**Official Football (Soccer) Thread"
- Thread starter ArsenalCannon357
- Start date
Hey everyone. Does anyone know of any good football websites and message board forums where I can get good up to date info on what's going on in the football world. The only website I go to now is soccernet.com and skysports.com. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Thanks
Yea he lost me too.
If you watch Press Pass off Soccernet.com you'd have heard them mention this. Basically teams that Shaka played for tend to get regulated or have some misfortune. West Ham this yr, Portsmouth last yr, Newcastle the yr prior, and Reading the yr before that.
I mentioned it earlier b/c Reading lost the match that would have gotten them promoted....hence the Shaka Curse continues.
no real reason other than I like to see stacked teams lose..
Anyone watching Brasil vs Netherlands? Or Portugal vs Norway?
It's US Vs Spain right now on ESPN
US taking that ass whoping at this point(0-3)
Yep, no surprise there.
It is a U.S. B team, but the Spain team isn't exactly the regulars either.
I love those kinds of vids, the cultural idiosyncrasies of football in different places are always interesting to me. Thanks Pinolero!
He looks so fat and slow but he that football IQ is on point. Almost scored in the first half. His teammates are trying to get him that goal.
If he never got injured, he probably would have been the GOAT, and even then he's still a top 5 player ever for me.
Last edited:
Ince breaks down barriers
Viv Anderson became the first black player for England in 1978.
Every so often a moment occurs in football that breaks down an existing barrier. In 1993, such a moment occurred when England midfielder Paul Ince became the first black captain of his country on June 9, in a US Cup match against the USA.
With the roots of the game starting in the white working-class, English football took a long time to overcome the innate racism that had followed it from the beginning. Despite the fact that black players had been involved in the Football League since the 1890s - with Arthur Wharton and Andrew Watson blazing a trail - it took until 1978 for the first, Viv Anderson, to represent England at international level.
Anderson had suffered horrific racial abuse from rival fans as a young player, under Dave MacKay and later Brian Clough, at Nottingham Forest in the mid 1970s and recalled in his recent memoirs cowering away from the ''really vicious, dog's abuse'' being directed at him from the stands before his first game for the club.
''I went back in and said to the manager, Dave Mackay, that I didn't want to play. He just told me to get myself out there and it's a good job he did,'' Anderson wrote. ''I remember getting knocked on to the track by the Newcastle striker John Tudor and everybody cheering. It was quite hard. I was 18 years old and there were 50,000 people in those days for a cup tie. I had to get on with it.''
Anderson's ordeals, which included enduring bombardments of bananas, apples and pears, were an all-too regular occurrence for other black players trying to make their way in the game, such as Laurie Cunningham and Cyrille Regis.
But the will to overcome the bigotry was strong, as Regis revealed: ''You used it. Of course we were angry. When you've got 5,000-10,000 people shouting racist abuse at you and throwing bananas on the pitch the only thing you can do is internalise the anger and use it as motivation. We said, 'Right. I'm going to beat your team.' And that's what we did most weeks.''
The history of racism in football requires more words than are available here, but amid a backdrop of political uncertainty in the 70s, far-right groups gained prominence and used the football scene as a vessel to force their views on the national conscience. The National Front (NF) published their manifesto in Bulldog magazine (which was freely available at games), urging fans to vie for the title of 'most racist ground in Britain' and monkey chants were often heard in British stadiums.
By the 1980s, other black players like John Barnes and Mark Chamberlain had emerged on the scene and the racists had begun to target the national team with more vigour. The 1982 World Cup saw NF members travelling to Spain and, in 1984, Barnes was the subject of abuse from 'fans' on a plane back from a South American tour in which he had scored a wonderful solo goal against Brazil.
"The more high-profile I got the more the media became interested," he told the BBC. "I remember in 1984 when I was playing for England against Brazil and there was a group of National Front supporters on the plane with us who were supposedly coming out to support England. The South Americans couldn't understand the abuse I was getting from them. It was an unpleasant situation.''
As Barnes continued to use his considerable presence to draw attention to the issue, various laws were brought in to try and curb the problem, with the 1986 Public Order Act - which charged fans for using "obscene and foul language at football grounds" - soon backed up by the 1991 Football (Offences) Act, which specifically made racist chanting at football matches unlawful.
