Russian president Vladimir Putin is not considered a big soccer fan, but he should know enough to have been smiling from his seat at Moscow’s State Kremlin Palace, where he took part inFriday’s World Cup 2018 draw. Russia, the host, got a break and has a fighting chance of making it out of its group […]
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Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Chris Unger
“They’re all the same; they don’t feel any different, they don’t look any different with the exception of the red balls, which are there for a purpose. It’s entirely random and by chance how thegroups get formed at the end.” — Chris Unger, FIFA’s director of competitions, dismissing reports that there are heated balls used […]
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World Cup 2018 draw: All you need to know
While the USA’s elimination from the 2018 World Cup certainly killed the buzz on the World Cup draw in much of the U.S. soccer community, the show will go on. The draw will be held Fridayat Moscow’s 6,000-seat State Kremlin Palace. The one-hour show begins at 6 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET). U.S. coverage.Rights-holder […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
Trivia: World Cup 2018 finalists
2 Iceland and Panama are the only 2018 finalists that have never played in the World Cup. 3 Croatia, Iceland and Sweden are comprised entirely of foreign-based players. 20 Brazil is the only team thathas played in every previous World Cup. 25 Current MLS players representing World Cup finalists are spread over nine teams.61.5% A […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Ray Warren
“We’re not doing anything but spend what we planned to spend. It’s unfortunate, but we’re going to serve our fans because it’s the World Cup.” —Ray Warren, president of Telemundo Deportes, saying there will be no cutbacks in the Spanish-language network’s coverage of the 2018 World Cup because the USA failed to qualify. It plans […]
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USA is only country with two referees invited to World Cup referee seminar
U.S. referees Mark Geiger and Jair Marrufo were invited to take part in a seminar organized by the FIFA Referees Committee in Abu Dhabi as part of the preparations for the 2018 WorldCup. The seminar, which ran five days and wrapped up on Wednesday, marked the start of the selection process for referees, assistant referees […]
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World Cup 2018 poster honors 'Black Spider' Yashin
The official poster for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, designed by Russian artist Igor Gurovich, features goalkeeper Lev Yashin, considered the greatest Russian player and arguablygreatest goalkeeper of all time. Yashin,whose work in goal and dark jersey earned him the nickname “the Black Spider,” played in four World Cups for the Soviet Union (1954, […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Gianluigi Buffon
“I’ve always been a soldier on call for duty for the national team and Juve, so I could never desert them — I’ve always got to be ready. Even when I am 60, if disease struck all goalkeepers then Iwould be ready because that is how I view the notion of a national team.” — […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
The soccer week ahead: Nov. 27-Dec. 3
Tuesday: Happy Birthday! Kyle McCarthy. Wednesday: Toronto FC-Columbus Crew, MLS Eastern Conference final, secondleg, 7:30 pm. ET, FS1, Fox Deportes. — USA-England U-17s, Men’s Nike Friendlies, 7 pm ET, ussoccer.com Thursday: Seattle Sounders-Houston Dynamo, MLS WesternConference final, second leg, 10:30 pm. ET, ESPN, ESPN Deportes. Friday: World Cup 2018 final draw in Moscow, 10 am […]
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World Cup Countdown: When getting a team to the finals isn't enough
Qualifying a team for the World Cup should be enough for a coach to be rewarded and take the team to the finals, but a national team coach’s job is rarely secure. Eight teams are headedto the World Cup after making coaching changes during successful qualifying campaigns. And three more teams are in the process […]