[WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFYING] Chile was the big winner in South America’s June World Cup 2014 qualifying sweepstakes with a pair of 2-0 wins on the road. Thesecond at Venezuela left La Roja in first place in the nine-team South American zone. The win came despite a second disciplinary scandal in seven months that resulted […]
world cup 2014
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Bradley points Egypt in right direction
[WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFYING] Bob Bradley‘s Egypt is one of only two teams to start out with two wins in the semifinalround of World Cup 2014 qualifying in Africa, and the former U.S. national team coach said he was proud of his players’ resilience, given the difficult conditions in Egypt. The Pharaohsimproved to 2-0-0 with […]
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Torres injury 'not looking very good right now'
[USA-ANTIGUA & BARBUDA] The USA got goals from Carlos Bocanegra, ClintDempsey and Herculez Gomez, but that was it as it had to settle for a 3-1 win over tiny Antigua & Barbuda in the opening game of the semifinal roundof 2014 World Cup qualifying. The USA got bad news, though, as Jose Torres, playing in […]
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Perez engineers Panama upset win
[WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFYING] If the slim margin of the USA’s win over Antigua & Barbuda was hard to believe, Mexico’s win over Guyana by the same 3-1scoreline was a shocker, especially after the Tri opened with two goals in the first 15 minutes at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium. Panama produced the first upset of […]
Posted inSoccer America Confidential, Story
Klinsmann's men go for points
Less margin for error is the simple reason a few members of the U.S. Soccer staff fear the semifinal phase of World Cup qualifying the national team is about to enter more so than the final,definitive Hexagonal. With six matches instead of 10, each game’s importance is magnified, as is the cost of a stinker. […]
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Lots to play for on Concacaf Day 1
[WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFYING COUNTDOWN] For the United States and Mexico, perennial favorites to qualify for the World Cup, the only question on Day 1 of thesemifinal round of Concacaf qualifying is how many goals will they win by when they host minnows Antigua & Barbuda and Guyana from the Caribbean zone, respectively. But Friday’s […]
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USA to play final qualifier at Livestrong
[DATEBOOK] The USA will close out the semifinal round of World Cup 2014 qualifying at Livestrong Sporting Park, where it will host Guatemala on Oct. 16. Kickoff in is set for 6 p.m. CT, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2, ESPN3 and the Univision family. Livestrong Sporting Park, which opened in 2011, […]
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USA fades in embarrassing scoreless tie
I’ve never doubted that Jurgen Klinsmann, the worldly soccer man that he is, might help the USA reach a higher level. But his emphasis on improving the fitness level of Americanplayers, of teaching them how to eat right — that always struck me as peculiar. How likely is it that Bob Bradley or Bruce Arena […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Indifference returns to South African soccer
World Cup action returned to South Africa as the Bafana Bafana opened their 2014 qualifying campaign with a 1-1 tie with Ethiopia in Rustenburg. But the enthusiasm that swept South Africa two yearsago at the World Cup is long gone. Only 5,000 fans bothered to watch the South Africa-Ethiopia game at the Royal Bafokeng Sports […]
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Messi leads first-place Argentina
[WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFYING] Lionel Messi had one of best games for Argentina in a while as it crushed Ecuador, 4-0, inBuenos Aires to maintain first place in the South American zone of World Cup 2014 qualifying Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria and Messi all scored for Argentina, which put the game away […]