By 1993, the Campaign for Racial Equality (CRE) and the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) had launched the 'Let's Kick Racism Out of Football' campaign, "with the aim of highlighting anti-racist and equal opportunities messages within the context of football" and immediately it began to take effect. For the national team, too, change was on the horizon as black defender Ugo Ehiogu captained the England Under-21 side against Holland on April 27 and, as England travelled to the States, a young player by the name of Paul Ince was beginning to establish himself.
Described as by David Lacey in the Guardian as ''an all-round strength in midfield'', he had become a key player for club side Manchester United and was a key part of Sir Alex Ferguson's first title winning Old Trafford side in the 1992-93 season. Yet Ince's arrival on the international scene was viewed as ''an unexpected bonus'' and, after England's failures at Euro '92, he made his debut in the friendly match against Spain three months later.
Ince's international career began as a mixed bag. He was booked against Poland in a USA '94 qualifier and missed the subsequent 2-0 defeat to Norway that saw England's hopes of progress hit hard, leading Lacey to comment: ''he is apt to view games of football as ersatz guerilla warfare''. Eventually, the defeat proved to be a vital nail in their coffin as both the Norwegians and Netherlands pipped them to the post, but by the time England travelled for a friendly tournament in the States that took in games against USA, Germany and Brazil, Ince's star was on the rise.
In English football the captaincy of the national side is something of an institution; you only have to look at the recent debate over the John Terry/Rio Ferdinand decision to see that the media love to create a firestorm over the armband. But, back in 1993, no black player had ever been chosen to lead his country, so when Ince was chosen to take the role in the first match at the Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts against the USA the Daily Express led with the headline: 'Ince the captain!'
Paul Ince's first game as captain ended in defeat.
With regular captaincy choices David Platt and Tony Adams missing, England boss Graham Taylor said: ''I am giving him a responsibility and I know he will respond to it& He [Ince] has been one of our best players and, in the team I am putting out, he is the best choice as skipper.''
For his part, Ince's words before the game spoke volumes about how far he had come: ''It hasn't really sunk in yet,'' he said. ''I was just hoping to get back into the side after being suspended for the Norway game...I will be nervous leading out players like John Barnes and Ian Wright - if they are in the side - but I will try to lead by example.''
Ultimately, the new skipper was unable to prevent a 2-0 loss to the USA with goals from Tom Dooley and Alexi Lalas, but the result mattered little when a key moment in the evolution of football in England had been seen. Notably, when Ince took the captaincy again in 1997 claiming: ''When I was first given the armband, a lot was made of the fact I was the first black skipper. I'd have preferred it if it had been said I was just the new skipper,'' nobody mentioned the colour of his skin.
What happened next? Ince kept the armband for the next game against Brazil, reclaiming it for a further five times in 1997 and went on to play 53 times for England, ensuring that he is remembered as one of the most combative and effective midfield generals of his generation. Since then, Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand have captained England, but Ince continued to push the barriers of the game as, in his management career, he tumbled another barrier to become the first black British manager to ply his trade in the Premier League with Blackburn in 2008.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/column...paul-ince-breaks-down-racial-barriers?cc=5901
Viv Anderson became the first black player for England in 1978.
Every so often a moment occurs in football that breaks down an existing barrier. In 1993, such a moment occurred when England midfielder Paul Ince became the first black captain of his country on June 9, in a US Cup match against the USA.
With the roots of the game starting in the white working-class, English football took a long time to overcome the innate racism that had followed it from the beginning. Despite the fact that black players had been involved in the Football League since the 1890s - with Arthur Wharton and Andrew Watson blazing a trail - it took until 1978 for the first, Viv Anderson, to represent England at international level.
Anderson had suffered horrific racial abuse from rival fans as a young player, under Dave MacKay and later Brian Clough, at Nottingham Forest in the mid 1970s and recalled in his recent memoirs cowering away from the ''really vicious, dog's abuse'' being directed at him from the stands before his first game for the club.
''I went back in and said to the manager, Dave Mackay, that I didn't want to play. He just told me to get myself out there and it's a good job he did,'' Anderson wrote. ''I remember getting knocked on to the track by the Newcastle striker John Tudor and everybody cheering. It was quite hard. I was 18 years old and there were 50,000 people in those days for a cup tie. I had to get on with it.''
