US Soccer Players

Steve Nash Vs Europe

Edu Out for Qualifiers

After missing Saturday's Scottish Cup due to a leg injury, Maurice Edu won't be joining up with the National Team for Wednesday's game in Costa Rica.  Edu will be reevaluated in the coming weeks to determine his involvement in the rest of the United States' summer schedule.

Youth Soccer Organization

The US Youth Soccer Association provides definitions for different levels of team play in the world of youth soccer. Today's growing soccer world now includes more than just the two basic levels of teams (recreational and travel teams). (As a side note, the words 'recreational' and 'house' typically refer to the same type of team; and, the words 'club,' 'travel,' or 'select' refer to the same type of team as well. The difference between the two is that a travel team is a more competitive team that travels to play other teams of its level).

National Team Media Session

No Luck For Americans In Cup Finals

In hot conditions in London and Glasgow, it ended up being only Tim Howard making the squad for a Cup Final.  In Scotland, Maruice Edu's injury cost him his normal place in Rangers' starting eleven and DaMarcus Beasley wasn't included in the squad.

National Team Practice

Red Bulls Stadium Update

The Red Bulls players tour the new stadium for the first time

Courtesy of the Newark Star Ledger

Bradley Previews Costa Rica And Honduras

In a media call on Friday, United States National Team coach Bob Bradley discussed the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers and the team's preparations for the Confederations Cup.

"We certainly view these two games as being very very important," Bradley said.  "We've had a good start.  These two games finish up the first half of the final round and obviously Costa Rica and Honduras are tough opponents….  "We feel very strongly that we have a great opportunity to finish this half of the first round and put ourselves in a good position going into the final five matches."

What's Happening DC?

By Andrew Dixon - MIAMI, FL (May 29, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- About a year or so ago, I wrote about the end of the Major League Soccer season and how I was glad that there were several unresolved questions lingering.  The  MLS equivalent of a dramatic series cliff hanger. It gave MLS fans things to ponder during the off season and built up the start of Season 14.

This year, we didn't even have to wait until the end of the season. Victor MacFarlane's decision to sell his ownership shares in DC United last week came as a surprise to many. And while it will change little with DC's on the field production, (ultimately the most important measuring stick for the success of any franchise) this has raised more questions than it has answered about the future of the League's most decorated franchise. 

Sawyers And Sky Blue Part Ways

After being suspended before the start of last week's game in DC, Sky Blue FC coach Ian Sawyers has been officially fired by the club as coach and general manager. 

Friday's Daily: Playing The Advantage

With J Hutcherson -- Let's just run through some intriguing thinking courtesy of our friends in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Presented with an offer to field an English team as a British entry for the London Olympic soccer tournament, the other Home Nations responded about like you would think. After all, at least in theory Britain is more than England.

Que the expected response, with Scotland in particular saying thanks but we're not having it. In steps FIFA, not so subtly reminding the Home Countries that there's a pretty good argument that they should be playing all tournaments as Britain. Tradition aside, that point got pushed.

American Abroad: UNAM Pumas Take Lead

Jose Francisco Torres played the full ninety in the first leg of the Mexican League final for Pachuca, but it was UNAM Pumas taking the early lead 1-0 at their Olímpico Universitario.  Dante Lopez got the only goal of the game in the 21st minute.  Sergio Bernal recorded the shutout with four saves.  The second leg is Sunday at Pachuca's Nuevo Hidalgo.

Chicago Wins On Late Penalty

The Chicago Fire remain undefeated in Major League Soccer, beating League leaders Chivas USA 3-2 on Thursday night.  Paulo Nagamura put Chivas USA up a goal in the 16th minute, with Chicago equalizing in the 25th through a Cuauhtémoc Blanco penalty.  Chivas USA got the lead back when Maykel Galindo converted a penalty in the 37th, and appeared to be on their way to the win.  Jesse Marsch was sent off for his second yellow in the 63rd, leaving Chivas USA a man down.  Chicago equalized in the 89th through Patrick Nyarko, setting up an unlikely Cuauhtémoc Blanco penalty six minutes into stoppage time for the win. 

"I think obviously the red card changed the game," Chicago coach Denis Hamlett said.  "We made some subs and I thought our guys went in there and really kind of stepped up a few notches and kept pushing pressure on them, and Patrick got the equalizer, and then we get a break on the last goal.”

