By Paul Kennedy (@pkedit) Long-suffering Toronto FC fans sawit happen last season, so they aren’t getting too excited yet. An opening day win. In the Pacific Northwest. Two goals by their new star brought over from England. Everything looked so promising for Toronto last season: a 3-1-0 start, 6-4-1 at the World Cup break. Then […]
u.s. under-20 men’s national team
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
Europe embraces Latino flair, how about the USA?
By Paul Gardner Ten minutes into Tuesday’s Champions League game between Manchester City and Barcelona, TV commentator Martin Tyler told us “There are South Americans everywhereyou look on the pitch here.” Quite so — nine of the 20 field players were South Americans. Nearly half — five Argentines, three Brazilians and one Uruguayan. Tyler did […]
Posted inSoccerTalk with Paul Gardner, Story
In search of youth soccer … and do we really want it anyway? Part 3: Street soccer — to be crushed or cherished?
(Read In Search of Youth Soccer Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE) By Paul Gardner The purest form ofyouth soccer — maybe it is really the only form — is street soccer. With its own rules, invented by the boys, without coaches or referees, anarchic but functional, plenty of appalling language butnot (as I […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Sunil Gulati: 'We think the Olympics is important, full stop'
By Ridge Mahoney (@ridgemax) During a visit to San Francisco to attend U.S. Soccer’s Annual GeneralMeeting during which former U.S. internationals Brian McBride and Kristine Lilly and former national team head coach Bob Bradley will be inducted into its Hall of Fame, U.S.Soccer president Sunil Gulati took time to address a few issues. (Gulati declined comment […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. U-20s head to England and Austria
The USA’s preparations for the U-20 World Cup in May include a March 23-30 trip to London and an April 18-26 session in Austria. In England, Coach Tab Ramos‘ team will faceTottenham’s U-21s and England’s U-20s. In Austria, its opponents include the U-20 national teams of Qatar and Greece. Other games are expected to be […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Tab Ramos: U-20s are hard to predict
By Mike Woitalla (@mikewoitalla) Chances of the USA reaching the second round of the biennial U-20 World Cupfor the first time since 2007 look a lot better since Tuesday’s draw. 2015 Under-20 World Cup: Schedule | Scouting Report The draw grouped Coach Tab Ramos‘ team with debutantMyanmar, New Zealand, winless in three U-20 World Cup […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Scouting Report: U.S. U-20 World Cup opponents
The USA will face New Zealand for the first time at the Under-20 World Cup, but the hosts will have some familiar faces. Their player pool includes JesseEdge and Bill Tuiloma, who started for New Zealand when it tied the USA, 0-0, at the 2011 Under-17 World Cup. Edge and Tuilima are the only holdoversfrom […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U-20 World Cup draw is kind to USA
0210wc sked The USA will face Myanmar, host New Zealand and Ukraine in group play at the 2015 U-20 World CupMay 30-June 20. The draw was much kinder to Coach Tab Ramos’ team than two years ago. At the 2013 U-20 World Cup in Turkey, Ramos’ team was drawn with three tournament favorites –European champion […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. U-18s tie Tijuana at Copa Chivas
The U.S. U-18 men’s national team notched a 1-1 comeback tie with Club Tijuana at the 2015 Copa Chivas. Jonathan Klinsmann started in goal for the second time in the tournament.Halftime sub Eryk Williamson scored a 62nd-minute equalizer to give the USA a 1-1-1 record at the Guadalajara tourney. Klinsmann, son of U.S. coach JurgenKlinsmann, has […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Tab Ramos Q&A: Qualifying brings invaluable experience
Interview by Mike Woitalla The USA qualified for the U-20 World Cup for the second straight time during the tenure of Coach Tab Ramos, who took over after the USAmissed the 2011 U-20 World Cup. We spoke to Ramos, who also serves as U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director, about the team’s performance at the U-20 Concacaf […]