Anderson's ordeals, which included enduring bombardments of bananas, apples and pears, were an all-too regular occurrence for other black players trying to make their way in the game, such as Laurie Cunningham and Cyrille Regis.
But the will to overcome the bigotry was strong, as Regis revealed: ''You used it. Of course we were angry. When you've got 5,000-10,000 people shouting racist abuse at you and throwing bananas on the pitch the only thing you can do is internalise the anger and use it as motivation. We said, 'Right. I'm going to beat your team.' And that's what we did most weeks.''
The history of racism in football requires more words than are available here, but amid a backdrop of political uncertainty in the 70s, far-right groups gained prominence and used the football scene as a vessel to force their views on the national conscience. The National Front (NF) published their manifesto in Bulldog magazine (which was freely available at games), urging fans to vie for the title of 'most racist ground in Britain' and monkey chants were often heard in British stadiums.
By the 1980s, other black players like John Barnes and Mark Chamberlain had emerged on the scene and the racists had begun to target the national team with more vigour. The 1982 World Cup saw NF members travelling to Spain and, in 1984, Barnes was the subject of abuse from 'fans' on a plane back from a South American tour in which he had scored a wonderful solo goal against Brazil.
"The more high-profile I got the more the media became interested," he told the BBC. "I remember in 1984 when I was playing for England against Brazil and there was a group of National Front supporters on the plane with us who were supposedly coming out to support England. The South Americans couldn't understand the abuse I was getting from them. It was an unpleasant situation.''
As Barnes continued to use his considerable presence to draw attention to the issue, various laws were brought in to try and curb the problem, with the 1986 Public Order Act - which charged fans for using "obscene and foul language at football grounds" - soon backed up by the 1991 Football (Offences) Act, which specifically made racist chanting at football matches unlawful.
By 1993, the Campaign for Racial Equality (CRE) and the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) had launched the 'Let's Kick Racism Out of Football' campaign, "with the aim of highlighting anti-racist and equal opportunities messages within the context of football" and immediately it began to take effect. For the national team, too, change was on the horizon as black defender Ugo Ehiogu captained the England Under-21 side against Holland on April 27 and, as England travelled to the States, a young player by the name of Paul Ince was beginning to establish himself.
Described as by David Lacey in the Guardian as ''an all-round strength in midfield'', he had become a key player for club side Manchester United and was a key part of Sir Alex Ferguson's first title winning Old Trafford side in the 1992-93 season. Yet Ince's arrival on the international scene was viewed as ''an unexpected bonus'' and, after England's failures at Euro '92, he made his debut in the friendly match against Spain three months later.
Ince's international career began as a mixed bag. He was booked against Poland in a USA '94 qualifier and missed the subsequent 2-0 defeat to Norway that saw England's hopes of progress hit hard, leading Lacey to comment: ''he is apt to view games of football as ersatz guerilla warfare''. Eventually, the defeat proved to be a vital nail in their coffin as both the Norwegians and Netherlands pipped them to the post, but by the time England travelled for a friendly tournament in the States that took in games against USA, Germany and Brazil, Ince's star was on the rise.
In English football the captaincy of the national side is something of an institution; you only have to look at the recent debate over the John Terry/Rio Ferdinand decision to see that the media love to create a firestorm over the armband. But, back in 1993, no black player had ever been chosen to lead his country, so when Ince was chosen to take the role in the first match at the Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts against the USA the Daily Express led with the headline: 'Ince the captain!'
Paul Ince's first game as captain ended in defeat.
With regular captaincy choices David Platt and Tony Adams missing, England boss Graham Taylor said: ''I am giving him a responsibility and I know he will respond to it& He [Ince] has been one of our best players and, in the team I am putting out, he is the best choice as skipper.''
For his part, Ince's words before the game spoke volumes about how far he had come: ''It hasn't really sunk in yet,'' he said. ''I was just hoping to get back into the side after being suspended for the Norway game...I will be nervous leading out players like John Barnes and Ian Wright - if they are in the side - but I will try to lead by example.''
Ultimately, the new skipper was unable to prevent a 2-0 loss to the USA with goals from Tom Dooley and Alexi Lalas, but the result mattered little when a key moment in the evolution of football in England had been seen. Notably, when Ince took the captaincy again in 1997 claiming: ''When I was first given the armband, a lot was made of the fact I was the first black skipper. I'd have preferred it if it had been said I was just the new skipper,'' nobody mentioned the colour of his skin.
