2010 January | Soccer is Futbol

Landon Donovan scores first Everton goal!

Americans Abroad, English Premier League, Europe View Comments

Jan 272010

Landon Donovan has scored his first Premier League goal notching in the 2nd in a 2-0 victory for Everton over Sunderland.

Donovan coolly controlled the ball with his chest and struck it home with his left foot. Not only was this his first goal for Everton in the EPL it is also the first time in his career that he has found the back of the net with a European club. Earlier attempts have come at Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, both of the German Bundesliga.

Donovan seems to be settling in quite nicely at Everton. He found a starting spot immediately upon joining and has since gathered an assist and a goal in four games with his new club.

Here’s to continued success for Landon in England!

World Cup 2018 to Europe? Thoughts on the USA bid

International Soccer, US Soccer View Comments

Jan 262010

photo credit: World Economic Forum

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said that Europe will be the focus of the 2018 World Cup bids.

Bids that are currently under review by FIFA for both the 2018 and 2022 Cups include: England, Russia, USA, Australia, and Japan, as well as joint bids from Spain/Portugal and Belgium/Netherlands.

Blatter’s comments have all but officially ruled out USA, Australia, or Japan of hosting the 2018 World Cup.

““From what I’ve discussed with the president of UEFA, Michel Platini, in the last few days in Moscow is that only a European candidate will be evaluated for the 2018 World Cup,” Blatter said. “It’s still not decided, but it’s an idea to help facilitate the work of FIFA and its executive committee.”

In addition to the countries bidding for 2018 and 2022, Qatar, Indonesia, and South Korea have also thrown their names in the hat to host the 2022 Cup.

What does this mean for America’s hope to host the cup? Find out after the jump…

Stuart Holden signs with Bolton

Americans Abroad, English Premier League, MLS View Comments

Jan 252010

There have been multiple reports surfacing that Stuart Holden has signed a contract with Bolton Wanderers of the English Premier League for the remainder of the season.

Holden has been on trial at Bolton for the past few weeks. He picked up a thigh injury in training, but is expected to fight for playing time starting immediately. Bolton manager Owen Coyle had some kind words about Holden, “There is an incentive for Stuart to try to get himself in the team, [but] he’s had a little thigh knock for the last three or four days which has curtailed his training a little bit, but he did ever so well in the first week and he comes looking to push his career on. He has done very well in the MLS and he wants to continue that development.”

Holden played 88 games with Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer and has 12 caps with the US Men’s National Team, earning his first in 2009.

Charlie Davies Recovery Update

Americans Abroad, Europe, International Soccer, US Soccer View Comments

Jan 252010

I’m in complete shock. Total and complete shock.

Ives Galarcep at ESPN has a story here about the recovery of Charlie Davies following a deadly car crash on October 13.

Davies sustained multiple injuries, including: broken right femur and tibia, broken left elbow, facial fractures, torn knee ligament, and a lacerated bladder. First estimates were that it would be six months before he would even start rehab. Instead, Davies has amazed all around him with a recovery that is nothing short of miraculous.

The article is a “must read” for US Soccer fans as Ives points out on his blog, but I’d take it a step further and say it’s a must read for any soccer fan. Or better yet, any sports fan. Even still, I’d say it’s a must read for everyone. As it documents a story of human strength and the evolution of sports related injuries and rehabilitation.

Ives reports that recovery timetable now has Davies back playing with his club team, FC Sochaux, in April.

“Less than four months after the crash that threatened to end his promising career, Davies is already jogging at a good rate and working on agility drills that would have seemed impossible just weeks earlier, when simply getting out of a wheelchair was an exhausting exercise. What does this progress mean, exactly? It means that, barring any setbacks, Davies could be back on the field with club team FC Sochaux by April, meaning his chances of playing for the United States in June’s World Cup should no longer be seen as a shattered dream.”

Go read this now! Davies on remarkable path to recovery

More article highlights after the jump…

Paraguay's Salvador Cabanas shot

International Soccer View Comments

Jan 252010

Paraguay and Club America forward Salvador Cabanas is in critical condition after being shot in the head at a Mexico City bar. The 29 year old star was conscious upon arrival to the hospital before undergoing surgery to remove the bullet from his head.

Cabanas is one of the best strikers in the Primera Division scoring 125 goals for two clubs: Jaguars and Club America. He was expected to be a starter for Paraguay at the World Cup in South Africa

Bruce Arena elected to Soccer Hall of Fame

MLS, Soccer 101, US Soccer View Comments

Jan 252010

Bruce Arena has been elected into the National Soccer Hall of Fame with his name on 78% of the ballots.

