Switzerland. For a look at Wednesday’s threegames and Soccer America’s predictions … HONDURAS (0-0-0) vs. CHILE (0-0-0) June 16 in Nelspruit Kickoff: 7:30 a.m. ET. Television:ESPN/Univision. Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles). PREDICTIONS: Paul Kennedy: Tie 1-1 Ridge […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
My World Cup: Referees get it right
By Paul Gardner Half of the 32 World Cup teams have now strutted their stuff, and most of them have been singularly unimpressive. The awful truth behind thisdisappointment is that I am the one to blame for all the caution and the defensive play that we have — and hence the lack of goals. My […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mourinho won't name names
Jose Mourinho, fresh off winning the European Champions League with Inter Milan, arrived as Real Madrid, becoming its 11th coach in the past seven years. Mourinho said it was tooearly to talk about which players he intended to bring into the squad that failed to win a trophy last season. “I don’t want to talk […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Mourinho and Inter Milan part ways
[ITALY] Less than a week after he led Inter Milan to its first UEFA Champions League title in 45 years, Coach JoseMourinho reached an agreement with the Italian club to buy out his contract, allowing him to join Real Madrid. According to reports, Inter will receive $9.8 million for Mourinholeaving before the end of his […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Real Madrid dumps Pellegrini
With Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho waiting in the shadows, Real Madrid has sacked Coach Manuel Pellegrini after one season. “I’m ready to admit tosome mistakes but Mourinho’s hiring is an opportunity that Madrid could not miss,” said Real president Florentino Perez. The Chilean Pellegrini failed to win a trophy this year despiteReal Madrid acquiring […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Lassana Diarra succumbs to Alps
[FRANCE] Lassana Diarra, expected to start in midfield for France at the World Cup, is out with an intestinal problemtriggered when he and his French teammates climbed to the foot of La Grande Motte glacier in the Alps from its base camp in Tignes and slept in a restaurant at around 9,800 feet in a […]