Soccer FanHouse

Landon Donovan Doesn't Think David Beckham Is a Good Teammate

Ryan Wilson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:45:00 EST

by Ryan Wilson

Filed under: MLS

This is a few days old, but if you're waiting on Sports Illustrated to be delivered to your doorstep, it's four days early. Either way, SI has excerpted Grant Wahl's latest book, The Beckham Experiment, and in addition to learning the standard fare -- the Hollywood elite welcomed Becks and Posh into its loving bosom -- we're also afforded a behind-the-curtain glimpse at how Beckham's arrival threw the entire L.A. Galaxy organization into upheaval.

Landon Donovan Doesn't Think David Beckham Is a Good Teammate originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

US Adds Seven to Gold Cup Roster

Michael Cardillo — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: International, Soccer, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

When the U.S. Soccer Federation announced the roster for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup in the midst of the U.S.'s surprising run to the Confederations Cup final, the general consensus was that the lineup was thoroughly a "B" team. After all, the supposed "A" team had done enough work in upsetting then-FIFA No. 1 Spain, and giving newly minted top dog Brazil a run for its money, before losing 3-2 last week.

On Wednesday, CONCACAF said it would allow the U.S. to add seven players to the already 23-man roster for the Gold Cup due to playing in back-to-back competitions barely separated by a week and, more importantly, over 10,000 miles. Thursday the USSF announced those seven players -- all members of the Confederations Cup roster -- upgrading the roster to a solid "B+."

US Adds Seven to Gold Cup Roster originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cristiano Ronaldo Doesn't Like Being Followed

Michael Cardillo — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:21:00 EST

Filed under: European Soccer, Soccer, La Liga (Spain)

Wednesday superstar Cristiano Ronaldo officially completed his world-record transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid. Perhaps the pressure is already getting to the Portuguese winger, as England's Sun newspaper alleges he got in a bit of a dust up with a 17-year-old female fan following him in Lisbon on Sunday by kicking in a window of a car she was sitting on.

Of course, usually anything that comes from the always reputable Sun (sarcasm alert) ought to be taken with a slight grain of salt. The paper also said Ronaldo apologized for the alleged incident, citing the fact his mother was with him when it occurred.

Cristiano Ronaldo Doesn't Like Being Followed originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Benzema Latest Lured to Real Madrid?

Michael Cardillo — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: European Soccer, Soccer, La Liga (Spain)

This summer, as the European transfer season began at 12:01 AM ET on July 1, one thing is absolutely clear -- all roads lead to Real Madrid.

Fresh off the heels of completing the mega-money swoops for Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, the Spanish giants appear to have added another high profile attacking talent in Lyon's French international Karim Benzema. Reports coming out Wednesday put the sides very close on a deal in the range of €35 million ($50 U.S.) that could be finalized before the day is over. (Update -- it appears the deal is complete.)

Benzema Latest Lured to Real Madrid? originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One Last Look Back to South Africa as 'Summer of Soccer' Continues

Brian Straus — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:53:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer, MLS, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

Major League Soccer's marketers, often guilty of a bit of hyperbole, can't be accused of it this time over their 'Summer of Soccer' campaign. Between World Cup qualifying, the recently-completed Confederations Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup, Superliga, the start of the CONCACAF Champions League and visits by the likes of Barcelona, AC Milan, Chelsea and more, we're in danger of saturation.

The schedule serves to throw a bit of cold water on the argument that the sport isn't growing in this country, as does the U.S. national team's performance over the past week in South Africa. Before looking ahead, it's worth looking back at what we learned from the Yanks' roller coaster ride.

One Last Look Back to South Africa as 'Summer of Soccer' Continues originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Irresistible Brazil Overcomes US in Final

Brian Straus — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

The ecstasy on the faces of the Brazilian players celebrating the go-ahead goal near the corner flag and the tears rolling down that of their captain, Lucio, at the final whistle, demonstrated just how much today's Confederations Cup final meant to the world's most famous soccer team.

That measure of commitment, combined with a lot of talent and the flagging energy of a U.S. side struggling to stay with a superior opponent for the second straight game, was enough to overhaul a two-goal deficit and lift the Brazilians to a 3-2 triumph and the tournament title.

More Coverage: Kaka Earns Golden Ball Award

Irresistible Brazil Overcomes US in Final originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Let's Keep Perspective on US-Brazil Final

Brian Straus — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:57:00 EST

Filed under: U.S. Men's National Team

The U.S. national team's unexpected victory over top-ranked Spain in Wednesday's Confederations Cup semifinal set off a predictable, but still annoying, flurry of pontification about the growth and relevance of soccer in America.

