FanHouse

Manchester United Upset in Champions League

Michael Cardillo — 2009-11-25T17:30:00 00:00

Filed under: European Soccer, UEFA Champions League

A day after rival Liverpool was knocked out of the 2009-10 Champions League, its long time rival Manchester United suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Besiktas at Old Trafford Wednesday.

However, unlike Liverpool which dropped into the second-tier Europa League, Manchester United is still through to the knockout, but it has to wait until the final matchday on Dec. 8 to win the group. United need at least a point when it plays at Wolfsburg to place first, which could be important with the possibly of a knockout Round of 16 match against teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona or Inter Milan.

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Slovenia Shocks Russia to Qualify for World Cup

Michael Cardillo — 2009-11-18T17:08:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: FIFA World Cup, International

Guus Hiddink has been hailed over the last decade as a Dutch Master, working wonders at the last two World Cups with South Korea and Australia, respectively.

Wednesday in Maribor, Slovenia, Hiddink's luck finally ran out as his Russian team was stunned by Slovenia 1-0, to advance after the two-leg UEFA playoff ended 2-2. Slovenia gets through on the basis of its away goal scored in the closing minutes Saturday in Moscow.

For Slovenia, it's the nation's first trip to the World Cup since 2002.

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Algeria Holds Off Egypt, Qualifies for 2010 World Cup

Michael Cardillo — 2009-11-18T15:24:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: FIFA World Cup, International

Wednesday's World Cup playoff between Algeria and Egypt immediately brought to mind the famous quote from legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankley, "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that."

For the 34,000 inside Al Merreikh Stadium in Omdurman, Sudan, and millions in the countries themselves, the 90-minute match was a crucible of pressure. The tension was only heightened by rioting, stone throwing and a group of Algerians setting fire to the offices of Egypt Air in Algiers due to long-standing animosity between the two North African nations.

Though the match itself wasn't an all-time classic, the external factors made Algeria's eventual 1-0 victory one of the more memorable images of soccer in 2009, typified by keeper Faouzi Chaouchi celebrating atop his net after the full-time whistle.

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Slovenia Stays Alive vs. Russia in UEFA World Cup Playoffs

Michael Cardillo — 2009-11-14T13:31:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: European Soccer, FIFA World Cup, International

Guus Hiddink's Russia looked about ready to start calling a travel agent to book its arrangements for South Africa in June. The Russians held a comfortable 2-0 lead against Slovenia in Saturday's UEFA playoff in Moscow thanks to a pair of goals from Everton's Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.

To Slovenia's credit, the World Cup hopefuls didn't stop charging and its effort paid off when substitute Nejc Pecnik headed home a rebound from a shot by Robert Koren to make it finish 2-1. For Slovenia it was a crucial away goal as the two-leg playoff heads to Maribor on Wednesday.

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Different-Look US Preps for Slovakia Test

Michael Cardillo — 2009-11-13T11:10:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: International Soccer, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

To call 2009 a busy year for the U.S. national team would be an understatement. Even labeling it a marathon wouldn't be quite right. An ultra-marathon might make more sense.

Bob Bradley's team has participated in two tournaments -- the Confederations Cup and Gold Cup -- along with the final round of CONCACAF 2010 World Cup qualification. All told the U.S. has already played 22 matches -- going 13-6-3 -- on two different continents.

The grueling year winds down with a trip to a third continent -- Europe -- when the U.S. places fellow 2010 World Cup qualifier Slovakia in Bratislava. (10 a.m., Fox Soccer)

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German Keeper Robert Enke Dead at 32

Michael Cardillo — 2009-11-10T23:03:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: European Soccer, Soccer Posts, Bundesliga (Germany)

Truly sad and shocking news out of Germany late Tuesday, as goalkeeper Robert Enke died at the age of 32 in an apparent suicide, which was confirmed by his agent. Enke was hit by a train at a crossing near his home in Neustadt-Eilvese.

By most accounts Enke, who played at Hannover 96, figured to be a part of the German 2010 World Cup squad, finally getting a chance to play after the successive retirements of longtime keepers Oliver Kahn and Jens Lehmann.

Germany was scheduled to play a friendly with fellow World Cup participant Chile on Saturday, though Enke was not a part of the squad. It's unsure if the match due to take place in Cologne will go on as scheduled.

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Terry's Header Pushes Chelsea Past Manchester United

Michael Cardillo — 2009-11-08T13:11:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: European Soccer, English Premier League, Soccer Posts

It's safe to say that hyperbole and armchair psychologists aren't solely the domain of American sportscasters.

