Remember the span of time in 2009 and towards the end of 2010 World Cup qualifying when the
United States had a home match at Rio Tinto against El Salavador before going on the road against a
Trinidad & Tobago side whose quality in that game was going to be a crapshoot?
If you recall that match like I do a missed clearance by Jonathan Bornstein that led to an El
Salvadorian goal, a few moments of attacking pressure at the end of the first half which scantily
provided the winning difference than you are quite comfy with at least the notion of new US manager
Jurgen Klinsmann attempting to implement a style of play here for the United States in the
friendlies leading up to World Cup qualifying.
Orange Slices is our game day, catch-all post that we update during the day before the
match. Don't accept substitutes, imitators or copycats! Ask for fresh, wholesome Orange Slices by
name.
Reports have come out this evening confirming that Bob Bradley will stay as coach of the US Mens
National Team for another four years. Just as speculation was growing that Bradley would be out,
Jurgen Klinsmann would be in, and US Soccer was going to make some significant changes before the
next World Cup, it seems that everyone has chosen stability over transformation.
USMNT Head Coach Bob Bradley inks 4-year contract with USSF
US Soccer announced late this afternoon that they have extended the contract of U.S. Men's
National Team head coach Bob Bradley. The agreement keeps Bradley working for the federation
through the end of 2014.
While Bradley has his detractors his record speaks for itself: Bradley's has accumulated a
record of 38-20-8 in his four years at the helm of the senior mens' team.
It was a story that would briefly capture the sporting nation.
But in the end it would end like any other past experience for the USA national team in the
World Cup.
Anyway that you break it down, the USA was flatout not a good enough team to win the World Cup
this summer. Their second round exit against the lone African team left, Ghana, is more then
enough proof of this mediocre result.
È una formazione decisamente interessante quella statunitense che si accinge a scendere in
campo in Sudafrica. L'esordio di sabato a Rustemburg la vedr
opposta ai maestri inglesi e tra le fila americane tale sfida è ormai un assillo. Un match
sicuramente sentito, quasi un derby, se si tiene conto della storia dei due paesi e se si considera
inoltre che ben nove elementi della rosa giocano in Premier.
Statement from Bolton and London Chest Hospital where Fabrice Muamba was admitted after he
collapsed on the pitch during the Spurs vs Bolton FA quarter-finals match.
"Fabrice received prolonged resuscitation at the ground and on route to The London Chest
Hospital, where his heart eventually started working.
CARY, N.C. - Over the last few years, Tim Howard has had no shortage of memorable moments in a
United States jersey. His performance in the 2-0 upset of Spain in the 2009 Confederation Cup, a
kick in the ribs courtesy of Emile Heskey during the World Cup in Rustenburg last June, and, nine
days later, the throw that initiated perhaps the most famous moment in American soccer history
spring quickly to mind.
My most loyal readers know that I rarely get emotional. They know that I look at games in terms
of match-ups, in terms of tactics, strategy and formations. Today, I can not, and will not do this.
The match between the USA and the England is just too important, and too emotional.
Thankfully Richard Farley wrote this kick ass preview here.
Tough to answer. Many people will be upset to see a Mexican goal against the U.S. in a championship
as goal of the year and possible best goal ever, but it is what it is. It's controversial to say,
but, there is an argument to be made.
I could not find a better picture to represent the conditions of the Saudi football today better
than this one
Saudi Arabia officially was the first team to exit Asian Cup 2011 after two defeats from Syria 1-2
and Jordan 0-1. It is not a big issue to lose a game or two, but, the way Saudi lost and the whole
set-up of the team and the journey this team has taken since 1994 World Cup till today, is the real
issue.
In my experience, predictions made by the ‘expert pundits' have a success rate equal to that
of Bangladesh in Test Cricket. Factor in that even a draw counts as a success to the Bangladeshis
and it makes this statistic infinitely bleaker. All sooth saying that have been done with
Reputations as a frame of reference this time around in South Africa have fallen flat; as flat as
Russell Peters' stand up shows are when you watch them for even just the second time.
Switzerland emulated USA's Confederation Cup tactics against Spain to shock the European
champions.
_______________________________________________________________________________
The statistics before the game were almost perfect; Spain had recorded 45 wins in 48
matches.
Group A Preview
When France was paired along with Uruguay, South Africa and Mexico, everyone believed that Lady
Luck was shining on France. In FIFA ranking France is ranked at number nine, Mexico at 17, Uruguay
at 16 and South Africa at 83. From the numbers it should be a cake walk for France and the second
spot should be a fight between Uruguay and Mexico.
