Friday, October 10, 2008

Top 10 England Humiliations


No7: USA 2 England 0 (1993)

England flew to the States on the back of a poor World Cup qualifying loss in Norway but worse was to come. Graham Taylor’s side were all over the place as they were comfortably beaten in Massachusetts. Even Alexi Lalas — wearing his ginger-goatee beard — got on the scoresheet.

The Other Nine

Murray rounds on bigots whose ‘bile’ has embarrassed Rangers



Sir David Murray, the Rangers chairman, took a swipe yesterday at a section of the club’s supporters that he said was expressing “bile” on a daily basis and tarring the reputation of the club.

Injured Terry to miss qualifier vs. Kazakhstan




Coach Fabio Capello said that fellow centre-back Rio Ferdinand will take the armband at Wembley in his absence.

2010 World Cup Qualifying Previews: UEFA



Only two months into the European football season and Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands are already limping into World Cup qualifying games, leaving behind long lists of injured stars.


Group Four Preview

Group Six Preview

Scotland vs. Norway

Bulgaria vs. Italy

2010 World Cup Qualifying Preview: U.S. vs. Cuba


U.S. vs. Cuba
Saturday
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
7 p.m. ET, ESPN Classic

U.S. vs. Trinidad & Tobago
Oct. 15
Hasely Crawford Stadium; Port of Spain, Trinidad
8 p.m. ET, ESPN

U.S. unlikely to take it easy against Cuba

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Euro 2008 Champion Awarded Beer by Sponsor






The Spanish players will each receive their weight in beer from sponsor Cruzcampo after winning Euro 2008 at Austria and Switzerland in June.

The five greatest comebacks in football history




After Liverpool came from two goals down to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory over Manchester City yesterday we thought we'd look back on the top five comebacks by English teams.

Premier League Reflections: Muscles Flexed Before The Break






Graham Lister examines how the Premier League is looking as its best players go off on international duty...

Brown: I Stripped For Windass




Hull City manager Phil Brown has revealed all regarding the nature of Dean Windass' transfer to the club...







Thankfully, I was not able to locate the picture in question...

Adu, Altidore back on familiar ground with U.S. team




Freddy Adu walked through the familiar old chain link fence, lined with green material and covered in places with unruly ivy, to practice on the same field that was part of his daily routine for three years with D.C. United.

Columbus Captain Leads The Troops -- Chugging A Beer (with video!)




While serving a recent suspension, US international and Columbus Crew defender Frankie Hejduk spent some time tailgating with the club's fans and showing them the proper way to chug a brew.




Sanford, Frankie, Ivar and Little Frankie at USA/Ghana...

Perfect Pitch: Inside the New Rio Tinto Stadium

With Thursday night's big game on national TV, Real Salt Lake will open their new stadium. Regardless of whether RSL beat the New York Red Bulls or not, they -- and their fans -- will end up as the winners. Goal.com's Randy Davis takes you inside Rio Tinto Stadium.



Ahhh, yes. And the naming rights go to the mining company with a wonderful history of pollution...

Norman Hubbard: Heskey enjoying England renaissance




Kazakhstan have been dubbed, presumably to their displeasure, "Borat's boys". But the 11 players representing the former Soviet republic at Wembley on Saturday won't be the only footballers accustomed to being the butt of the jokes. Built like a boxer, Emile Heskey has spent much of his career providing the punchline to gags.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Lampard tries to solve England's midfield mystery





It is a mystery that has baffled a succession of England managers:


Why can't the country's two greatest midfielders play together?

Sacha Kljestan & the Loaded Plate




This is the truth:
both the mind and schedule of Chivas USA star Sacha Kljestan have been exceedingly busy of late - and they will probably remain so into 2009.

Raphael Honigstein in Germany



Jürgen Klinsmann has been inept so far in Munich, but he must succeed to keep the forces of conservatism at bay.

Judgment day inches closer for Bayern's revolution



Too much Fest?

Italy searches for answers as Lou Gehrig's disease strikes down players



Former footballers are dying in unusual numbers and no one knows why.





Borgonovo during happier times...

Posh’s Legs, Children, And Bird Droppings Soothe Beckham


The Los Angeles Galaxy and England superstar has admitted that his marriage is constantly under "pressure," but he says that there are various ways for him and Victoria to cope with it all.



“When she got back to the US she found that some New York beauty salons now offer the treatment. She tried it and loved how great her skin looked. She also uses a cream derived from nightingale poo at home.”

Bank Crisis Hits Hammers Spending





West Ham admit they will have to sell players before they can buy any new ones in the January transfer window.





Set To Go Under The Hammer

Goal.com Commentary: CONCACAF Alpha Dogs, Then What?





The United States will soon be top dog in CONCACAF and Goal.com staff writer Noah Davis wonders where the team looks for new challenges.