Seemingly seconds after Chelsea captain John Terry headed home the eventual game-winner late in the second half Sunday vs. Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, the talking heads were speculating that the goal made up for his famous penalty kick miss in the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow.

Let's say, agree to disagree, though the 1-0 victory certainly was a strong statement for Chelsea, as it tries to end Manchester United's three-year stranglehold on the Premier League.

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Portugal Plans to Calls In Injured Ronaldo for UEFA Playoffs

Michael Cardillo — 2009-11-07T12:25:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: European Soccer, FIFA World Cup, International

Carlos Queiroz has always been an interesting character. Heck, anyone that coached the New York/New Jersey Metrostars and lived to tell about it deserves a special place in the history of world soccer.

Saturday, the now coach of the Portugal national team, made a move that will certainly make headlines one way or the other as he plans to call in injured superstar Cristiano Ronaldo for the upcoming two-leg UEFA World Cup playoffs against Bosnia-Herzegovina. (Portugal will announce its full lineup on Sunday.)

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Edgar Castillo Gets First U.S. Call-Up

Michael Cardillo — 2009-11-02T16:10:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: FIFA World Cup, International, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

The official U.S. roster hasn't been released yet for the U.S. National Team's upcoming European friendlies against World Cup qualifiers Slovakia and Denmark, but Goal.com is reporting that Edgar Castillo will be selected for the squad by coach Bob Bradley.

Castillo, who has played his entire career in Mexico, originally declared his intentions to play for El Tri despite the fact he was born in New Mexico. A new tweak in the FIFA rules allowed Castillo to switch allegiances since he never appeared for Mexico in an "official match."

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David Beckham to Rejoin Milan After Galaxy's Run Is Done

Michael Cardillo — 2009-11-02T14:46:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: MLS, Serie A (Italy)

The Hollywood paparazzi are going to have a little less fodder on the sidelines at Los Angeles Lakers games come January. Italian giants AC Milan have officially confirmed the long-rumored second loan of English midfielder David Beckham from the Los Angeles Galaxy.

While the official details of the loan haven't been released, this much seems to be known. Beckham will join Milan in January and finish out the 2009-10 Serie A season, before he hopes to join England's team at next June's World Cup. This means, as he did this season, Beckham would parachute back to the Galaxy in either late June, or more likely, early July.

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Jozy Altidore Late for Match, Left Out of Squad for Hull City

Michael Cardillo — 2009-10-24T13:18:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: English Premier League, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

Sort of a weird situation that developed Saturday with U.S. teenage striker Jozy Altidore at his Premier League club team Hull City. Altidore wasn't in the lineup, nor was he even on the bench for the Tigers 0-0 draw with last-place Portsmouth.

Apparently Altidore was late to the KC Stadium and posted an apology on his Twitter page. What's weird, is on his actual page, the apology is no longer posted and the most recent tweet is encouraging Hull fans to make a lot of noise at the game.

All things considered, it's hard to read all that much into the situation. Altidore wouldn't be the first player in the history of professional soccer to be late for a match. It was a little distressing that the 19-year-old, who is fighting for a place in the starting XI, would risk being late and nullify any chance of seeing the field.

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American Midfielder Maurice Edu Claims Racial Abuse After Loss

Michael Cardillo — 2009-10-21T11:25:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: European Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

A rough couple of months for American midfielder Maurice Edu might have hit a new low on Tuesday night. While going to his car after Rangers' stunning 4-1 home loss to Romanian minnows Unirea Urziceni in Champions League group play, Edu said via his Twitter page that he was racially abused by his own home fans.

Edu posted this late Tuesday:

"Not sure what hurt more: result last nite or being racially abused by couple of r own fans as I'm getting in my car...smh...off to rehab."

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France vs. Ireland Highlights UEFA World Cup Playoffs

Michael Cardillo — 2009-10-19T10:52:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: International Soccer, International, English Premier League

Update: Follow France vs. Ireland live blog.

Most of the intrigue that could have resulted from Monday's draw for the second-place playoffs for the final four 2010 World Cup berths from Europe was eliminated when it was decided the eight remaining nations would be broken up and seeded via their FIFA ranks near the end of the qualification process.

So instead of creating some possible Cinderella scenarios from smaller nations like Slovenia or Bosnia-Herzegovina would have a good chance to qualify for their first World Cup, the underdogs now face an uphill battle. This is no more the case than for the Republic of Ireland, which must played a wounded, yet still very dangerous France team next month.