What happened next? Ince kept the armband for the next game against Brazil, reclaiming it for a further five times in 1997 and went on to play 53 times for England, ensuring that he is remembered as one of the most combative and effective midfield generals of his generation. Since then, Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand have captained England, but Ince continued to push the barriers of the game as, in his management career, he tumbled another barrier to become the first black British manager to ply his trade in the Premier League with Blackburn in 2008.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/column...paul-ince-breaks-down-racial-barriers?cc=5901
An MLS goal in this thread?
Last edited:
Drifting volcano ash threatens Copa America
The governing body of South American soccer says the arrival of teams playing in the Copa America could be delayed because of the ash spewing from Chile's erupting volcano that's disrupting flights across the southern hemisphere.
Flights were grounded Monday in Argentina, which is host to the continental championship. The tournament opens July 1 when Argentina faces Bolivia in La Plata and ends July 24.
Francisco Figueredo, the executive secretary of the South American governing body CONMEBOL, said if the ash did not disperse soon the body would consider having teams fly to Paraguay's capital Asuncion and then travel by land to venues in Argentina.
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...chile-threatens-flights-into-argentina-061311
The governing body of South American soccer says the arrival of teams playing in the Copa America could be delayed because of the ash spewing from Chile's erupting volcano that's disrupting flights across the southern hemisphere.
Flights were grounded Monday in Argentina, which is host to the continental championship. The tournament opens July 1 when Argentina faces Bolivia in La Plata and ends July 24.
Francisco Figueredo, the executive secretary of the South American governing body CONMEBOL, said if the ash did not disperse soon the body would consider having teams fly to Paraguay's capital Asuncion and then travel by land to venues in Argentina.
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...chile-threatens-flights-into-argentina-061311
Last edited:
I was disappointed with that match. Nice strike by Jozy but should have been a much larger margin of victory. And is Adu even on the roster for the Gold Cup? I know the article was posted in here that he got the call up so just wonder if they will even give him a couple mins of action.
And I'm sorry US buuuut I'm going to have to root against you in the quarters.
Black Green & Gold
And I'm sorry US buuuut I'm going to have to root against you in the quarters.
Black Green & Gold
And I'm sorry US buuuut I'm going to have to root against you in the quarters.
Black Green & Gold[/QUOTE]
This ^^^ Reggae Boyz to di World!!
Black Green & Gold
[/QUOTE]This ^^^ Reggae Boyz to di World!!
Inter star Eto'o weighing up EPL move
Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o has revealed he is mulling over a move to the Barclays Premier League this summer.
The Cameroon star, who has three years remaining on his contract, had said that he wanted to remain at the San Siro after scoring twice in the Coppa Italia triumph over Palermo.
But he told Corriere dello Sport: "I am currently considering my options. I
have one month to decide as to whether I want to stay put or choose to move to the Premier League.
"I am now 30 years old and it is very important for me to think about my
future before I sign what could be my last contract.
"I have already shown that I have what it takes to play in Italy and I now
have the idea of proving myself in England.''
The former Barcelona forward had been linked with moves to Chelsea and Arsenal earlier in his career.
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...amuel-etoo-weighing-up-move-to-england-061611
Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o has revealed he is mulling over a move to the Barclays Premier League this summer.
The Cameroon star, who has three years remaining on his contract, had said that he wanted to remain at the San Siro after scoring twice in the Coppa Italia triumph over Palermo.
But he told Corriere dello Sport: "I am currently considering my options. I
have one month to decide as to whether I want to stay put or choose to move to the Premier League.
"I am now 30 years old and it is very important for me to think about my
future before I sign what could be my last contract.
"I have already shown that I have what it takes to play in Italy and I now
have the idea of proving myself in England.''
The former Barcelona forward had been linked with moves to Chelsea and Arsenal earlier in his career.
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...amuel-etoo-weighing-up-move-to-england-061611
River Plate facing relegation in Argentina
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- River Plate, the most successful team in Argentine football, is facing possible relegation to the second division.
River wraps up the Clausura season on Saturday at home against Lanus. Even a victory may not be enough to save River from a playoff to stay in the topflight of Argentine football.