Mainstream journalists who watch a game or two every four years, political types who wonder if soccer is consistent with American values and sports anchors who asked if a victory in Sunday's final against Brazil would install us as World Cup favorites, all turned up suddenly to offer their well-informed opinions and pile a bit more pressure on Bob Bradley's boys.

The coach and several players admitted they came out "tentative" in the 3-0 group-stage loss to Brazil. Imagine how much more frightened they'd be if they felt the sport's future depended on a single result? Thankfully, the U.S. showed against Egypt and Spain that it can play both aggressively and intelligently while ignoring external distractions and someone else's big picture. A similar approach Sunday could yield a trophy.

Let's Keep Perspective on US-Brazil Final originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Brazil Denies South Africa, Will Play US

Michael Cardillo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: International, Soccer

For about 85 minutes Thursday it looked like lady luck would shine her fortune upon the underdogs for the second consecutive day at the Confederations Cup semifinals. Host South Africa was giving powerhouse Brazil all it could handle, continuously stymieing the five-time world champions all across the field in Johannesburg.

Yet it all came crashing down in an instant for the determined Bafana Bafana thanks to a moment of brilliance generated off the foot of Brazil sub Dani Alves, who had only entered the match a few minutes earlier. The Barcelona back curled in a perfect free kick in the 87th minute around the South African wall to push Brazil to a 1-0 victory and a date with the United States in Sunday's final.

Brazil Denies South Africa, Will Play US originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

U.S. Names Gold Cup Roster

Michael Cardillo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: International, Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

The work, apparently, is never over for the U.S. National Team. Fresh off takings its bows after a stunning 2-0 upset over No. 1-ranked Spain at the Confederations Cup Wednesday, the U.S. was back to work Thursday.

In this case, it was naming a 23-man roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which begins on July 4 in Seattle with a match against Grenada. Of note, only six players on the Gold Cup roster have over 10 caps. On top of that, just Michael Parkhurst and Brian Ching were on the 2007 competition roster, which the U.S. won, punching their ticket to the 2009 Confederations Cup in the process.

U.S. Names Gold Cup Roster originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

US Stuns No. 1 Spain, Advances to Confederations Cup Final

Michael Cardillo — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:53:00 EST

Filed under: International, Soccer, Soccer Posts, US Soccer

Wednesday night in chilly Bloemfontein, South Africa, the U.S. national team lodged one of its greatest victories in its history, beating FIFA No. 1 Spain 2-0 in the Confederations Cup semifinals. The win snapped Spain's 35-match unbeaten run, denying them a chance to set a new record at 36.

This win almost made me pull out the thesaurus for the proper word to describe it. Stunning? Yes. Unbelievable? Pretty close. Deserved? You bet.

US Stuns No. 1 Spain, Advances to Confederations Cup Final originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

US vs. Spain Live Blog

Michael Cardillo — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: International, Soccer Posts, U.S. Men's National Team

As a fan of the U.S. national team, you probably couldn't ask for more from Wednesday's Confederations Cup semifinal against Spain, especially considering how the first two games of the tournament unfurled for Bob Bradley's team. In short, the underdog Americans are up against FIFA's No. 1-ranked team, Spain, which has already set the all-time international record for consecutive wins (15) in this tournament and could break the all-time undefeated run (36) by defeating the Americans.

With a win, or even simply a strong performance, the U.S. can garner a boatload of goodwill toward the 2010 World Cup. At the very least it would erase the lingering doubts raised in the opening two games of this tournament.

All in all, the odds are surely stacked against the U.S., but that's why we follow sports, right? To see the chance of a colossal upset. The match kicks off from South Africa at 2:25 PM ET and we'll be blogging shortly before the opening whistle.

US vs. Spain Live Blog originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bob Gansler: Heavy Underdog US Must Rely on Intangibles Against Spain

Brian Straus — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team, FanHouse Exclusive

Imagine if that famous 1980 Olympic hockey game between the American collegians and the Soviet Big Red Machine had been played in Red Square instead of Lake Placid. Those were the kind of odds facing Bob Gansler and his young U.S. national team on June 14, 1990, when they kicked off against Italy in a World Cup match at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

The American side defined "moral victory" that day, holding the tournament favorites to one goal and nearly scoring through Peter Vermes in the second half. "The difference between our team in the first game [a 5-1 loss to Czechoslovakia] and the second was psychological,'' Gansler said at the time.

Nineteen years later, Gansler told FanHouse that the psychological again will play the defining role as the U.S. faces similarly long odds against a Spanish juggernaut in the Confederations Cup semifinals Wednesday.

