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A HASTILY arranged press conference to bed down sponsorship of the Top 8 is on the cards this week, just days before the start of the competition on Friday.

But it is likely to do little to stem a growing deluge of speculation about whether the Premier Soccer League will renew its deals with the sponsors of its three other major properties.

A picture of a league in crisis comes on the back of a stony silence on the progress of talks to extend existing relationships with Absa, Nedbank and Telkom.

But officials in the league's top structures and club officials remain confident the deals will be done soon ... albeit after the season is under way.

There is still haggling and posturing around the Absa deal, where the PSL initially sought a 100% increase on the last five-year R450-million contract but Absa is offering a much lower increase.

Insiders say the counter-offer from Absa is an increase of about 30%, the same as the increment the league received from its new television rights package, now up to R2-million for the next five seasons.

Absa is the league's title sponsor, and has ploughed millions into a diverse sports portfolio in recent years, after taking over from South African Breweries.

Read More: Soccer in dark over sponsors - Sport LIVE
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The usual rules governing soccer don't apply in the Olympics, where Spain was eliminated Sunday, ending its bid to become the first country to hold the World Cup, European and Olympic titles at the same time.

Forget what you think you know about international soccer. If there’s one lesson to take from the opening rounds of the men’s tournament at the London Games, it’s that when it comes to the Olympics, the usual rules governing the world’s most popular sport no longer apply.

In a stunning upset Sunday, Spain was sent home from the Olympics with a 1-0 loss to Honduras, eliminating one of the gold-medal favorites at the group stage and ending Spain’s bid to become the first nation to hold the World Cup, European and Olympic soccer titles at the same time.

The decisive moment came in the seventh minute, when the Honduras midfielder Roger Espinoza crossed from the left, and Jerry Bengtson jumped above Jordi Alba to power a header past Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea.

Read More: Soccer’s Reign of Spain Ends in London - WSJ-com
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Abby Wambach and the unbeaten American women’s soccer team will be looking to advance from Group G with a perfect record when the gold-medal favorites on the soccer betting odds square off against underdog North Korea on Tuesday at the Olympics.

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Wambach has scored one goal in each game as the United States - which is listed at short 7/5 odds to win the gold medal in women’s soccer – has opened up the Olympic tournament with a pair of impressive wins over France and Colombia. Alex Morgan scored twice as the Americans overcame an early 2-0 deficit to defeat France 4-2 last week, and Carli Lloyd registered her second tally in two games to help the USA blank Colombia 3-0 on Saturday.

The United States, which is currently ranked No. 1 in the official FIFA world rankings for women’s soccer, is listed as a heavy -500 favorite on the soccer betting odds to defeat No. 8-ranked North Korea (+900) with draw odds of +525. North Korea comes into the match with something to prove after getting blown out 5-0 on Saturday by France, which followed their tournament-opening 2-0 defeat of Colombia.

Also on Tuesday, the Canadian women will be +350 underdogs when they face favored Sweden (-150) in the third match for both teams in Group F action. Star striker Christine Sinclair scored twice for No. 7-ranked Canada in a 3-0 win over South Africa on Saturday, which followed on the heels of a disappointing 2-1 loss to No. 3 Japan last week.

Sweden, ranked No. 4 by FIFA, opened with a 4-1 win over South Africa and held Japan to a scoreless draw on Saturday. The Swedes are at 7/1 odds to win the gold medal while Canada is at 25/1.

Find all your betting odds for the 2012 Olympic Games in London at Bovada.
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The coach of the North Korean women's soccer team sat in his chair and placed on the table a black half-inch thick notebook with the word "COACH'' - in English in huge, gray letters - printed on the front. Beside him sat a man who identified himself as a team manager and also serves as translator, his small tan notebook and pen at the ready.

Time for questions.

"Do your players have any special motivation when playing against the United States, whether because they're ranked as the best team in the world, or because of the adversarial relationship between the two countries?''