If River Plate stays up, it is still being humiliated. The club has won 33 league titles - 10 more than Boca Juniors - and is nicknamed the "Millionaires,'' which reflects the lofty status it once held; Argentina's version of Manchester United or Real Madrid.
River is among six clubs threatened with relegation, but the others are little-followed outside the country - Tigre, Olimpo, Huracan, Gimnasia and Quilmes.
Argentina has a complex league system, and the relegation format is even tougher to understand.
Argentina divides its football year into two 19-game seasons - the Apertura from September until December, and the Clausura from February to June. At the end of both seasons, two teams are automatically relegated. Relegation is based on results over three years - or six seasons.
River is not in danger of going down automatically. It will finish just above that zone, but it is apt to be among two first-division teams facing a two-game playoff against second-division opposition with the survivors playing in the first division. The losers go down.
River has been so-so this season, lodged in the top half of the table with 26 points - 10 behind Velez. But its previous seasons have been awful, which has placed it in danger.
The club also has debts reported at $19 million, forcing it to sell top players to European clubs, further weakening itself on the pitch.
The intrigue has been building.
Referees for this weekend's matches have been hand-picked by Julio Grondona, the powerful president of the Argentine Football Association and the No. 2 man at FIFA to president Sepp Blatter.
Grondona has already weighed in, saying this week that River "is one of the teams with the best chance of avoiding a relegation playoff.''
That immediately angered Olimpo president Alfredo Dagna, who hinted Grondona may have been expressing a preference that a giant club like River should stay in the first division.
"I don't like this,'' Dagna said.
Argentine newspapers are filled with conspiracy theories, involving suggestions that River will stay up and may get help to do it.
"I think this is all more smoke than reality,'' Dagna said. "One is not naive, but all we can do is to play football.''
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/06/17/riverplate.argentina.ap/index.html?sct=sc_t2_a9
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- River Plate, the most successful team in Argentine football, is facing possible relegation to the second division.
River wraps up the Clausura season on Saturday at home against Lanus. Even a victory may not be enough to save River from a playoff to stay in the topflight of Argentine football.
If River Plate stays up, it is still being humiliated. The club has won 33 league titles - 10 more than Boca Juniors - and is nicknamed the "Millionaires,'' which reflects the lofty status it once held; Argentina's version of Manchester United or Real Madrid.
River is among six clubs threatened with relegation, but the others are little-followed outside the country - Tigre, Olimpo, Huracan, Gimnasia and Quilmes.
Argentina has a complex league system, and the relegation format is even tougher to understand.
Argentina divides its football year into two 19-game seasons - the Apertura from September until December, and the Clausura from February to June. At the end of both seasons, two teams are automatically relegated. Relegation is based on results over three years - or six seasons.
River is not in danger of going down automatically. It will finish just above that zone, but it is apt to be among two first-division teams facing a two-game playoff against second-division opposition with the survivors playing in the first division. The losers go down.
River has been so-so this season, lodged in the top half of the table with 26 points - 10 behind Velez. But its previous seasons have been awful, which has placed it in danger.
The club also has debts reported at $19 million, forcing it to sell top players to European clubs, further weakening itself on the pitch.
The intrigue has been building.
Referees for this weekend's matches have been hand-picked by Julio Grondona, the powerful president of the Argentine Football Association and the No. 2 man at FIFA to president Sepp Blatter.
Grondona has already weighed in, saying this week that River "is one of the teams with the best chance of avoiding a relegation playoff.''
That immediately angered Olimpo president Alfredo Dagna, who hinted Grondona may have been expressing a preference that a giant club like River should stay in the first division.
"I don't like this,'' Dagna said.
Argentine newspapers are filled with conspiracy theories, involving suggestions that River will stay up and may get help to do it.
"I think this is all more smoke than reality,'' Dagna said. "One is not naive, but all we can do is to play football.''
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/soccer/06/17/riverplate.argentina.ap/index.html?sct=sc_t2_a9
Rumors on Spanish television that Alexis Sanchez has accepted a deal with Barcelona and will travel to Barcelona on Monday to sign his new contract. He had to choose between City, United and Barcelona and chose Barcelona despite them offering the lowest salary of the three.
http://sport360.com/component/conte...he-race-to-sign-udinese-winger-sanchez-report
Roma look to be after both Pipita Higuain and Bojan.
