SSN is a digest of the day's soccer/football/futbol articles with a focus on the top European leagues and the United States National Team. Below, you’ll find links to articles and video, as well as additional features and commentary. We locate the top news of the day so you can stay updated with ease.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Owen joins Manchester United in shock move
Michael Owen has been confirmed as a Manchester United player. The striker has signed a two-year deal to play at Old Trafford and no transfer was paid as the former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle forward was a free agent.
Owen close to shock Manchester United move
Michael Owen has arrived at Manchester United's training ground Carrington to have a medical with the Premier League champions. The 29-year-old hopes to complete a move to United after his contract with Newcastle United ran out.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Bono And Pep Guardiola Hail Each Other After U2 Gig
Bono and Pep Guardiola were full of praise for each other when the pair spoke to the audience as U2 played to a packed Camp Nou crowd on the first gig of their world tour.
Referees can stop matches amid racist chants - UEFA
UEFA on Thursday approved new guidelines for match officials to deal with racist chants or other behaviour in stadiums which includes stopping the game.
Georghe Popescu admits past as informer for the secret police
Gheorghe Popescu, a former Romania captain and Tottenham defender, has admitted to being an informer for the country's secret police during the communist era.
Carlos Tevez's summer whine whiffs of self-regard and sour grapes
Carlos Tevez's argument that Manchester United would have won the European Cup had he started the final is fantasy.
Report: Clint Dempsey To Quit Fulham For Everton
The Toffees are ready to offer around £4million for him, a figure that Fulham will have to seriously consider, as they risk losing him for nothing when his contract expires next season.
Carlisle's Gold Cup Preview: Lacks the intrigue of the 2007 edition
Two years ago, the Gold Cup was rife with intrigue. It was the first time U.S. coach Bob Bradley had managed the team in a tournament setting. Ditto for Mexico manager Hugo Sanchez, who was fired less than a year later. There were plenty of compelling matches along the way, with Guadeloupe stunning all and sundry with its run to the semifinals. And the U.S. came from behind to beat Mexico 2-1 in what was a captivating final.
U.S. vs. Grenada
July 4
Qwest Field; Seattle
9 p.m. ET
Fox Soccer Channel
U.S. vs. Honduras
July 8
RFK Stadium; D.C.
9 p.m. ET
Fox Soccer Channel
U.S. vs. Haiti
July 11
Gillette Stadium; Foxborough
7 p.m. ET
Fox Soccer Channel
Weary U.S. Returns for CONCACAF Gold Cup
Three days after its stunning success in the Confederations Cup in South Africa, a younger, scaled-down U.S. team was back home preparing for Saturday's game against Grenada, its opener in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Wednesday morning's 90-minute practice on a back field with only a girls' team watching through a fence was a relatively quiet plateau off the peak of becoming the first U.S. team to reach the final of a FIFA men's tournament.
Donovan Launches Book Blast at Beckham
In a new book due out later this month, Donovan claims Beckham has demonstrated little commitment to the Galaxy cause and has been a negative influence on the team since the ousting of former coach Ruud Gullit.
And here's an excerpt from Grant Wahl's book, The Beckham Experiment.
It makes for interesting reading...Sanford
Forward Benzema joins Real Madrid from Lyon
The 21-year-old is set to join Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo in signing a six-year contract at the Bernabeu after his French employers agreed to a 35m euro (£29.7m) approach from Madrid, who with this deal will see their summer spending spree pass the 200m euro mark.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Wilmington upsets Chicago 1-0 in U.S. Open Cup
The Hammerheads, of USL-2, advanced to the quarterfinals by beating an MLS team for the second time and the first since 2003.
Goal.com Profile: Luis Antonio Valencia
His full name is Luis Antonio Valencia Mosquera. His nickname is Toño Maravilla.
He is Manchester United's latest capture.
Goal.com Special: The Future Is Bright, The Future Is German
Germany are now champions of Europe at U-17, U-19 and U-21 level following their victory over England on Monday. The future certainly looks a bright one for the traditional European powerhouse…
History of the world transfer record
No sooner had Real Madrid paraded £56m man Kaka than they completed the world record signing of Cristiano Ronaldo for a staggering £80m. Check out the players who have previously broken the world transfer record...
West Ham legend Syd Puddefoot...