The team manager leaned toward the coach. Mumbles were exchanged. Back came the answer.

"We believe in our players' mental power,'' said the team manager, Choe Nam Hyok.

"That's all?''

"That's all,'' Choe said.

"That doesn't answer my question,'' said the reporter.

Choe stared sternly at the reporter and didn't respond.

Read more: Aloof North Koreans a great Olympic mystery - SOCCER - SI-com
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The U.S. women's soccer team beat North Korea on Tuesday against a backdrop of hostility between the global superpower and the isolated Asian dictatorship but U.S. fans and players said the Olympic spirit transcended politics.

One American player said the teams played ping-pong together at their hotel ahead of the match, conjuring scenes from the 1970s when so-called "ping-pong diplomacy" marked a thaw in U.S.-Chinese relations.

"We were in the same hotel as them and the girls were great... We played ping-pong and stuff like that," Shannon Boxx told Reuters after the match, which the Americans won 1-0 thanks to a 25th minute goal from striker Abby Wambach.

The United States and North Korea have had fraught relations since the 1950-1953 Korean War, when the Americans fought alongside the capitalist South against the Communist North, which was backed by the Soviet Union and China.

Read More: Soccer: U.S. women forget politics, beat North Korea - Yahoo! Sports
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Latest news about the world of soccer. Main Events; USA - Major League Soccer; Olympic Games; Champions League, FIFA world cup, soccer sportbooks and a lot more.

Soccer odds comparison section at Odds Portal lets you compare soccer betting odds & soccer betting lines to find the best odds! Welcome:


Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball. At the turn of the 21st century, the game was played by over 250 million players in over 200 countries, making it the world's most popular sport. The game is played on a rectangular field of grass or green artificial turf, with a goal in the middle of each of the short ends. The object of the game is to score by driving the ball into the opposing goal.

In general play, the goalkeepers are the only players allowed to touch the ball with their hands or arms (unless the ball is carried out of play, where the field players are required to restart by a throw-in of the game ball), while the field players typically use their feet to kick the ball, occasionally using other parts of their legs, their torso or head. The team that scores the most goals by the end of the match wins.


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Reigning Olympic champions the United States will take on a revitalized New Zealand while hosts Britain face Canada in the quarter-finals of the women's soccer competition after the completion of the group stage on Tuesday.

The U.S. and Britain were the only teams to qualify with maximum points while the other last eight-matches will see pre-tournament favorites Brazil play world champions Japan while Sweden and France meet in the opening quarter-final in Glasgow.

Read More: Soccer: U.S. and Britain qualify with perfect records - Chicago Tribune
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Already-qualified title favorites Brazil and Japan were joined by hosts Britain, surprise qualifiers Egypt, Mexico, Senegal, South Korea and Honduras in the quarter-finals of the Olympic soccer tournament on Wednesday.

Britain beat Uruguay 1-0 in Cardiff to make it through to the last eight for the first time since 1956 and will meet South Korea in the last eight in the Welsh capital when all four games are played on Saturday.

Brazil will play Honduras at St James' Park in Newcastle, Japan, who qualified after their second match, will face Egypt at Old Trafford, Manchester and Mexico will meet Senegal at Wembley.

Egypt, who endured a torrid start to the competition when they trailed 3-0 to Brazil in their opener, completed a remarkable recovery by reaching the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Belarus.

Brazil completed their perfect run of three straight wins when they beat New Zealand 3-0 at St James' Park, Newcastle to seal first place in Group C ahead of Egypt.

Four matches played in the afternoon produced only one goal when Mexico beat Switzerland 1-0 in Cardiff to win Group B.

Read More: Soccer: Britain sink Uruguay to reach last eight - Yahoo! Sports
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The coach of the U.S. women’s soccer team wants her players in win-or-go-home mode. She just doesn’t want them thinking too much about it.