Chelsea are supposedly in talks with Lukaku.
Inter and Manchester City are supposedly going to swap Eto'o and Tevez.
http://www.skysports.com/football/transfer_clockwatch/0,23710,14896,00.html
Last edited:
Granada promoted to La Liga after 35 year wait
Granada will play in the top flight of Spanish football for the first time since 1976 after sealing promotion on away goals after a 1-1 draw in Elche.
After a goalless first leg, the Spanish second division play-off final second leg saw Nigerian striker Odion Jude Ighalo give Granada the lead after 28 minutes; the striker rounding the goalkeeper before slotting home.
Xumetra pulled a goal back with ten minutes left to set up a nervous finale, but having played in the fourth tier of Spanish football just six years ago, Granada's spirit saw them through and they join Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano in the top-flight next season.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...romoted-to-la-liga-after-35-year-wait?cc=5901
They were in the 4th division six years ago.
Granada will play in the top flight of Spanish football for the first time since 1976 after sealing promotion on away goals after a 1-1 draw in Elche.
After a goalless first leg, the Spanish second division play-off final second leg saw Nigerian striker Odion Jude Ighalo give Granada the lead after 28 minutes; the striker rounding the goalkeeper before slotting home.
Xumetra pulled a goal back with ten minutes left to set up a nervous finale, but having played in the fourth tier of Spanish football just six years ago, Granada's spirit saw them through and they join Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano in the top-flight next season.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...romoted-to-la-liga-after-35-year-wait?cc=5901
They were in the 4th division six years ago.
US through to Gold Cup semis
Jermaine Jones scored in the 49th minute and Clint Dempsey added a goal in the 80th in the United States' 2-0 victory over Jamaica on Sunday in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals.
On Wednesday in Houston, the United States will face the Panama-El Salvador winner.
Jones fired a shot from outside the penalty area and Jamaica defender Jermaine Taylor stuck out his foot, deflecting the ball past goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. It was Jones' first goal of the tournament.
Taylor came out on the losing end of another exchange between the two nearly 20 minutes later. Jones beat the defense in the middle of Jamaica's half and was about to break free for a 1-on-1 chance when Taylor tackled him from behind, earning a red card in the 67th minute.With Jamaica down a man, Dempsey added the second goal with 10 minutes to play. Juan Agudelo's cross found Dempsey alone on the left side of the goal. Ricketts came out to contest, and Dempsey avoided the tackle and put the ball in the empty net.
Dempsey also scored in the group-stage opener against Canada.
Jamaica entered the game as the only team in the tournament to win all three of its group-stage games without allowing a goal, but the Reggae Boyz failed to earn their first ever win against the U.S.
Both teams had scoring chances in the first half, although neither team capitalized. Jamaica had its best opportunity early on, and it took an excellent save by goalie Tim Howard to knock away Demar Phillips' shot from the left side of the goal box in the fourth minute.
The U.S. also suffered a blow early when striker Jozy Altidore left with a strained left hamstring and was replaced by Agudelo in the 12th minute.
Jones seemed to be in position for a possible goal late in the opening half, when Rickett saved a shot by Agudelo and the rebound bounced straight to Jones, but he couldn't control the ball.
Midfielders Landon Donovan and Dempsey had not trained with the team in Washington before the match. Each were excused to attend their sisters' weddings - Dempsey in Texas and Donovan in California. Each the players arrived in Washington early Sunday morning. Dempsey was in the starting lineup, but Donovan was a substitute. It was the first U.S. game Donovan began on the bench since June 9, 2007.
Donovan entered in the 65th minute to a huge cheer from the crowd, replacing Alejandro Bedoya.
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...ates-usmnt-copa-oro-quarterfinal-recap-061911
Jermaine Jones scored in the 49th minute and Clint Dempsey added a goal in the 80th in the United States' 2-0 victory over Jamaica on Sunday in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals.
On Wednesday in Houston, the United States will face the Panama-El Salvador winner.
Jones fired a shot from outside the penalty area and Jamaica defender Jermaine Taylor stuck out his foot, deflecting the ball past goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. It was Jones' first goal of the tournament.
