By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Feb 7, 2012) US Soccer Players -- In today's edition, Peter Vermes' shocking plan to get the most out of Bobby Convey, David Beckham confronts a referee over a red card, how Peter Nowak is building the Union, and the struggles of Jozy Altidore's AZ Alkmaar. What is Peter Vermes' (early) plan to get the best out of Bobby Convey?

Today is one of those jam-packed days of soccer action that make you happy to be a soccer fan with a full day with nothing to do but watch soccer.

There is something for everybody today, from the historic Arsenal-Manchester United clash, which will be the first English Premier League match shown live on American network television, to this morning's Manchester City-Tottenham tilt featuring two of the best teams in England.

It's Super Sunday due to the two big EPL North London-Manchester games, but there's also a couple interesting La Liga matchups and an relevant Eredivisie matchup today:

Super Sunday, Jan 22

Netherlands, Alkmaar-Ajax (8:30amET ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

For the U.S. men's and women's national teams, it's a big weekend.

The women kick off their qualifying campaign for the 2012 Olympics Friday night in Canada, going up against the Dominican Republic. Just a couple of days later, Pia Sundhage's charges are at it again, facing Guatemala and hoping to secure maximum points before a final group showdown with Mexico.

Kids day at the Amsterdam Arena

After a KNVB cup match between Ajax and AZ Alkmaar was suspended because a fan ran on to the pitch and attacked AZ's keeper, Ajax were able to replay the match, but with one caveat: only kids (and a few supervisors) would be allowed into the Amsterdam Arena.

As if there was not enough drama the last time Ajax and AZ Alkmaar played.

AZ advanced to the quarterfinals of the Dutch Cup with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Ajax in their rescheduled round of 16 match on Thursday morning. A second-half penalty kick goal would be the decisive finish in a game that saw each team take and squander leads.

The KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) clash between Ajax Amsterdam and AZ Alkmaar, which was suspended due to an attack on AZ keeper Esteban Alvarado in the initial encounter, was completed today in the Amsterdam ArenA with the home side going down to a 3-2 defeat.

Siem de Jong gave Ajax the lead as early as the 10th minute only for the visitors to restore parity fourteen minutes later through Maarten Martins.

The KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) clash between Ajax Amsterdam and AZ Alkmaar, which was suspended due to an attack on AZ keeper Esteban Alvarado in the initial encounter, was completed today in the Amsterdam ArenA with the home side going down to a 3-2 defeat.

Siem de Jong gave Ajax the lead as early as the 10th minute only for the visitors to restore parity fourteen minutes later through Maarten Martins.

The 19 year old Dutch fan who's attempted assault on AZ Alkmaar keeper Esteban Alvarado turned sour when the Costa Rican stopper turned aggressor and kicked the fan to the ground was given a four year jail term yesterday.

He was also given an additional two month suspended sentence and ordered to report to Police during matches involving Ajax, AZ Alkmaar and the Dutch national team for two years.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

FIFA has been ordered to release documents pertaining to its involvement with former marketing partner ISL by the Swiss supreme court.

The documents contain information about several FIFA members who took millions of dollars in kickbacks from ISL during the negotiation of television broadcast deals for the World Cup, with former FIFA president Joao Havelange and 2014 World Cup organizer Ricardo Teixeira at the forefront of the scandal.

AZ keeper Esteban Alvarado was sent off following this incident on Wednesday

AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado has had his red card from Wednesday's Round of 16 KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) match against Ajax Amsterdam rescinded.

The keeper was attacked by an Ajax fan only for Esteban to retaliate on the attacker by kicking him whilst he was on the ground, a response which was deemed inappropriate by referee Bas Nijhuis who then sent off the keeper much to the astonishment and fury of the AZ players and staff.

AZ keeper Esteban Alvarado was sent off following this incident on Wednesday

AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado has had his red card from Wednesday's Round of 16 KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) match against Ajax Amsterdam rescinded.

The keeper was attacked by an Ajax fan only for Esteban to retaliate on the attacker by kicking him whilst he was on the ground, a response which was deemed inappropriate by referee Bas Nijhuis who then sent off the keeper much to the astonishment and fury of the AZ players and staff.

Brett Holman's miss for Dutch league leaders AZ Alkmaar against NAC Breda was right up there with Fernando Torres and Ronny Rozenthal's epic misses, what made it worse was his team were beaten 2-1.

