Soccer archive

While soccer enthusiasts were enjoying the Spanish celebrations at Euro 2012, Israeli champion Kiryat Shmona were already busy in preparation for their first attempt to reach the Champions League group stage. Ran Ben Shimon, the coach who wrote Kiryat Shmona's name in the history books, is long gone, and his replacement, Gili Landau, had his charges running around in the Caesarea humidity and heat. Landau quietly slipped into Ben Shimon's shoes, and tonight will try to negotiate the team through the first leg of the Champions League playoff.

Owner Izzy Sheratzky promised to keep almost all the squad that won Israelis' hearts last season. "Whoever I wanted, stayed," he says. "If I really wanted Ben Shimon to stay, he would be here too."

As the London Olympics progressed, so did Kiryat Shmona in the early stages of the Champions League qualifying stages, and the team finds itself only 180 minutes away from the group stages. Tonight in Minsk, Sheratzky hopes to see the club achieve results that would make next week's encounter easier.


Read More: Soccer / Champions League / Kiryat Shmona riding on a dream against Borisov - Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper

The two men at the centre of the violent scenes which have rocked Sydney's soccer community face five-year bans from Football Federation Australia-authorised matches.

FFA announced on Thursday that the men breached the FFA Code of Behaviour at recent trial matches in Sydney.

The first man was identified as having activated a flare at a trial match between Sydney FC and the Macarthur Rams at Campbelltown Stadium on August 14, which sparked an ugly brawl and led to a child being hit by a rock.

On Wednesday night a firework was thrown into a crowd at the Western Sydney Wanderers trial match against Sydney United. That incident led to United fans clashing with police who were forced to use pepper spray to subdue the unruly mob at Edensor Park.

"The troublemakers who bring the game into disrepute with their reckless behaviour have no place in the game," said outgoing FFA chief executive Ben Buckley.

"The incidents at Campbelltown and Edensor Park over the past week were the work of a few idiots who wanted to cause trouble.

"Football at all levels will spend whatever time and effort is required to ensure matches are played in a family-friendly atmosphere where people can enjoy football."


Read More: Soccer hooligans face five-year bans

SOCCER chiefs are prepared to ban any supporter convicted of anti-social behaviour from playing as well as watching games.

And they have served notice on clubs that trouble caused by their fans could have them excluded from national competitions.

Infuriated by the conduct of Sydney United fans at Tuesday's trial game with Western Sydney Wanderers, Football Federation CEO Ben Buckley warned that the zero tolerance approach of the police would be matched by the game's authorities with any penalty they can apply.

Yesterday three men received bans of up to five years for their role in disturbances over the past week. Tuesday night's scenes of fans fighting with police followed the incident in Campbelltown last week where a man was injured and a child hit by a rock.

But Buckley said FFA wanted to remove them from the game entirely.


Read More: Cookies must be enabled | Herald Sun

Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Real Madrid playmaker Nuri Sahin on a season-long loan, the English Premier League club said on Saturday.

The Turkey international joined Real last year after helping Borussia Dortmund win the 2011 Bundesliga title but found opportunities limited because of injury and the form of Mesut Ozil.

Real boss Jose Mourinho was keen for Sahin to go to England to restart his career and Liverpool have swooped after interest from Arsenal cooled.

"The 23-year-old will now undergo a medical on Merseyside," a Liverpool statement said.

Sahin's departure from the Bernabeu is another indication that Tottenham Hotspur's creative midfielder Luka Modric could head to Real, while the future of Kaka remains uncertain.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has hinted that Sahin would be a major first-team player at Anfield despite playing in a similar role to captain Steven Gerrard, who may now be asked to operate wide or as a holding midfielder.

With Sahin's medical still to be completed, the 31-cap player will not be available for Sunday's home league game against champions Manchester City. (Writing by Mark Meadows; Editing by Peter Rutherford)


Soccer-Liverpool confirm loan deal for Real Madrid's Sahin | Reuters

Robin van Persie scored his first goal for Manchester United in the Premier League as his side came from behind to beat Fulham 3-2 at Old Trafford today.