The great mental shift, familiar in major soccer tournaments everywhere, has occurred in the last couple of days at the Olympics. The group stage is done. Eight of the 12 women’s teams — including all the nations predicted to be medal contenders — have advanced to the so-called knockout stage, starting with today’s quarterfinals.

Remember how the Americans slowed down the game against North Korea on Tuesday to save their legs? Remember how the Japanese deliberately didn’t score against South Korea in a 0-0 draw so they didn’t need to travel for a few days? There’s no room for such tactics anymore: If your team doesn’t win today, it’s done.

Read more: U.S. women’s soccer in win-or-go-home mode - NYPOST-com
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Canada will play in the Olympic women’s soccer semifinal for the first time after eliminating host Great Britain 2-0 in a Friday Olympic women’s soccer quarterfinal.

It will be no easy task for Canada’s Christine Sinclair-captained side at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United. Monday’s opponent will be the reigning Olympic champion United States. Canada has beaten its southern nemesis only four times since their rivalry began in 1986.

“We’re going in as underdogs and I think everyone understands that and I think underdogs rise up in these tournaments and you’ve seen it time-and-time again,” said Canada’s coach John Herdman. “Expect the girls to rise up, they’re in a great space to take on the world number one.”

Jonelle Filigno of Mississauga, Ont. and Burnaby, B.C.’s Sinclair had the first half goals Friday and goalkeeper Erin McLeod the shutout at Ricoh Arena, where Canada lost to Japan but beat South Africa in the opening round.

Read More: Canadian women one win away from soccer final | Team Canada | London 2012 | Winnipeg Sun
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The U.S. women's soccer team will face the most dangerous opponent it has seen in these Olympics when it squares off against Canada in a semifinal game Monday night at Old Trafford in Manchester, England.

And we're not talking about Canada.

Because the team that has the best chance of tripping the Americans one game short of a fifth consecutive Olympic final could be the Americans themselves. They've been spoiling for a rematch with Japan, which plays France in the other semifinal, since losing last summer's World Cup final on penalty kicks. But if they are caught looking ahead to that game rather than concentrating on Canada, they could wind up watching the final on TV.

Read More: London Olympics: U.S. women's soccer team looks to keep focus - latimes-com
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South Korea hit its gold medal target at the Olympics over the weekend, but the big news locally was about a win that only takes the country into a semi-final.

The front pages of all Monday’s major national newspapers carry pictures of the jubilation in the men’s soccer team after they beat host nation Great Britain on penalty kicks in their Olympic quarter-final late on Saturday night.

The victory takes South Korea into the penultimate stage of Olympic soccer for the first time ever and conjures up memories of a similar historic win, also on penalty kicks, against Spain in the quarter-final of the World Cup a decade ago.

By chance, the coach of the current South Korean Olympic team, Hong Myung-bo, took the last kick in the shoot-out in 2002, but he said he didn’t pass on any particular advice this time around.

Our players “held their ground much better than expected. I think we were able to win against Britain because our players were mentally stronger,” he told reporters.

The victory marks a major scalp for South Korea, which outplayed the British team and converted all of its spot kicks after the match finished at 1-1. Replacement goalkeeper Lee Bum-young was the hero for the Taeguk Warriors, saving the final British penalty kick to seal the win, as well as another during regulation time.

Read More: South Korea Makes Olympic Soccer Semi-Final - Korea Real Time - WSJ
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There was pain, to be sure. Excruciating physical and mental pain after 120 minutes of soccer and an uncommon loss to a team that has had their number in recent, um, decades.

But that wasn’t why the Canadian women’s team wouldn’t leave the pitch at Old Trafford after their 4-3 loss to the U.S. in extra time of their Olympic semi-final.

Read More: Canada's Olympic soccer squad in shock after heartbreaking semi-final loss to U.S. - The Globe and Mail
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Marco Fabian, Oribe Peralta and Javier Cortes score as Mexico defeats Japan, 3-1, and reaches gold-medal match. Brazil earns berth by beating South Korea, 3-0.