Arena’s career has been long and remarkable. He is arguably the best American coaches and certainly is one of the most successful. His career took off at the University of Virgina, where he led the Cavaliers to five national titles. He moved to DC United in 1996 to be part of the inaugural year for Major League Soccer. There he won both the MLS title and the Lamar Hunt Open Cup title in 1996, and repeated as MLS champions in 1997. His success continued as he was named head coach of the US Men’s National Soccer Team in 1998. The highlight of his career came at the World Cup 2002 where he led Team USA to their best finish at a World Cup, but unfortunately lost to Germany in the quarterfinals. Arena led the team for 8 years and finished his run with a record of 71-30-29.

Arena now coaches the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

For more information on Bruce Arena and his storied career, check out this article at mlsnet.com.

Stunning goal from half

Soccer 101 View Comments

Jan 252010

First off, that goalkeeper was asking for it. Second, this goal is beautiful. And, what makes it even more astonishing is the fact this was a game played between Fleetwood Town and Farsley Celtic of Blue Square North (for those of you who don’t understand the hierarchy of the English Football Association, Blue Square North is essentially a semi-pro/amateur regional soccer league. To use baseball as a frame of reference, lesser than single A in the minor leagues)

The goal scorer is Jamie Milligan of Fleetwood Town. Also of note is the song played after the goal is scored. It’s priceless.

I’m always amazed at the type of fan support these small teams get. It’s a wonderful sight. One could write an entire book on the culture of fans and teams in the lesser leagues of England. Judging by what we can see and hear, there are at least 1000 fans in that small stadium, most likely more. Yet, there is no star player, just a group of guys who have day jobs and enjoy playing soccer in their free time.

USA vs Honduras Review

International Soccer, US Soccer View Comments

Jan 242010

The United States Men’s National Team opened 2010 with a 3-1 loss to Honduras on Saturday, January 23. The yanks didn’t do themselves any favors after giving up a penalty kick and going down a man as captain Jimmy Conrad drew a red card for a most silly foul in the middle of the box. What hurts more is that he was the senior player on the roster. He should have known better.

Conrad’s blunders aside, the whole team fared only slightly better, and I say better in that no one else got ejected. The fact is, Honduras outplayed the Americans in every aspect of the game. They possessed the ball better, they attacked more creatively, they were more organized defensively, and their goalkeeper actually made a save or two. The Hondurans played with the belief and confidence that comes from qualifying for a World Cup, the Americans seem to have forgotten that qualification alone means something – just ask Ireland or Russia.

It appears that Honduras is doing exactly what it needs to do to prepare themselves for the Cup. They got right down to the basics. There was nothing fancy about the way Honduras dismantled the US team. They played the fundamentals to perfection: pass and move, one and two touch possession soccer, defense and cover. Honduras plays Spain, Chile, and Switzerland this June and they believe they can advance. Play the fundamentals like they did against the US and we’ll see a victory or two for this team.

I’d say the US is in a bit of a disarray, but I hold back because out of the 17 players who participated in the match, maybe only 2 or 3 will make the final World Cup roster. Regardless, this result says something about the so-called depth the US team now has as opposed to a decade ago. To that, I say yes, we do have more players playing professionally than ever before, and yes our players are getting more exposure overseas, but the bottom line is that after our top 16 or so players, the quality falls dramatically.

Also displayed in this game were the limited abilities of head coach Bob Bradley. I’ve often said I think he is a great steward of the program, but a coach that will bring this team to the next level, he is not.

Players to watch (and forget) and highlights after the jump…

USA vs. Honduras - Tonight!

International Soccer, US Soccer View Comments

Jan 232010

Reminder: US National Team vs. Honduras tonight at 9pm ET/6pm PT on Fox Soccer Channel!

USA vs. Honduras Preview

International Soccer, US Soccer View Comments

Jan 222010

The annual January US National Team game has taken on quite an evolution in the past few years. In the past, we’d often get a chance to see players who were already established stalwarts on the roster. Players like Landon Donovan, Brian Ching, and Ricardo Clark were regular starters, both in the January friendly and major competitive matches, like the Gold Cup or World Cup qualifiers.

Now, however, the January friendly is reserved for second stringers, young prospects, and a pinch of journeyman veterans (here’s looking at you Jeff Cunningham). Top American players like Landon Donovan and Ricardo Clark are now looking to advance their careers with loan deals and transfers to European club teams. Even the top prospects are opting to use the January transfer window to secure trials in efforts to impress teams overseas; Stuart Holden is one such player.