Damien Duff had given Fulham a surprise lead in the third minute, before the Netherlands striker met Patrice Evra's cross with a neat left-footed flick into the far corner of Mark Schwarzer's goal seven minutes later.

Shinji Kagawa also scored his first for United in the 35th and Rafael Da Silva added a third with a header, giving United a 3-1 lead at half time.

Nemanja Vidic's own goal in the 64th minute started a spell of pressure by the visitors, but they were unable to find an equalizer.

Wayne Rooney went off on a stretcher in injury time with a deep gash after getting caught on the right leg by Hugo Rodallega, something that will sour the victory for Alex Ferguson.

Andre Villas-Boas came close to his first win as Tottenham manager after a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto gave Tottenham the lead at White Hart Lane before James Morrison saved a point for West Brom with a 90th minute goal.


Read More: Soccer: Van Persie scores in Utd win - Sport - NZ Herald News

Rooney will be out for at least three matches, and potentially a fourth, as it's likely he'll need some time to regain fitness before returning to match form.

Two defensive howlers cost Liverpool all three points as they drew 2-2 with Premier League champions Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.

The Merseysiders twice went ahead through Martin Skrtel and Luis Suarez on manager Brendan Rodgers' home debut, but failed to hold the lead on both occasions with costly errors at the back gifting Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez goals.

It means Rodgers' wait for a first Liverpool victory will wait another week after his side lost 3-0 to West Bromwich Albion last weekend.

After a sluggish start, Liverpool began to dominate proceedings and should have taken the lead when Fabio Borini sent a cross from impressive 17-year-old Raheem Stirling just wide.

Carlos Tevez went close at the other end, his shot from an acute angle hitting the post and spinning back into play.

Manchester City's Vincent Kompany nearly steered the ball into his own net when an attempted clearance from a low Steven Gerrard drive went narrowly over the crossbar.

The hosts got the goal their pressure deserved from the resulting corner however, with Gerrard's cross being met with an unstoppable header from Skrtel on the edge of the six-metre box on 34 minutes.


Read More: Soccer-Defensive errors cost Liverpool victory - Yahoo! Sports

Wanda Group announced on Monday that 30 male soccer players aged around 13 will set out for Spain, to complete a three-year training course at three of the best clubs in the Spain Primera Division, Valencia CF, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal CF.

The Chinese Football Association, who closely collaborated with Wanda Group, have dispatched nearly 100 teenage players to soccer powerhouses like Europe and South America for training over the past two years, under the fully initiated "Teenage Players Oversea Study Project" .

"Spain won both the World Cup and the European Championship. The main reason is they have a very strong and solid base of teenage training. We should learn from their experience”, said Weidi, China Football Association vice-president.

According to Wei, children around 13 have the best elasticity, so Wanda Group decided to sponsor these children to realize their soccer dreams. "This is the first time that we will send a large number of young players to these top soccer clubs. I am looking forward to the results," Wei said.

A representative from Wanda Group promised the parents that, besides soccer practice, they will supervise the children's schooling in accordance with Spanish standards. "Study time for school subjects will be no less than that for professional soccer classes... If some children cannot edge into the top leagues of professional soccer, they will not be useless later due to a lack of knowledge in society."

Cai Zhenhua, deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China, also participated in the "farewell meeting". He has been in total support of sending young players for overseas studies.

Read More: Young soccer players train in Spain|China|chinadaily-com.cn

This project was awesome! I'm looking forward for those young teams to play in different leagues in Europe. This will also change the next generation of football players in China and can make them one of the future contenders in World Cup.

His sarcasm was obvious.

Now that the Florida State soccer team has moved up to No. 1 in the nation in the latest NSCAA poll, head coach Mark Krikorian joked there was really nothing left for his Seminoles to accomplish in 2012.

“Yep,” he said with a laugh. “The season’s over. It’s time to renegotiate my contract.”

The veteran coach obviously understands being No. 1 in late August isn’t nearly the same as being No. 1 in early December. And his soccer program, one of the elite ones in the United States, is much more concerned with post-season accomplishments instead of preseason or pre-conference accolades.