Image Credit: AP Photo/Stanley Gontha.

We don't often get to use the terms 'mayhem' and 'drama' when we're talking about the KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup). That's mainly because we rarely bother to cover it, but our attention was drawn specifically to the game between AZ Alkmaar and Ajax last night, when a fan onto the pitch and tried to attack Alkmaar 'keeper Esteban.

During yesterday's Dutch League match between Ajax and AZ Alkmaar, an Ajax fan invaded the pitch and went running towards AZ's keeper, Esteban Alvarado, who managed to trip the 19 year old invader and then kicked him for good measure. The match's referee then awarded a red card to Alvarado, who is from Costa Rica, an act that resulted in AZ abandoning the match.

By Chris Wright

Here's a little firecracker to start the morning off. Last night's last-16 tie in the KNVB Cup between Ajax and AZ Alkmaar had to be abandoned after just 38 minutes (with Ajax leading 1-0) after an incident involving a pitch invader caused the away side to leave the field in protest.

By Chris Wright

Here's a little firecracker to start the morning off. Last night's last-16 tie in the KNVB Cup between Ajax and AZ Alkmaar had to be abandoned after just 38 minutes (with Ajax leading 1-0) after an incident involving a pitch invader caused the away side to leave the field in protest.

Defend the referee or defend AZ Alkmaar keeper Esteban?

In case you missed it, things got pretty heated at the Amsterdam ArenA last night. In the 37th minute, when Ajax were up 1-nil in the Dutch Cup, an Ajax fan ran on to the pitch and attacked AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Esteban. The Costa Rican keeper, seeing the threat of a 19-year-old hooligan coming his way, retaliated.

AZ Alkmaar's Dutch Cup match with Ajax pitted two of the Netherlands' top teams against each other and figured to produce some fireworks. Just not like this.

With Ajax leading 1-0 in the 36th minute, a fan raced from the stands at Amsterdam ArenA and went after AZ goalkeeper Esteban, who defended himself by kicking the fan on the ground.

Jozy Altidore and AZ Alkmaar will play their final game before the month-long winter break on Wednesday evening when they travel to Amsterdam to face Ajax in the Dutch Cup.

EUROPA LEAGUE LAST 32 DRAW

Porto v Manchester City

Ajax v Manchester United

Lokomotiv Moscow v Athletic Bilbao

Salzburg v Metalist Kharkiv

Stoke City v Valencia

Rubin Kazan v Olympiacos

AZ Alkmaar v Anderlecht

Lazio v Atletico Madrid

Steaua Bucharest v Twente

Viktoria Plzen v Schalke

Wisla Krakow v Standard Liege

Braga v Besiktas

Udinese v PAOK

Trabzonspor v PSV Eindhoven

Hannover v Brugge

Legia Warsaw v Sporting

* First legs to be played February 16, second legs February 23

EUROPA LEAGUE LAST 16 DRAW

FC Salzburg/Metalist v Rubin Kazan/Olympiacos

Legia/Sporting v Porto/Manchester City

Steaua/Twente v Viktoria Plzen/Schalke

Wisla/Standard Liege v Hannover/Brugge

Stoke/Valencia v Trabzonspor/PSV Eindhoven

Alkmaar/Anderlecht v Udinese/PAOK

Lazio/Atletico Madrid v Braga/Besiktas

Ajax/Manchester United v Lokomotiv Moscow/Athletic Bilbao

* First legs to be played March 8, second legs March 15.

By Alan Duffy

It may well be the preserve of Thursday nights and Channel Five, but the Europa League, now ready for the knock-out stages is still peppered with some of Europe's big guns. Probably the biggest in the competition, Manchester United, will face another all-time European great, Ajax, in the last 32, a tie which has more than a hint of glamour.

Europa League can we ever love it?

It's Thursday, so it must be the Europa League. Hapoel Tel Aviv v Legia Warsaw. AZ Alkmaar v FC Metalist Kharkiv. Birmingham v NK Maribor. Get ready to switch TV channels. Does anybody fancy watching EastEnders?

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-12-15 09:22:06 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Can we ever love the Europa League? Two great cups have merged into a dud

It's Thursday, so it must be the Europa League. Hapoel Tel Aviv v Legia Warsaw. AZ Alkmaar v FC Metalist Kharkiv. Birmingham v NK Maribor. Get ready to switch TV channels. Does anybody fancy watching EastEnders?

