Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists that he was only trying to encourage his teammates after the Paris Saint-Germain striker was filmed clapping following CristianoRonaldo’s third goal against Sweden on Tuesday. While it has been reported that Ibrahimovic was applauding Ronaldo in a sporting gesture, the big Swede insists that is not the case. “Was I applauding Ronaldo? […]
sweden
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
One Hand In My Pocket
[The PITCH: Blog 14] “And what it all comes down to is that I haven’t got it all figured out just yet.‘Cause I’ve got one hand in my pocket and the other one is giving the peace sign.” Last month, the USWNT did a “friendly” tour through San Antonio, SanFrancisco and Columbus. While European countries […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ronaldo: 'I am Here' for Portugal
In the battle of global superstars, Cristiano Ronaldo upstaged Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Tuesday night with a stunning hat trick at the Friends Arena in Stockholm,securing a 3-2 win on the night and a 4-2 aggregate score that sent Portugal to its fourth consecutive World Cup. Sweden and Ibrahimovic now miss out on a second consecutive […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Zlatan: 'We've Got the Measure of Them Now'
Despite an anonymous performance in Lisbon, Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is confident Sweden can turn around its 1-0 deficit heading into the second game of itstwo-game World Cup playoff against Portugal. A late header from Cristiano Ronaldo was enough to give the Portguese a slight advantage heading into Tuesday’s second-leg at theFriends Arena in […]
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Cristiano Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic, one will miss out
[WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFYING: Europe] There are just a few certainties surrounding the four European playoffs that begin Friday with the first of two legs. EitherCristiano Ronaldo or Zlatan Ibrahimovic won’t be going to the World Cup. French players love to feud. And tiny Icelandis hosting the biggest game in its history. PORTUGAL-SWEDEN. Ronaldo and […]
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Rapinoe's Lyon stunned in Women's Champions League
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Megan Rapinoe‘s Lyon, winner of the 2011 and 2012 UEFA Women’s Champions League and runner-up in 2013,didn’t even survive the fall campaign of the 2013-14 edition. It lost at home to German club FFC Turbine Potsdam, 2-1, blowing a two-goal aggregate lead and going out on away goals before a crowd ofalmost 10,000. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Portugal, Sweden Coaches Hail 'Fantastic' Match-Up
The marquee match-up of the final round of UEFA World Cup qualifiers sees Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal square off against Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Swedenin the first game of a two game playoff series in Lisbon on Friday, with the return two days later in Stockholm. The winner, of course, qualifies for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil. […]
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Press scores twice in Champions League win
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Christen Press upped her season total to 37 goals in 36 games inall competitions with both goals for Tyreso in a 2-1 win at Denmark’s Fortuna Hjorring in the first round of their UEFA Women’s Champions League round-of-16 series. The second goal was set up by AliKrieger, another of the five Americans to […]
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Hagen hat trick sparks big Bayern win
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Sarah Hagen scored a hat trick to lead Bayern Munich to a 5-0 win over USV Jena in Germany’sFrauen-Bundesliga. Amber Brooks also scored for third-place Bayern, while U.S. U-20 star Lindsey Horan scored in Francefor Paris St. Germain in its 5-0 win over St. Etienne. Hagen now has seven goals, tied for second […]
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Press looks to return home after Champions League campaign
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Christen Press, who led the Swedish Damallsvenskan in scoring with 23 goals in 20 games, says she’llprobably play in NWSL next season. The 2010 Soccer America Player of the Year at Stanford has spent the last two seasons in Sweden and parlayed her success abroad into a regular spot on the U.S.national team. […]