Mexico will be in the men's Olympic soccer final for the first time when it plays Brazil on Saturday.

Mexico got to the gold-medal match with a 3-1 win over Japan on Tuesday. Brazil beat South Korea, 3-0, in the other semifinal.

Mexico's previous best finish was losing a bronze-medal game to Japan in 1968 in Mexico City.

Marco Fabian, Oribe Peralta and Javier Cortes scored goals for Mexico.

Leandro Damiao scored two goals in the second half to spark Brazil to its win. Brazil has not been in a gold-medal match since 1988 in Seoul.

The U.S. men did not qualify to play in the Olympic tournament.

Read More: London Olympics men's soccer: Mexico, Brazil to play in final - latimes-com
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Cristiano Ronaldo scored a pair of second-half goals, and Kaka set up three against his former and perhaps future team as Real Madrid downed AC Milan 5-1 today in a friendly at Yankee Stadium.

Angel di Maria put Madrid ahead with a spectacular 25-yard volley in the 24th minute, but Robinho equalized nine minutes later with one of the few shots by Milan, a seven-time European champion depleted by summer departures and retirements.

Ronaldo, the 2008 FIFA Player of the Year, finished crisp passes with quick bursts of speed in the 49th and 66th minutes, the latter off a pass from Kaka. Sergio Ramos made it 4-1 with a header following Kaka's corner in the 81st and Jose Callejon added the final goal off Kaka's chip in the 89th.

Read More: Soccer: Ronaldo scores two as Madrid thrash Milan - Sport - NZ Herald News
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After surviving a semifinal scare from Canada on Monday, the United States will hit the pitch on Thursday as solid favorites on the soccer betting odds to win the gold medal at historic Wembley Stadium when they take on Japan at the 2012 London Olympics.

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Team USA, which overcame a one-goal deficit three times to ultimately defeat Canada 4-3 in the final seconds of extra time on a well-turned header by Alex Morgan, is listed as a -110 favorite on the soccer betting odds to defeat underdog Japan (+275 odds) with draw odds of +230 (90 minutes plus injury time).

The Americans, currently ranked No. 1 on the FIFA official world rankings, are also listed at -275 odds to win the gold medal, with No. 3-ranked Japan at +225. The gold-medal game will be a rematch of the 2011 World Cup final held last July in Germany, in which Japan edged the United States 3-2 on penalty kicks to win its first-ever FIFA World Cup.

Team USA has defeated France, Colombia, North Korea, New Zealand, and Canada on its way to the gold-medal match, while Japan also knocked off Canada in its opening game before being held to scoreless draws against both Sweden and South Africa in the group stage. Japan then defeated Brazil and France to advance to the gold-medal match.

The Canadians, meanwhile, will battle for the bronze medal on Thursday against France, which was beaten 2-1 by Japan in their semifinal match on Monday. France, ranked No. 6 in the world by FIFA, is a slight favorite at +110 odds to defeat No. 7-ranked Canada (+220).

Canadian captain Christine Sinclair scored all three goals for her team in Monday's loss to the Americans and leads the tournament with six goals in total. American co-captain Abby Wambach is alone in second place with five goals.
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Manne wrote: After surviving a semifinal scare from Canada on Monday, the United States will hit the pitch on Thursday as solid favorites on the soccer betting odds to win the gold medal at historic Wembley Stadium when they take on Japan at the 2012 London Olympics.

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Team USA, which overcame a one-goal deficit three times to ultimately defeat Canada 4-3 in the final seconds of extra time on a well-turned header by Alex Morgan, is listed as a -110 favorite on the soccer betting odds to defeat underdog Japan (+275 odds) with draw odds of +230 (90 minutes plus injury time).

