[WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] Veteran strikers Louis Saha and Djibril Cisse, both inexcellent form for their clubs, find themselves battling for a spot on France’s World Cup team after long absences from the national team. Saha, who has not played for the Bleus in morethan three years, got the nod for Wednesday’s game against Spain, but […]
world cup
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Capello rushes to plug holes in England defense
[WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] David Beckham’s bid to earn a berth on England’s World Cup team has been buried amid all the otherstorylines surrounding the England team on the eve of Wednesday’s friendlies against Egypt. Should Ryan Shawcross be in the team following hishorrendous challenge on Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey? Who will replace Rio Ferdinand in the […]
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Dutch call up 23 players
[NETHERLANDS-USA] Dutch national team coach Bert van Marwijk trimmed his roster to 23 players for Wednesday’s gameagainst the United States at Amsterdam ArenA (TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2 and Galavision). Dropped from the provisional squad were of FC Twente’s WoutBrama and PSV’s Otman Bakkal. The Oranje has loads of experience with eight players having 50 […]
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European contingent headed to represent Mexico at Rose Bowl
Barcelona star Rafael Marquez was one of nine European-based players Mexico called up for Wednesday night’s World Cup warmup against New Zealand at the RoseBowl in Pasadena, Calif. The squad includes three players each from clubs in the Netherlands and Spain and one each from teams in England, Germany and Turkey. The domesticcallups include new […]
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If John Terry were a man …
The fallout from the scandal involving former England captain John Terry continues as revelations of Terry’s affair with former teammate Wayne Bridge’s ex-partner has some believing it will wreck England’s World Cup chances by “dividing“ the England squad.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying
“You have to take into account that [soccer] fans in South Africa are working class people of low income.” — Danny Jordaan, chief executive of the 2010 World Cuporganizing committee, which increased from 11 percent to 29 percent the portion of all tickets set aside for citizens of the host country at about $20 — […]
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Dempsey back in U.S. uniform …
[WORLD CUPCOUNTDOWN] Clint Dempsey was back in a U.S. uniform … appearing in the away uniform the USA will wear at the World Cup. The Fulham striker, recoveringfrom a knee injury, appeared with other players in the official launch of the Nike national team uniforms at London’s Battersea Power Station. Dempsey said he expects to […]
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Altidore takes nothing for granted
[WORLD CUP COUNTDOWN] About the only sure thing in the U.S. attack is that Jozy Altidore will be one of the strikers atthe World Cup in South Africa. But he isn’t taking anything for granted. Nor is he counting out his friend, the injured Charlie Davies. “If I amselected,” Altidore said in a satellite television […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
England keeper recalls 1950 U.S. loss
With the USA and England facing each other in their 2010 World Cup opener, recollections of their previous World Cup clash — a shocking 1-0 U.S. win in 1950 — continue to stream in. This timeit’s England goalkeeper Bert Williams, who is now 90 years old. “It’s been 60 years,” said Williams, who was beaten […]
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Clues embedded in U.S. squad for Netherlands game
[USA] The U.S. men’s national team coach Bob Bradley has named a 20-player roster to face the Netherlands at AmsterdamArenA Wednesday (TV: 2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2 and Galavision). The squad includes several surprises … Recalled for the first time since the Confederations Cup is DaMarcus Beasley. Also back is Rangers teammate Maurice Edu after a […]