Today is Friday, which is witnessing the biggest day for the protests on what is the called "The
Friday of the Departure". Just as a support for Egypt and Egyptian, I will post some wonderful
goals from Egypt
This goal was from Emad Moteb, a wonderful striker, in a goal with Al-Ahli vs. Suez team
And this is one of most interesting games for Egypt, in Confederation Cup 1999 in Mexico.
It's interesting that the U.S. men's team should be in this curious situation on the eve of this
great stage next weekend.
Striker, at one point in the not-too-distant past, was a locked down position. It was a
non-issue. In the wake of the Americans' stunning 2-0 defeat of Spain which I'll remind you is
still Spain's only loss in 40+ games striker appeared to give way to the central midfield and the
back line as points of worry.
The Confederation Cup, Africa's second club competition, is at the semi-final stage and for
Moroccan side FUS Rabat the dream of a first continental title is still strong following their 2-1
away victory in Libya against Ittihad. Two-time champions CS Sfaxien of Tunisia have a narrow one
goal advantage to take into their second leg tie against Sudan's Al-Hilal.
In the CAF Champions League semi-finals this weekend defending champions TP Mazembe made the
most of home advantage as they fought out a 3-1 win over Algerians JS Kabylie whilst in Cairo Al
Ahly, also at home, got the better of Espérance by two goals to one.
TP Mazembe are hoping to defend the title they won last season and, thus, win a fourth title
overall.
Passiamo allora ad analizzare le due finaliste. Se per quanto riguarda statistiche e tradizione,
l'arrivo in finale di Olanda e Spagna ha sorpreso un po' tutti,
per quel che si è visto in campo, per gioco e risultati, l'approdo a Johannesburg
di olandesi e spagnoli non può sorprendere più di tanto.
Dopo due giorni di riposo, si torna a fare sul serio in Sudafrica. Oggi (ore
16) al NelsonMandelaBay di Port
ElisabethOlanda e Brasile apriranno il quadro dei
quarti di finale.
Chiudiamo la nostra rassegna di presentazione delle finaliste con il girone H
che sar l'ultimo a scendere in campo Mercoledì 16 Giugno. E non possiamo non
partire dalle "Furie Rosse".
Sar il tredicesimo mondiale per la Spagna che, mai come questa volta, potrebbe
trasformare il sogno di vincere la Coppa in realt .
Newly promoted Persidafon have become the ISL's whipping boys. Back to back thumpings, 5-0 at
Sriwijaya, 5-2 at Persiram, have left them 15th in the 18 team league with nine points from their
opening 11 games. Of concern to Sergei Dubrovin will be a defence that has leaked 30 goals in that
time; an ignominy they share with fellow Papuans Persiram.
I found this interesting video that is analyzing the fault in the following counter attack, and how
the player can kill the movement of the team or stimulate it. It makes the difference between a
great team and an average team. Sometimes, you find a team is trapped in the middle and just cannot
penetrate to the other team to create chances.
Guest blog post by Mohlomi Maubane in Soweto, South Africa
One of South Africa's iconic tournaments, the Telkom Charity Cup, is no more. PSL chairman Irvin
Khoza's announcement this week brought down the curtain on what was arguably one of the most loved
tournaments in the country.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa Veteran goalkeeper Muteba Kidiaba starred as Club World Cup runners-up
TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo collected a seventh African title Saturday.
Kidiaba saved a shootout kick against FUS Rabat from Morocco in southern Congolese city Lubumbashi
and then converted a penalty to give his team a 9-8 victory [.
Matchup: Northern Ireland v. Italy
Fixture: Windsor Park - Belfast
Time: 20:45CET
Introduction: The last time the Azzurri lined up against Northern Ireland was during the lead up
to the 2009 Confederations Cup. It was quite possibly the greatest showing by the Lippi helmed
squad since he took over from Donadoni in the summer of 2008.
A team of 12 UK police officers took time out of their duties at the World Cup to support a local
charity.
The group visited the TLC orphanage in Eikenhof, a town 20 kilometres from Johannesberg, to provide
the local children with gifts donated by the likes of Liverpool, Stoke City, Manchester City,
Tranmere Rovers, Newcastle United and Shrewsbury Town.
New Zealand defeated Serbia 1-0 in a World Cup warmup casting serious doubt on a Serbian side
looking to advance deep into the tournament. Shane Smeltz put the visitors ahead in the 22 minute
and the Europeans could never find the equalizer.
