Though he watched the Jamaica-USA game from the BeIN Sport studios in Miami, former international defender Marcelo Balboa saw perhaps more than he wanted to. Balboa,who played 128 times for the U.S., including a few games against Jamaica, agreed with most postgame assessments about the lackluster midfield play. He doesn’t feel, however, that the second […]
world cup 2014
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Klinsmann: Bocanegra and Cherundolo are ready
[USA-JAMAICA: Countdown] Jurgen Klinsmann put to rest two questions about the USA’s starting lineup Tuesday againstJamaica in Columbus, Ohio (TV: ESPN2, ESPN3.com, Galavision, live, 8 pm ET). He said captain Carlos Bocanegra, overlooked for the first match in Kingston afterbeginning the 2012-13 season with Rangers in the fourth level of Scottish soccer, will start in […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Canada eyes first Hexagonal berth in 16 years
[WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFYING] Jamaica, Mexico and Canada can clinch berths in next year’s Hexagonal on Tuesday. — Canada heads to Panama City toface Panama’s Canaleros, whom it beat, 1-0, on Friday in Toronto. Another win would give Canada 10 points after four games, enough to clinch its first berth in the Hexagonal in 16 […]
Posted inStory, World Cup Watch
Cheer for the Benna Boys
The USA’s best friend in the semifinal stage of World Cup qualifying is Antigua & Barbuda. The Benna Boys took two points away from Jamaica when they held the Reggae Boyz to a 0-0tie at home in June, and for a while on Friday night it looked like they would get a result in Guatemala […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Jamaican rematch is massive
In the wake of that disappointing 2-1 loss to Jamaica Friday night, a very good friend of mine repeated the phrase, “If they win Tuesday, all will be fine” several times. This mightapply to the qualification process, since a victory in the Jamaica rematch would give both teams seven points and a share of first […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Klinsmann: 'They were hungrier and more determined'
[REACTION: Jamaica-USA] Coach Jurgen Klinsmann says the reasons for the USA’s 2-1 loss to Jamaica are simple. The ReggaeBoyz were hungrier and more determined. Forget tactics. Conceding two free kicks just outside the area to a team dangerous on free kicks was the USA’s downfall. For what Klinsmann and his players hadto say after the […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Poor U.S. midfield play costly
[JAMAICA-USA REPORT CARD] How much the USA depends on Michael Bradley was evident by its inability to take control ofits World Cup 2014 qualifier against Jamaica without him in midfield. Poor play by the three starters playing in his role doomed the USA in its 2-1 loss. Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy grades the U.S. players […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Jamaica setback raises serious concerns for USA
The USA needed only 38 seconds to get down to business at The Office, but Clint Dempsey‘s goal, the fastest U.S. goal ever scored in World Cup qualifyinghistory, raised false hope that Jurgen Klinsmann‘s depleted team could get a result against Jamaica. The USA had no answer for Rodolph Austin, the best player on the […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Reggae Boyz beat disappointing USA
[JAMAICA-USA] Luke Shelton added to his Jamaican scoring record with a goal on a free kick from 25 yards to give Jamaicaa 2-1 win over the USA in their World Cup 2014 qualifier Friday night in Kingston. The win snapped Jamaica’s 18-game winless streak against the USA. Rodolph Austin had also scored on a free […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Gerrard: England must 'keep believing'
Has belief in the English national team fallen so far that winning the World Cup would be a miracle? Apparently so, at least in the mind of captain Steven Gerrard. Oneve of a qualifier against Moldova that kicks off England’s campaign in Group H, he downplayed expectations while offering up a breath of hope. “When […]