American Abroad: Edu Status In Doubt

United States and Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu might not be able to go for Saturday's Scottish Cup final.  Edu is recovering from a leg injury suffered in Rangers' last league game of the season against Dundee United on Sunday.

"We've got one or two injury problems - Pedro (Mendes) has a knock on his knee and thigh, as has Maurice," Rangers manager Ally McCoist told the club's official site.  "I'm very, very hopeful Mo will train tomorrow and we'll obviously give Pedro right up until humanly possible to make it."

Lippi Names 13 Players For Confeds Cup

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has named the following 13 players to his roster for the Confederations Cup.

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Palermo)
Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan)
Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (Milan)
Forwards: Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich)

The final ten players will come from his 21-man squad for the June 6th friendly against Northern Ireland. US-born Giuseppe Rossi is part of the friendly squad, with the chance of earning a place in the Confederations Cup roster.

Goalkeepers: Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari)
Defenders: Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Andrea Esposito (Lecce), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Davide Santon (Inter Milan)
Midfielders: Marco Biagianti (Catania), Matteo Brighi (Roma), Gaetano D'Agostino (Udinese), Daniele Galloppa (Siena), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Pasquale Foggia (Lazio)
Forwards: Giuseppe Mascara (Catania), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Sergio Pellissier (Chievo), Giuseppe Rossi (Villareal)

Donovan And Hamm Join Bid Committee

Landon Donovan and Mia Hamm are now part of the Board of Directors for the USA bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

“The US Soccer Federation has been an instrumental part of my development as a soccer player for more than a decade, so it’s an honor for me to be asked to join the USA Bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022,” said Donovan. “I was too young to play in the World Cup this country hosted in 1994, but all of us playing in MLS know it was the success of that event that laid the foundation for our league. I look forward to doing whatever I can to help bring the World Cup back to the United States.”

“I’m honored to join the USA Bid Committee Board of Directors and do my part to raise awareness about our bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup and our country's overall passion and support for the game,” said Hamm. “As someone who has played in two Women’s World Cups on American soil – one of which we had the extreme satisfaction of winning in front of a home crowd – I know just how great a host this country can be for international soccer at its highest level of competition.”

Nowak Resigns From US National Team

United States National Team top assistant and Olympic coach Peter Nowak has resigned, with the expectation that he will be announced as the Philadelphia Union's head coach on Friday.  The Union begin play in Major League Soccer in 2010.

“On behalf of the coaching staff, we want to thank Peter for all of his efforts with US Soccer. He is an outstanding coach and a great friend,” US coach Bob Bradley said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him as both a player in Chicago and as a partner with the national team. I look forward to continuing our relationship.”

US Soccer has announced no plans to quickly replace Nowak.  Mike Sorber, John Hackworth, Zak Abdel and Pierre Barrieu are Bradley's other assistants.

ESPN Confirms National Team Schedule

Next week's Costa Rica - USA game will be shown live on ESPN.  ESPN and ESPN2 will be carrying all the Confederations Cup games from South Africa next month. 

Costa Rica - USA
June 3rd
San Jose, Costa Rica
10pm - ESPN

USA - Honduras
June 6th
Chicago, IL
8pm - ESPN Classic/Galavision
Tickets

USA - Italy
June 15th
Pretoria, South Africa
2:30pm - ESPN

USA - Brazil
June 18th
Pretoria, South Africa
10am - ESPN2

USA - Egypt
June 21st
Rustenberg, South Africa
2:30pm - ESPN2

Thursday's Daily: Style Points

With J Hutcherson -- Manchester United's normal response to failure is to spend tens of millions on players. This time, they have a built-in excuse courtesy of UEFA discipline. Darren Fletcher was suspended, and he becomes the would-be difference.

"I thought before the game it may have been a problem," Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson told the club's official site.... "The simple reason we lost was possession," Sir Alex added. "You have to wait minutes to get it back off Barcelona but when we did get it, we didn't do anything with it."

The more complicated reason was a disjoin between the attack and the defense along with ceding the midfield. In the early rush forward, United didn't leave enough behind. Barcelona capitalized and Manchester United fell apart trying to overcompensate.

Columbus Beats San Jose

The Columbus Crew got three points at home on Wednesday night, beating San Jose 2-1 in front of 8,793 at Crew Stadium.  San Jose took the lead in the 23rd minute though Ryan Johnson, but only held it for six minutes before Eddie Gaven equalized.  Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored the game winner one minute into the second half.