The Americans, currently ranked No. 1 on the FIFA official world rankings, are also listed at -275 odds to win the gold medal, with No. 3-ranked Japan at +225. The gold-medal game will be a rematch of the 2011 World Cup final held last July in Germany, in which Japan edged the United States 3-2 on penalty kicks to win its first-ever FIFA World Cup.

Team USA has defeated France, Colombia, North Korea, New Zealand, and Canada on its way to the gold-medal match, while Japan also knocked off Canada in its opening game before being held to scoreless draws against both Sweden and South Africa in the group stage. Japan then defeated Brazil and France to advance to the gold-medal match.

The Canadians, meanwhile, will battle for the bronze medal on Thursday against France, which was beaten 2-1 by Japan in their semifinal match on Monday. France, ranked No. 6 in the world by FIFA, is a slight favorite at +110 odds to defeat No. 7-ranked Canada (+220).

Canadian captain Christine Sinclair scored all three goals for her team in Monday's loss to the Americans and leads the tournament with six goals in total. American co-captain Abby Wambach is alone in second place with five goals.
Team USA will revenge! They will erase the pain of World Cup loss to Japan with a win.

USA will get the gold medal this time.


Go TEAM USA!
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The French coach, Bruno Bini, compared it to unrequited love. “C’est comme en amour, hein?” he said, with the air of a heartbroken poet. “En amour, parfois, tu peux aimer à la folie, ça ne suffit pas. On a tout donné.” It is like love, he said. In love, sometimes, you can love to madness, and it is not enough. We gave everything.

It was a beautiful day in Coventry, and the French women’s soccer team has chased Olympic bronze with remarkable ardour. They began to constrict the field in the first half; in the second, they owned it. Again and again, they sent the ball at the Canadian net. Post, crossbar, crossbar again. Off Erin McLeod, off Desiree Scott, off Carmelina Moscato. High, wide, over and over, again and again. It felt inevitable that they would score. How could they not score?

Read More: Canada’s Olympics soccer bronze medal is as good as gold | London 2012 | Sports | National Post
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The U.S. women's soccer team earned a gold medal at the Olympic Games on Aug. 9. Beating Japan 2-1 at Wembley Stadium, the U.S. had the opportunity to avenge the loss at the 2011 World Cup, and it was mentioned multiple times by the players. I hope their victory will help reinvigorate interest in a U.S professional women's soccer league.


Read More: U.S. Women?s Soccer Team Wins Gold at the Summer Olympics: Fan View - Yahoo! Sports
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Long an international powerhouse on the global men’s soccer scene, Brazil will be looking for its first-ever Olympic gold medal in “The Beautiful Game” when it takes on Mexico in the championship match on the soccer betting odds at the 2012 London Olympics on Saturday morning (10 a.m.Eastern).

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Brazil, which has fallen to No. 13 on the updated FIFA official world rankings, is favored at -185 on the soccer betting odds to defeat Mexico (90 minutes plus injury time) in the gold-medal match, with No. 18-ranked Mexico listed as a +475 underdog and draw odds of +275. Brazil is also listed at -375 odds to win the gold medal, with Mexico at +300.

The Brazilians have sailed through the Olympic tournament with five straight victories, knocking off Egypt, Belarus, and New Zealand during the group stage before recording wins over Honduras and South Korea to advance to the final. They have scored a tournament-leading 15 goals in total while allowing five against.

Mexico, meanwhile, was held to a scoreless draw by South Korea in its first match, but rebounded to defeat Gabon and Switzerland before edging Senegal in extra-time and powering past Japan to reach the final. The Mexicans have tallied ten goals – second only to the Brazilians - while allowing just two against.

Brazil’s Leandro Damiao leads all scorers with six goals, while teammate Neymar and Mexico’s Giovani Dos Santos have both scored three times. Oribe Peralta’s second goal of the tournament proved to be the game-winner as he struck from long range in Mexico’s 3-1 semifinal victory over Japan. Brazil got a pair from Damiao on its way to a 3-0 semifinal dismantling of South Korea.
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