“I think preseason polls are always a reflection of what happened last year,” said Krikorian, whose team advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament in 2011. “The fact is there were a couple of upsets of teams that were sitting above us in the preseason poll.”

Which opened the door for his team to slide into the top spot.


Read More: www-tallahassee-com/article/20120829/FSU08/308290024/FSU-soccer-earns-No-1-national-ranking

University of Akron head men’s soccer coach Caleb Porter announced today that he will be leaving the Zips at the end of the 2012 season to become the head coach of the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.

“I always believed that it would take a truly special situation for me to leave Akron, and the Portland Timbers position is that type of opportunity,” Porter said in a release. “Given how invested I have been in the Akron program and community for the past seven years, this has been an extremely difficult decision. However, after many conversations with my family and close advisers and, given my long-term aspirations, I feel this is the right time and place for me to take the next step in my coaching career.

“In making this announcement, everyone should know that my role with Akron during this college season will not change, nor will my commitment to the players, alumni and supporters. I am extremely proud to continue coaching my team through the fall and the Akron soccer program will have my undivided focus for what I hope will be another championship year. Out of respect to my players and this program, I will not be commenting further about this situation until after the conclusion of the 2012 college season.”


Read More: Akron men's soccer coach Caleb Porter leaving for MLS - Canton, OH - CantonRep-com

Al Jazeera, once known in the United States mostly for televising videos of Americans and others taken hostage in foreign countries, but now a serious presence as a worldwide network, is betting heavily on sports to win American viewers. This month, an Al Jazeera subsidiary, beIN Sport, bought the rights to broadcast some of the United States national soccer team’s games as it seeks to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. BeIN Sport has also paid heavily to show in the United States some of Europe’s best soccer from Spain, Italy, France and England.

BeIN Sport’s bold entry into the American market befits its deep-pocketed owners, who appear committed to becoming a major player in soccer, the globe’s most popular sport. It could make an even bigger splash if it bids in the coming months for the rights to broadcast England’s Premier League in the United States, where the league has a growing and devoted following, as well as Major League Soccer, whose broadcast rights expire in 2014.

It is unclear whether the network’s buying spree is designed to make money, to raise its global brand or to perhaps provide leverage to get United States exposure for its news network. To date, Al Jazeera’s English-language news service has gained only a tiny foothold in the American market, but it could use its growing prominence in sports broadcasting to compel cable providers to carry its news programming.


Read More: www-nytimes-com/2012/08/31/sports/soccer/al-jazeera-bets-heavily-on-soccer-on-us-tv-html?pagewanted=all

America fell in love with the United States women’s soccer team in 1999 after Brandi Chastain’s jersey-shedding penalty kick in front of 90,185 fans won the World Cup. But nine months before, Rochester showed it was ahead of the crowd.

On Sept. 18, 1998, 13,125 fans jammed into Frontier Field for a Nike U.S. Cup and saw Mia Hamm score her milestone 100th goal (and then 101st) in a 4-0 win over Russia. The sell-out crowd roared for the ESPN cameras. Way back in 1997, 9,131 fans watched the Americans rout the amateur Rochester Ravens, 8-0, in an exhibition at SUNY Brockport.

That’s long before Pittsford’s Abby Wambach became a star forward for the U.S. in 2004 (she debuted in 2001). Rochester’s track record and that this is Wambach’s hometown made it an easy choice for the U.S. Soccer Federation to start its post-Olympic tour here.


Read More: www-democratandchronicle-com/article/20120831/SPORTS/308310041/U-S-women-s-soccer-team-loves-Rochester?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports

It looked for all the world like women’s soccer in the United States is thriving. On a brilliant Saturday afternoon 13,208 shrieky fans crammed into every nook of Sahlen’s Stadium to welcome a beaming US national women’s team home after a third consecutive Olympic gold medal.

In the first game of a “Fan Tribute Tour,” expected to last 10 games and crisscross the nation over the next few months, the US simply picked apart a Costa Rica team—whose squad was mostly born in the mid-’90s—to win 8-0. Abby Wambach scored twice and got an assist in front of an adoring home crowd and slowly strolled off the field to a rousing ovation in the 71st minute. The perfect day of women’s soccer.