Dempsey faces a fight to stay in the Europa League. Fulham must get a result at home over Odense.

As the final matchday of the Europa League group stages approaches Wednesday and Thursday, so does the best chance to see Americans in action overseas on a TV near you. And with some of the Americans' teams in danger of crashing out of Europa, it may be the last chance for a while.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Jozy Altidore has been no stranger to scoring nice goals this season, but the one he bagged this weekend is arguably among his best of the year.

Altidore finished off a beautiful passing sequence in AZ Alkmaar's match against Heerenveen when he got an open look from close range after a beautiful first touch that got him by a defender.

Jozy Altidore scored his fifth goal of the season for AZ Alkmaar, but lost 5-1, snapping an 11-game unbeaten streak.
How the rest of our Americans did check out Steve Goff's Washington Post blog.
Video of Jozy's goal.
Video from 723 Football Media


Get the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" shirt!

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Nov 29, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Tony asks about Carlos Bocanegra's injury, looks at what Fulham and Everton might need to do to move higher in the EPL standings, and is the last one to become aware of AZ Alkmaar's nickname. How does Carlos Bocanegra's injury affect Rangers?

Quem é este mediano ex-jogador que nas décadas de 70 e 80 representou clubes como Ajax, Antuérpia, Sparta de Roterdão ou AZ Alkmaar?

Quem é este mediano ex-jogador que nas décadas de 70 e 80 representou clubes como Ajax, Antuérpia, Sparta de Roterdão ou AZ Alkmaar?

photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

It must be Thanksgiving weekend, because there are some tasty match-ups involving the Americans Abroad contingent this weekend.

Michael Bradley and Chievo Verona have one of the marquee games, as they take on AC Milan on Sunday.

After battling through a round of midweek Europa League contests, the Americans in Europe took on teams in their respecitve domestic leauges. Here is a recap of this weekend's games.
Jozy Altidore started and played 86 minutes in AZ Alkmaar's 3-0 victory against ADO Den Haag in the Dutch Eredivisie, and the side remains at the top of the table by a margin of five points.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Jozy Altidore has reason to celebrate, and not just because it's his birthday.

Altidore found the back of the net for the first time since Sept. 29 by capping the scoring in AZ Alkmaar's 3-0 victory over ADO Den Haag on the day he turned 22 years old.

Juventus has been the revelation of the young Serie A season, and with former AC Milan playmaker Andrea Pirlo leading the attack and a defense that has allowed just seven goals in nine matches, the Bianconeri look like a worthy challenger to unseat defending champion AC Milan.

If Juve is going to maintain its one-point lead atop the Italian standings, they will need to beat a dangerous Napoli side today.

By Chris Wright

Pies' pick of the stills from last night's Europa League action...

◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 10

Fulham 4-1 Wisla Krakow: Andy Johnson nips in to score the Cottager's third goal

Last night's Europa League results in full.

Juergen Klinsmann picked 22 players for the U.S. men's national team friendlies at France on Nov. 11 (3 p.m. ET, ESPN2, Univision, ESPN3.com) and Slovenia on Nov. 15 (noon ET, ESPN2, Galavision, ESPN3.com).

A few surprises but mostly what you would expect from Klinsmann at this point. It seems as though Orozco Fiscal has replaced Jonathan Bornstein as the weird defensive call-up that makes no sense.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Jozy Altidore's red-hot start to the season with AZ Alkmaar cooled off a bit in October, but Thursday should give him an opportunity to get back on track.

Having failed to find the back of the net last month, Altidore will look to get back on the scoresheet when AZ face Austria Vienna in a Europa League match.

By FRANCO PANIZO

Sacha Kljestan has been in good form as of late, and he'll attempt to carry that over as Anderlecht continues its Europa League run.

Coming off a weekend performance that earned high praise, Kljestan should start again when Anderlecht plays its third match in Group L against Austria's SK Sturm Graz.

After a hot start in his first season in the Netherlands, it appears that Jozy Altidore is going to have to fight for his place in AZ Alkmaar's starting lineup.

According to reports out of the Netherlands, AZ manager Gertjan Verbeek has elected to bench Altidore ahead of Thursday's UEFA Europa League match against Austria Wien.

For those looking to spot Americans in action overseas, check the Europa League—it's televised, great teams abound and, well, there are Americans, too. The elusive soccer grail, as it were. Europa League matches offer rare chances to see national team expats competing against high-caliber opponents on a real live TV.