Taylor came out on the losing end of another exchange between the two nearly 20 minutes later. Jones beat the defense in the middle of Jamaica's half and was about to break free for a 1-on-1 chance when Taylor tackled him from behind, earning a red card in the 67th minute.With Jamaica down a man, Dempsey added the second goal with 10 minutes to play. Juan Agudelo's cross found Dempsey alone on the left side of the goal. Ricketts came out to contest, and Dempsey avoided the tackle and put the ball in the empty net.
Dempsey also scored in the group-stage opener against Canada.
Jamaica entered the game as the only team in the tournament to win all three of its group-stage games without allowing a goal, but the Reggae Boyz failed to earn their first ever win against the U.S.
Both teams had scoring chances in the first half, although neither team capitalized. Jamaica had its best opportunity early on, and it took an excellent save by goalie Tim Howard to knock away Demar Phillips' shot from the left side of the goal box in the fourth minute.
The U.S. also suffered a blow early when striker Jozy Altidore left with a strained left hamstring and was replaced by Agudelo in the 12th minute.
Jones seemed to be in position for a possible goal late in the opening half, when Rickett saved a shot by Agudelo and the rebound bounced straight to Jones, but he couldn't control the ball.
Midfielders Landon Donovan and Dempsey had not trained with the team in Washington before the match. Each were excused to attend their sisters' weddings - Dempsey in Texas and Donovan in California. Each the players arrived in Washington early Sunday morning. Dempsey was in the starting lineup, but Donovan was a substitute. It was the first U.S. game Donovan began on the bench since June 9, 2007.
Donovan entered in the 65th minute to a huge cheer from the crowd, replacing Alejandro Bedoya.
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...ates-usmnt-copa-oro-quarterfinal-recap-061911
Last edited:
Sanchez set for Barca move
Barcelona have won the race to sign Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez, according to reports out of Spain, after the Catalan giants outbid Manchester United and City.
Sanchez is expected to fly to the Nou Camp this week to complete the deal, understood to be worth £32 million, before returning to South America to join his Chilean team-mates for the start of the Copa America.
The 22-year-old joined Udinese for £1.7 million in 2006 before being loaned out to Argentinean club River Plate the following year. However, 2010-11 was a watershed season for Sanchez, as he netted 12 goals and pushed the Serie A club into next season's Champions League.
Delegates from both Manchester clubs met with Udinese representative Gino Pozzo last week, while Inter Milan and Juventus have also previously met with Pozzo. But Barcelona are believed to have trumped their competitors by offering £25 million up front along with a further £7 million as a performance-based incentive.
City were previously thought to be in the box seat to sign the Chilean, but in a curious announcement, Sanchez's agent Fernando Felicevich used Twitter to say "Everything's gone fine until now, said the pig with the apple in his mouth", when describing the Barcelona talks. Felicevich made a similar cryptic post when another of his clients, Gary Medel, signed for Sevilla last season.
The news will come as a blow to the Premier League clubs, particularly City after Roberto Mancini said that Sanchez would be his primary summer transfer target. United, meanwhile, are expected to continue their hunt for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...elona-win-race-to-sign-alexis-sanchez?cc=5901
Barcelona have won the race to sign Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez, according to reports out of Spain, after the Catalan giants outbid Manchester United and City.
Sanchez is expected to fly to the Nou Camp this week to complete the deal, understood to be worth £32 million, before returning to South America to join his Chilean team-mates for the start of the Copa America.
The 22-year-old joined Udinese for £1.7 million in 2006 before being loaned out to Argentinean club River Plate the following year. However, 2010-11 was a watershed season for Sanchez, as he netted 12 goals and pushed the Serie A club into next season's Champions League.
Delegates from both Manchester clubs met with Udinese representative Gino Pozzo last week, while Inter Milan and Juventus have also previously met with Pozzo. But Barcelona are believed to have trumped their competitors by offering £25 million up front along with a further £7 million as a performance-based incentive.
City were previously thought to be in the box seat to sign the Chilean, but in a curious announcement, Sanchez's agent Fernando Felicevich used Twitter to say "Everything's gone fine until now, said the pig with the apple in his mouth", when describing the Barcelona talks. Felicevich made a similar cryptic post when another of his clients, Gary Medel, signed for Sevilla last season.