Yet all the merriment masked an existential crisis of sorts. The halcyon might be fleeting.

When this tour ends and the hubbub has died down, as it invariably does in the weeks following any American Women’s World Cup or Olympic campaign, the women’s game threatens to plunge into a black hole. It might not resurface until 2015, the next time there’s a major women’s event on the docket – the Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Following the collapse of the Women’s Professional Soccer league in the spring, no stateside pro league remains. The WPS and its WUSA predecessor battled the same issues. They hemorrhaged money, frequently lost teams and watched average attendance tumble from 9,004 in the WUSA in 2001 to 3,535 in the WPS in 2011. Each league folded after its third season, never managing to parlay national team glory, which has been ample over the last decade and a half, into sustained interest in a domestic league. Nevertheless, they gave women’s soccer a year-round presence and, more importantly, gave the US players a home where they faced elite competition every week.


Read More: US women's soccer future is unclear - News | FOX Sports on MSN

Brazilians have decided to name the 2014 World Cup ball "Brazuca," an informal word often used to describe national pride in the South American nation.

FIFA said today more than one million people voted to select the ball's name, with 70 percent picking the term.

Football's governing body said the name "symbolises emotion, pride and goodwill to all," mirroring Brazil's "approach to football."

"Brazuca" is also often used as the nickname given to Brazilians living outside the country, including the hundreds of footballers playing abroad.

Adidas, the official World Cup ball supplier since 1970, said two other names had made the final list - Bossa Nova and Carnavalesca. The voting had been open to the public for the past three weeks.

FIFA said it was the first time fans were directly involved in the naming of the World Cup ball, which is still being developed and tested with several clubs and associations worldwide.

Read More: Soccer: 2014 World Cup ball named 'Brazuca' - Sport - NZ Herald News

If Real Madrid's dysfunctional start to the season wasn't bewildering enough, star players Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka have fans scratching their heads even more.

Ronaldo has four goals in five games and helped the defending league champion edge bitter rival Barcelona for the Spanish Super Cup. Kaka hasn't played a single minute this season, even though Real only has one win in three league games.

Yet it's Ronaldo who's glum and Kaka who's cheerful.

Madrid fans were left bewildered by Ronaldo's admission of feeling "sad" after a two-goal performance in Monday's 3-0 victory over Granada. The Portugal forward called it a "professional" problem after refusing to celebrate his scores.

"I am sad and the club knows it, that's why I didn't celebrate the goals. The people in the club know why," said Ronaldo, who also scored two goals during the two-legged Super Cup triumph over Barcelona. "I'm not going to say anything else, people know why."

Andres Iniesta edged out Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on Friday for the inaugural Best Player in Europe award. Asked if that had upset him, Ronaldo replied "no."


Read More: Soccer: Why is Ronaldo sad? - Sport - NZ Herald News

Jeremy Fishbein works every day on ways to improve the University of New Mexico men’s soccer team.

On Tuesday, the University of New Mexico did some improving for him.

UNM will join Conference USA in men’s soccer in 2013, adding its own potent résumé to a league already strong in the sport. “It’s one of the most significant developments since I’ve been here,” said Fishbein, who is in his 11th season coaching the Lobos.

UNM has been a member of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation since 1999 (and was in the league from 1992-95) and will host the MPSF men’s soccer tournament Nov. 8-11.

But UNM, ranked eighth in this week’s national coaches’ poll, felt the league was limiting its program.

“I don’t mean to speak ill of our partners (in the MPSF),” UNM athletic director Paul Krebs said, “but the reality is, to be consistently competitive nationally at a high level, we thought our league was holding us back.

“That’s probably bulletin board material. It’s not meant to be. It’s simply a recognition that, as we assess our soccer program, how do we grow? How do we get better? How do we continue to build on the work Fish has done?”

Of the nine teams that will make up the 2013 C-USA lineup, five had a top-25 ranking in the Ratings Percentage Index in 2011. At No. 8, UNM currently is the only MPSF team ranked in the top 35 in RPI.