Calcio Debate: Top 20 Serie A Stars Not Playing In Europe
Serie A is well known for its strength in depth. Carlo Garganese picks out the top 20 stars from clubs that did not qualify for Europe, players whom the super-giants in Italy and Europe should be taking note of during this summer's transfer season…
Phil Holland: Six Years On...
After six years with Soccernet I am moving on to pastures new. Given my impending departure and an unhealthy, nay, nerdy interest in the business of football now seems an opportune moment to assess the health of the UK game and see what, if anything, has changed in my time covering the game for ESPN.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Phil McNulty: Who will be market movers?
So who will be the prime movers in the market as clubs prepare to return to pre-season training this week?
Confederations Cup Special: Crime Review
With less than a year on the clock to the kick-off of the 2010 World Cup at Soweto's stunning Soccer City, players, managers, fans, and crucially FIFA's top brass all gave the rainbow nation the thumbs up. Despite the vote of confidence it is important to take a look at the few incidents where security was breached, analysing whether or not it is a major problem ahead of next year’s event.
Top 10 Funny Footballing Nicknames
Every Tuesday, Goal.com publishes a new Top 10 - this week it is the Top 10 Funny Footballing Nicknames…
Quasimodo...
Carlisle: U.S. team takes positives from the Confederations Cup
With apologies to Charles Dickens, the Confederations Cup performance of the U.S. men's national team can be neatly described as "A Tale of Two Teams," because without question, the Americans' South African sojourn saw them experience the best of times and the worst of times. The question now is, which team will show up during the rest of World Cup qualifying, as well as in South Africa next summer? Will it be the side that struggled early during the tournament or the one that finished with a flourish, even in losing a heartbreaking final to Brazil?
Eduardo Alvarez in Spain
Spain's third-place finish in the recently finished Confederations Cup deserves an analysis beyond the shallow "we only lost one match in the competition, we'll be fine for the World Cup" that most Spanish media displayed on Monday, after Spain narrowly defeated South Africa 3-2 on Sunday.
Europe: Rising Stars
With Germany crowned the Under-21 European Championships, we take a look back over some of the stars of the future who have made their names in Sweden.
Michael Owen Brochure: The complete 32-page agents' dossier on the out-of-contract Newcastle and ex-England striker
Michael Owen, 'the athlete; the ambassador; the icon', is laid bare in all his former glory here in the 32-page brochure distributed to elite football clubs across Europe, touting the ex-England striker as a potential summer signing.
Do you want your club to sign the former Liverpool prodigy, turned Newcastle flop?
Have a good read of the 32 pages below and have your say using the comments section at the foot of this page.Monday, June 29, 2009
Calcio Debate: Italy U-21's Are Out, But The Future Is Very Bright For The Azzurri
The Azzurrini have returned from Euro 2009 without the trophy, but Carlo Garganese believes the future is very bright for the Azzurri thanks to their Under-21 stars...
Monday MLS Breakdown: Reserving Those Depth Questions
MLS scrapped its reserve system prior to the 2009 campaign. While there isn't much reason for teams to miss the expensive development system, MLS clubs might miss the extra players that accompanied it. Kyle McCarthy explains why the crowded fixture list in July and August could stretch MLS rosters to their breaking point.
Tim Vickery in South America
Good and evil are not hard to find in Argentine football, sometimes in the same place - such as the Huracan club at the moment.
Founded just over a century ago, Huracan are one of the traditional big six of greater Buenos Aires.
Marcela Mora y Araujo in Argentina
Only by standing united can we stop the violence that has overshadowed Huracán's revival.
How the gangs are ruining Argentinian football.
Recession-proof Sounders thriving in first season
In a city known for starting unique trends -- grunge rock and overpriced coffee as examples -- Seattle is doing its best in year one at wresting away from rival Portland, Ore., the title of "Soccer City USA."
Seattle fans engage in the pre-game ritual of chugging Rainier tallboys...
FIFA Confederations Cup: Brazil 3 - 2 United States
Clint Dempsey sobbed as the Americans walked up to get their second-place medals, unable to hide the pain and the disappointment any longer.
Report
Trecker:
Loss doesn't ruin U.S.
accomplishments
Carlisle:
Furious comeback breaks U.S. hearts
Rogers: U.S. finds solace in defeat
Player Ratings
Team of the Tournament
USA Tournament Roundup
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