The news will come as a blow to the Premier League clubs, particularly City after Roberto Mancini said that Sanchez would be his primary summer transfer target. United, meanwhile, are expected to continue their hunt for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...elona-win-race-to-sign-alexis-sanchez?cc=5901
Jack Warner resigns, investigation against him dropped. Get ready for a wild ride.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap...1baC2Q?docId=28cec3a0888c492d80b1633b969f2f90
Warner quits FIFA; bribery charges dropped
GENEVA (AP) — Jack Warner quit as a FIFA vice president Monday, and soccer's governing body dropped a bribery investigation of him.
Warner and Asian soccer chief Mohamed bin Hammam were suspended by FIFA last month after they were accused of offering $40,000 cash payments to Caribbean voters during bin Hammam's presidential campaign to unseat Sepp Blatter.
Warner spent 28 years on FIFA's executive committee but stepped down days after some of his Caribbean Football Union followers were interviewed by former FBI agents enlisted by FIFA to investigate.
FIFA said it accepted his resignation and "regrets the turn of events" that led to the decision.
"Mr. Warner is leaving FIFA by his own volition after nearly 30 years of service," the ruling body said in a statement. "As a consequence of Mr. Warner's self-determined resignation, all ethics committee procedures against him have been closed and the presumption of innocence is maintained."
Warner also quit as head of the soccer group representing the Caribbean and the regional body in which the United States competes.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap...1baC2Q?docId=28cec3a0888c492d80b1633b969f2f90
Warner quits FIFA; bribery charges dropped
GENEVA (AP) — Jack Warner quit as a FIFA vice president Monday, and soccer's governing body dropped a bribery investigation of him.
Warner and Asian soccer chief Mohamed bin Hammam were suspended by FIFA last month after they were accused of offering $40,000 cash payments to Caribbean voters during bin Hammam's presidential campaign to unseat Sepp Blatter.
Warner spent 28 years on FIFA's executive committee but stepped down days after some of his Caribbean Football Union followers were interviewed by former FBI agents enlisted by FIFA to investigate.
FIFA said it accepted his resignation and "regrets the turn of events" that led to the decision.
"Mr. Warner is leaving FIFA by his own volition after nearly 30 years of service," the ruling body said in a statement. "As a consequence of Mr. Warner's self-determined resignation, all ethics committee procedures against him have been closed and the presumption of innocence is maintained."
Warner also quit as head of the soccer group representing the Caribbean and the regional body in which the United States competes.
Sanchez set for Barca move
Barcelona have won the race to sign Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez, according to reports out of Spain, after the Catalan giants outbid Manchester United and City.
Sanchez is expected to fly to the Nou Camp this week to complete the deal, understood to be worth £32 million, before returning to South America to join his Chilean team-mates for the start of the Copa America.
The 22-year-old joined Udinese for £1.7 million in 2006 before being loaned out to Argentinean club River Plate the following year. However, 2010-11 was a watershed season for Sanchez, as he netted 12 goals and pushed the Serie A club into next season's Champions League.
Delegates from both Manchester clubs met with Udinese representative Gino Pozzo last week, while Inter Milan and Juventus have also previously met with Pozzo. But Barcelona are believed to have trumped their competitors by offering £25 million up front along with a further £7 million as a performance-based incentive.
City were previously thought to be in the box seat to sign the Chilean, but in a curious announcement, Sanchez's agent Fernando Felicevich used Twitter to say "Everything's gone fine until now, said the pig with the apple in his mouth", when describing the Barcelona talks. Felicevich made a similar cryptic post when another of his clients, Gary Medel, signed for Sevilla last season.
The news will come as a blow to the Premier League clubs, particularly City after Roberto Mancini said that Sanchez would be his primary summer transfer target. United, meanwhile, are expected to continue their hunt for Aston Villa winger Ashley Young.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...elona-win-race-to-sign-alexis-sanchez?cc=5901
Damn. I was hoping United could sign him. I guess now its back to chasing after Ashley Young.
Yeah, I think they're what Barca need. Who knows if any of these players will get actual playing time(assuming Barca sign them), but they're needed for depth in the squad. Not just in the short term either, Xavi and co can't play forever. It looks like they need to reinforce our strikers as well, because it looks like Bojan is on his way to Roma.
I think they need to plan for a center back as well, because Puyol looks like he's nearing the end of his playing days. It's nice that Barca have defenders like Andreu Fontàs from Barca B, but a more proven player might be the safer bet.