“It’s one of the best conferences in the country,” Fishbein said of C-USA. “Big-name teams. Last year it may well have had the highest RPI in the country. It’s going to bring big games to Albuquerque.”

Also joining C-USA in men’s soccer next year will be 2011 NCAA runner-up Charlotte (ranked seventh in this week’s coaches’ poll) and Old Dominion (ranked 15th). The current members are No. 25 Alabama-Birmingham (17th in RPI), South Carolina (25th in RPI), Florida International, Kentucky, Marshall and Tulsa.


Read More: ABQJournal Sports » UNM Men’s Soccer To Switch Leagues

Germany's summer of soccer failure will not be preying on their minds as they kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday, coach Joachim Loew has promised.

The Germans have been given a gentle start, with a home match against the Faroe Islands in Hanover, but even so are likely to be jittery after a traumatic four months.

After Friday it gets more difficult, with a trip to neighbors Austria on Tuesday.

"The players have put their disappointments behind them and there is real hunger for success," Loew said. "That goes for the coaching staff as well."

Germany's troubles began when Bayern Munich lost the Champions League final to Chelsea in their own Allianz Arena, going down on penalties after dominating the game.

The national side then lost to Italy in the Euro 2012 semi-finals, continuing a run of near misses that include second place at the 2002 World Cup, third in 2006, third in 2010, and runners-up at Euro 2008.

Loew's team was also outclassed by a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina, losing 3-1 at home in a friendly in August.

Germany won all 10 games on their way to Euro 2012 but Loew has warned that a group also containing Sweden, Austria and Ireland, and involving a long trip to Kazakhstan, could pose more difficulties.


Read More: Soccer: Euro failure no longer on Germany's minds - Loew - Yahoo! Sports

Scott Greenwood was supposed to be seen on the Weymouth High School soccer field this fall, making his usual diving saves and unthinkable breakaway stops.

Harry Swartz was supposed to return to Needham High after a breakout sophomore campaign as one of the area’s most dangerous attacking players.

But Greenwood and Swartz, along with dozens of the state’s best soccer players, won’t be anywhere near their high schools this September, unless they’re in street clothes watching from the sidelines.

Because of a new rule by US Soccer which took effect Sept. 4, athletes who play for academy teams, such as the New England Revolution or F.C. Greater Boston Bolts, are no longer allowed to compete for their schools.

“It’s too bad that all these kids were put into this position,” said Don Brock, who has coached at Needham since 1962. “I feel really bad. Soccer has enough competition [luring athletes] from lacrosse and football. To have our own sport come in and take them away — it hurts.”

In an effort to “prepare players to compete against the best clubs and international teams from around the world,” according to its website, US Soccer expanded its academy teams to a 10-month program, now beginning in early fall, as opposed to its eight-month program that didn’t start until around Halloween. Previously, the premier players stayed with their high school teams until those seasons ended, then returned to the academy team.

US Soccer, though, is demanding that those players never set foot on the high school field.


Read More: Many soccer stars can’t play for their high schools - Soccer - Boston-com

England open their World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign against Moldova tonight without the services of a number of key players.

Striker Wayne Rooney didn’t even make the squad due to injury, while defender Ashley Cole, who was selected, is out of the away fixture with an ankle problem.

Winger Adam Johnson is also unavailable due to a thigh injury and has returned to his club Sunderland for treatment.

Steven Gerrard, Danny Welbeck, Glen Johnson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley participated only in gym work rather than full training on Monday, having played for their respective clubs on Sunday, while John Terry took part in a full training session having seemingly recovered from a neck strain.

The fixed-odds service of online betting exchange Betfair make England 2/7 favourites for the match, with Moldova offered at 10/1. The draw is priced at 4/1.

England striker Jermain Defoe is 16/5 favourite to score the first goal, ahead of fellow frontmen Welbeck at 18/5 and Daniel Sturridge at 15/4.

A 1-0 England win is available at 19/4, with a 2-1 success for the Three Lions offered at 7/1. A 3-0 victory for Roy Hodgson’s men can be backed at 25/4.


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