Bob Gansler: Heavy Underdog US Must Rely on Intangibles Against Spain originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Improbable 3-0 Results Lift US to Confederations Cup Semis

Brian Straus — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:41:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

After what must be the most unlikely turn of events in American soccer history, the beleaguered national team with the supposedly incompetent coach and heartless, out-of-form players has survived to play another day. A surprisingly comprehensive 3-0 defeat of African champions Egypt in Rustenburg, combined with Brazil's 3-0 win over reeling Italy, has qualified the U.S. for the Confederations Cup semifinals.

Spain, the European champion juggernaut on the 35-game unbeaten streak, awaits on Wednesday. But let concern over that Herculean task wait until Monday. For the first time since the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup final, Bob Bradley and the U.S. national team rose to the occasion and, on this day, certainly deserve passage.

Improbable 3-0 Results Lift US to Confederations Cup Semis originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Spain Beats South Africa, But Both Are Winners at Confederations Cup

Michael Cardillo — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:49:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer, International, Soccer

It's Spain's world, the rest of us are all just living in it. Saturday in the Confederations Cup, Spain dispatched hosing South Africa 2-0 on goals from David Villa and Fernando Llorente.

The win extended Spain's unbeaten run to an astounding 35 games, which ties the all time mark set by Brazil in the early 1990s. Perhaps even more impressive is that Spain has won its last 15 matches during the streak to set a world record there as well. Nobody is even close to Spain's level, although they haven't exactly played the world's toughest team's yet in this tournament.

Spain Beats South Africa, But Both Are Winners at Confederations Cup originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Setanta Loses Premier League Rights

Michael Cardillo — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:25:00 EST

Filed under: European Soccer, English Premier League, Soccer

Something that often amazes me is talking to people from England, us here in the Colonies actually tend to have better access to the Premier League matches on television.

After Friday, that access is going to change in some major ways after the Premier League pulled its television package from the troubled Irish broadcaster Setanta Sports. Setanta had a £392 contract to broadcast 46 live matches in the U.K. for the upcoming 2009-10 season, but that is now open to the highest bidder and will be determined by Monday.

Setanta Loses Premier League Rights originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For US, It's About a Lot More Than Bob

Brian Straus — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:42:00 EST

Filed under: U.S. Men's National Team

I was invited Friday afternoon to join a Facebook group called "Fire Bob Bradley". The group has attracted more than 800 members -- people who care enough about the U.S. national team's performance to register their frustration (a good thing) and who also, somehow, believe that removing any single individual will quickly bridge the massive talent, cultural and logistical gap so evident in this week's disappointing Confederations Cup losses to Italy and Brazil.

Bradley has made his mistakes. Starting the obviously struggling DaMarcus Beasley against the Brazilians was a stunner. But to assume that replacing the coach (with whom?) will boost U.S. Soccer's effort to solve deep-seeded problems before what looks like an inevitable three-and-out performance at next summer's World Cup is naive and counterproductive.

For US, It's About a Lot More Than Bob originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Egypt Upsets Italy

Michael Cardillo — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:22:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer, International, Soccer

Bob Bradley and the rest the U.S. national team ought to send a bouquet of flowers to Egyptian coach Hassan Shehata, after his Pharaohs upended Italy 1-0 in the Confederations Cup Group B play.

Even though the U.S. has been outscored 6-1 in two matches, on top of being generally outclassed, amazingly the Americans still have some semblance of a chance to advance ... assuming they can beat Egypt at least 5-0 Sunday and Italy loses to Brazil.*

Piece of cake.

Egypt Upsets Italy originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Brazil Outclasses US

Michael Cardillo — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: FIFA World Cup, International Soccer, Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

If you're a fan of the U.S. men's national soccer team, there's probably no way to sugarcoat Thursday's disheartening 3-0 loss to world power Brazil in the 2009 Confederations Cup. The loss essentially eliminates the U.S. before its final group stage game Sunday against Egypt.

Right from the opening whistle the U.S. looked a step short and like they were lacking energy against the Kaka-led Brazilian assault. Inside of eight minutes Brazil was ahead -- yet another early goal allowed by the U.S. This time it came on a header by Felipe Melo on a perfectly curled free kick Maicon set up after a foul by DaMarcus Beasley.

Brazil Outclasses US originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

US vs. Brazil Live Blog

Michael Cardillo — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: International Soccer, International, Soccer, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

When the draw for the 2009 Confederations Cup took place a couple months ago, American soccer fans circled the date June 18. Why? One word: Brazil. It's just not every day you get to play against the team most consider the best team in the world.

The U.S., which looked good for a half vs. Italy on Monday (and terrible for the other), probably needs to take at least a point against Kaka, Robinho & Co. Thursday in Pretoria, otherwise the final group stage on Sunday vs. Egypt will probably be rendered moot.

Action kicks off at 9:55 AM ET on ESPN2. We'll be live blogging shortly before then.

US vs. Brazil Live Blog originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.