How have the new kids on the block done so far in the WC? The 2006 World Cup has 8 new qualifiers amongst the 32 teams. A quarter of the total. The largest...
Video: Brazil 1, Croatia 0 (Ronaldo deserves the bench!) I think we were really off. The Croatians were unlucky not to beat us. I must say that we...
Spain vs Ukraine: Raul and the Andriy’s showdown today Spain meets the Ukraine today (June 14) in a Group H encounter in Leipzig at 3:00 PM German time...
It is Samba time! We’ve been waiting a long time for this one. And Croatia is not an easy team to beat. Hopefully,...
Two beleaguered coaches: Two different responses from their teams A tale of two coaches: Raymond Domenech (L), Jurgen Klinsmann (R) Both Jurgen Klinsmann and Raymond Domenech have gone...
Halftime: France 0 Switzerland 0 (Fulltime: France 0 Swiss 0) Where is the French midfield? Raymond Domenech seems to be tinkering around too much. Franck Ribeiry missed a given...
Improving the MNT I think one can look into improving our soccer level of play in two time horizons. First, what can...
Les Bleus vs Oath Comrades: Arsenal team mates Phillipe Senderos against Thierry Henry The Arsenal connection: Phillipe Senderos, Thierry Henry Johan Djourou, Patrick Viera Look out for these two, Arsenal team mates...
Chun Soo Lee, Ahn Jung Hwan come through for South Korea Chun Soo Lee- South Korea’s bad boy and hero Ahn Jung Hwan was South Korea’s hero once again. Putting...
Halftime: Togo 1 South Korea 0 (Fulltime: S.Korea 2, Togo 1) Great goal by Abdel Kader! Otto Pfister is back on the coaching sidelines, so the visit by the Togo...
Togo and South Korea: The new kids meet the 2002 semi-finalists. Togo meet South Africa today (June 13) in Frankfurt at 3:00 PM German time (9:00 AM EST). Togo has...
Brazil vs Croatia: The Jogo Bonito boys start their campaign Brazil meets Croatia today (June 13) in a Group F encounter in Berlin at 9:00 PM German time (3:00...
Let’s focus on improving soccer standards: In the MLS and National teams I think as Steve points out, enough with the doom and gloom of soccer ever supplanting the big three...
Arena was emotionally detached? During the course of the USA – Czech match one of the commentators on ESPN said that coach Bruce...
The World Cup: The Economist is gloomy on the future of soccer in the US The Economist is a reliably right wing rag but sometimes they do get pretty close to the truth. And...
Video: USA 0, Czech Republic 3 I’m still looking for the bright points… Goal 1: Koller Goal 2: Rosicky Goal 3: Brilliant! Another Rosicky goal...
Bruce Arena’s Steve Sampson Moment Before we give up on the US team, let’s look for some bright points. . . . . ....
The Socceroos: They’re legit. Ricky Ponting, move over. Tim Cahill (L) and John Aloisi (R) Socceroo heroes Today’s win against Japan was the first ever by the...
Sure, the US was outclassed, outmatched, and outplayed. But where was the fighting spirit? It seems the words that Bruce Arena uttered 16 years ago, when the US was thrashed 5-1 by Czechoslovakia,...
How Upset is Bruce Arena? US down by 3! He sure looks disinterested. His best “this is not my team” impression. The US is flat. Maybe it was...
USA 0, Czech Republic 1 OK. Now what? Watch for the US to run, run, run. Go USA! Tip for Arena: Play Beasley on...
Will we miss Taylor Twellman today? Nice profile in the Boston Globe on the player who should’ve, could’ve but wasn’t and didn’t. What was really...
Video: Who is Tim Cahill? What an inspiration! A injured Cahill comes on in the second half and saves the Socceroos! Australia 3, Japan...
America on the touchline The United States play their opening game today. “Unlike the Olympics, where Americans tend to dominate, the US has...
US- Czech Republic WC game: Oguchi Onyewu vs Jan Koller “Hey Gooch! Will you get off my back or do I spell it out in English for you.” Key...
The US vs the Czech Republic: A win will put us in the big league 1990. Tomas Skuhravy and the Czechs destroyed the USA, 5-1. Bruce Arena, then the University of Virginia coach, travelled...
ESPN’s World Cup coverage: Good job done, folks! Tommy Smyth- ESPN analyst Its gotten to the point that I now look at who is broadcasting the World...
Mexico 3 Iran 1: A goalkeeper’s homage to his father, Nuremburg, and a Brazilian-Mexican. Zinha- Mexico’s Brazilian born hero (L) Oswaldo Sanchez- Mexico’s goalie who lost his father recently (R) Iran’s goalkeeper, Mirzapour...
The Arjen Robben show: Netherlands 1 SMT 0 Robben Hood! Arjen Robben had his way with the Serb-Montengrins, tieing up the the SMT defence in knots. I...
Robben Scores! Holland 1, SerbiaMontenegro 0 Wow. A great breakaway and a cool finish. Holland could be the big story this World Cup!!
Today’s WC fixtures: Serbia and Montenegro vs Netherlands; Iran vs Mexico June 11, 2006 Serbia and Montenegro play Netherlands in a Group C encounter in Leipzig at 3:00 PM German...
Video: Argentina 2, Ivory Coast 1 A win is a win is a win. Goal #1: 1-0 Argentina – Hernan Crespo Goal #2: 2-0 Argentina...
The recent World Cup shows that Europe needs to rethink its immigration policies. Take away Klose’s goals and it would have been a drawn match between Germany and Costa Rica. Lahm and...
Video: Drogba vs Messi: Argentina – Ivory Coast WC matchup Didier Drogba- Ivory Coast (compilation) Lionel Messi- Argentina (goal against Zaragoza) The Ivory Coast meet Argentina in a Group...
Halftime: Good game, Sweden 0, T&T 0 Shaka Hislop at goal has kept T&T in this game. About 6 saves already from the likes of Freddie...
Ho-hum: England 1, Paraguay 0 at halftime (Fulltime: England 1 Paraguay 0) Carlos Gamarra scores an own goal from a wicked bender from David Beckham within the first 10 minutes. And...
Beckham scores! – Can you believe this?! In the first minute!!! Must be those blue suede shoes… England 1, Paraguay 0
Beckham’s Blue Suede Shoes Beckham’s new Adidas’ +Predator DB Lion shoes have something like England’s three lions logo on the blue boots- except...
Video: Ecuador 2, Poland 0 Ecuador 1, Poland 0; Carlos Tenorio – 24th min Ecuador 2, Poland 0; Agustin Delgado – 80th min See...
Soccerblog opening day analysis: The World Cup begins with a bang Miroslav Klose, Torsten Frings, Paulo Wanchope, Phillip Lahm Augustin Delgado, Carlos Tenorio (Opening day heroes) Nobody could have asked...
Ecuador 1 Poland 0 at halftime [Update: Ecuador wins, 2-0] Poland’s defence looks pretty ragged, giving the Ecuadorian attack many looks. And the Edwin Tenorio and Augustin Delgado duo...
A few thoughts on the Germany- Costa Rica opener As Zach points out- that Adidas ball can fly. It is going to be a goalkeeper’s nightmare but it...
ESPN’s coverage of the World Cup: A tip of the hat ESPN’s pair of experts Eric Wynalda and Julie Foudy worked well together in the opener. It’s a good team...