Stars Failing to Shine in Africa




African teams have raised the bar at the World Cup in recent tournaments and with Ghana impressing in Germany in 2006 and Senegal having made the quarter-finals in 2002, the expectations of the continent are high. Especially with the next showcase event set to take place in South Africa.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

David Bentley blames Juande Ramos for losing his England place


David Bentley believes he has lost his place in the England squad because he is being played out of position for his club. The right winger shook his head when Juande Ramos, the Tottenham Hotspur head coach, asked him to play at right back when he came on as a substitute during the 1-0 defeat by Hull City on Sunday and has been employed in several positions by the Spaniard this season.

Tartan Army Faces Drink Crackdown




Scotland's police forces said they are mounting a "major operation" to stop fans getting drunk on the way to this weekend's World Cup qualifier.

Kevin McCarra: Capello is bound to strike problems by shunning Owen's cunning





Fabio Capello should beware the omission of Michael Owen on the basis that he is 'only' a goal-poacher.

Richard Williams: West Ham may soon not be the only club where bubbles burst





The current indebtedness of England's leading football clubs ought to be filling everyone involved with profound unease.

Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger in Germany





The struggle for shirt sponsorship...












Eintracht Braunschweig's 1976 kit...

England: Premier League Team Of The Week + Table


Team of the Week

Club






Played Points
Chelsea





717
Liverpool





717
Hull





714
Arsenal





713
Aston Villa





713
West Ham





712
Portsmouth





712
Man Utd





611
West Brom





710
Blackburn





710
Man City





79
Middlesbrough





79
Wigan





78
Sunderland





78
Everton





78
Bolton





77
Fulham





66
Newcastle





75
Stoke





74
Tottenham





72

UEFA Cup Draw: Milan Get Pompey, Spurs Meet Udinese





Goal.com examines the draw for the Group Stage of the UEFA Cup.

Sevilla, Stuttgart and Sampdoria face off in one of the 'groups of death', AC Milan meet Heerenveen and Braga, and Hamburg square off with Ajax...

Phil Ball in Spain




Managerial magic and its affects...









Valencia's 37-year-old gaffer...

Americans On The Continent: Highs And Lows For Gooch




It was an up and down week for Oguchi Onyewu and his Standard Liege teammates, as they were able to knock Everton out of the UEFA Cup, but fell 4-1 to Cercle Brugge in league play.

Americans in the UK: Dempsey Shows Grit



In his weekly round-up of how the Yanks in the UK did, Goal.com's Matthew Braine sings the praises of unfavored Fulham striker Clint Dempsey, who impressed in his first start of the season.

Paolo Bandini in Italy




The Old Lady's first home defeat to Palermo for 46 years has increased the pressure on their much-maligned coach.

Ranieri losing numbers game at Juventus

Sid Lowe in Spain




A 6-1 humiliation at the Camp Nou suggests that Atlético's supposed title challenge is a sham.

Barcelona leave Coupet standing as Atlético implode

Monday, October 06, 2008

The Fall & Rise of David Beckham




He’s a mediocre player for a failing team in a terrible league. But the Galaxy star’s American adventure is not the disaster everyone foretold. In Los Angeles, Guy Adams reports on how he’s filling stadiums and winning friends – despite losing on the pitch.

England axe leaves Michael Owen fearing worst




Michael Owen’s future as an England player looked bleaker than ever last night after Fabio Capello excluded him from the squad for the World Cup qualifying matches against Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Italy: Serie A Weekend Reports


Palermo shock Juventus in Turin, Fiorentina win on the road, nine-man Roma lose in Siena, Lecce snatch a draw at Lazio and Inter win at the San Siro over Bologna and Milan can't score...

REPORTS

Spain: La Liga Weekend Reports




Espanol hold Real Madrid to a draw, Barcelona shoot six past Atletico, Valencia go top of the table, Villarreal win and Sevilla cruise...

REPORTS

England: Premier League Wrap & Reports



Spurs are off to their worst start since 1912 after losing to Hull at home, Liverpool rally to top Manchester City (see Richard Jolley's report below), Arsenal salvage a draw at Sunderland, Chelsea and Manchester United cruise, Everton and Newcastle draw and Zola tastes defeat as West Ham are beaten by Bolton...

WRAP



Geovanni again
Tottenham 0 - 1 Hull City
David Pleat: Tottenham must return to basics

Taylor-made recovery
Everton 2 - 2 Newcastle

Berbatov's Cantona impression
Blackburn 0 - 2 Manchester United

Dazzling Chelsea
Chelsea 2 - 0 Aston Villa

Leadbitter's sweet strike
Sunderland 1 - 1 Arsenal

Adu: Bocanegra And I Must Represent Our Country Well





Despite not playing much for his new club, Monaco, American starlet Freddy Adu has admitted he has responsibilities that go beyond the soccer field.

Richard Jolly at the City of Manchester Stadium





Torres. Key to the title?



Manchester City 2 - 3 Liverpool