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AC Milan VP Calls Beckham Loan A "Done Deal"

Michael Cardillo — 2009-10-15T12:47:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: International, MLS, Serie A (Italy)

In a very unsurprising development, AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani declared that the club is "95 percent" finished on bringing back David Beckham to the club in January on loan. Galliani went as far as to call it a "done deal."

Unlike last year when there was a lot of alarm and acrimony when Beckham announced his intentions to play somewhere else during the break in the MLS season, this time there doesn't seem to be too much problem that he'll be away from the Los Angeles Galaxy for a period of time after the 2009 season wraps in November.

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Blind Date Sparked Film Festival

Michael Cardillo — 2009-10-15T12:00:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: Soccer Posts

When Greg Lalas got set up on a blind date in April by some mutual friends with a woman who shared two of his biggest passions -- soccer and writing -- little did he know what the future would hold. Although that date at a bar in the Chelsea section of Manhattan didn't exactly lead to romance with Rachel Markus, the two did end up seeing a lot more of each other.

As the pair chatted, Markus told Lalas of her attempt to stage a soccer-themed film festival at London's Craven Cottage -- home to Fulham of the Premier League -- while she was living in England. A week before it was set to take place, the screening was canceled.

But as Lalas and Markus, who works in the film industry, talked that April night, the idea of staging a soccer film festival in the United States came up and thus the Kicking & Screening International Soccer Film Festival was born.

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Argentina Survives, Advances to 2010 World Cup

Michael Cardillo — 2009-10-14T20:20:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: FIFA World Cup, International Soccer, International

For one day, at least, Diego Maradona can silence his critics and get the last laugh.

Lampooned, mocked and second-guessed throughout Argentina's nearly disastrous 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, Maradona can let out a massive sigh of relief after Wednesday's 1-0 win against Uruguay in Montevideo, Uruguay. Argentina gains the fourth and final automatic CONMEBOL qualifying spot, while Uruguay moves into the playoff against either Costa Rica or Honduras.

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Slovakia, Switzerland Punch Tickets to 2010 World Cup

Michael Cardillo — 2009-10-14T16:50:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: European Soccer, FIFA World Cup, International

It's hard to imagine a scenario where the date Oct. 14, 2009 doesn't become the stuff of lore in the European country of Slovakia as it turned out to be the day the nation booked its place in its first FIFA World Cup finals.

And the Slovaks achieved history in perhaps the most adverse conditions possible in a soccer match, downing Poland 1-0 at the Silesian Stadium during a driving snowstorm that would seem more at home for an NFL playoff match than a World Cup qualifier.

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Italy, Denmark, Germany, Serbia Qualify For 2010 World Cup

Michael Cardillo — 2009-10-10T17:36:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: European Soccer, FIFA World Cup, International

The puzzle pieces for the 2010 FIFA World Cup became a lot clearer on Saturday on the penultimate day of UEFA qualification. Longtime stalwarts Germany and Italy both punched their tickets, while Denmark and Serbia also booked passage to South Africa next June.

Germany was the first European country to qualify on Saturday, defeating Russia 1-0 in what was essentially a first-place Group 4 playoff game in Moscow. The Germans held on with 10-men after a first-half goal from Miroslav Klose. Meanwhile, Guus Hiddink's Russia must now await its fate in the second-place playoffs. For the Germans, it's the country's 15th-straight World Cup finals berth and 17th overall placing it second to Brazil. (These streaks include time as West Germany.)

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U.S. on Brink of World Cup Berth

Michael Cardillo — 2009-10-09T15:27:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: FIFA World Cup, International Soccer, International, Soccer Posts, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

This much is simple for the U.S. national team's Saturday night 2010 World Cup qualifier at Honduras. If the U.S. leaves San Pedro Sula with three points, then it automatically qualifies for next June's World Cup in South Africa. Anything else? Well it's so confusing that the U.S. Soccer site has established a scenario generator to run through all the possible outcomes.

It's also known that a) the U.S. is stepping into a tricky road environment in a country in the midst of a political crisis, b) the U.S. won't have midfielder Clint Dempsey and c) the game will not be seen in America except for select closed circuit establishments.

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Alexi Lalas Eager to Bring 'Soccer People Together' at Film Festival

Michael Cardillo — 2009-10-08T12:00:00 00:00

by Michael Cardillo

Filed under: Soccer Posts, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

Ever since he burst onto the worldwide scene at the 1994 World Cup thanks in part to his unmistakable fiery red goatee and flowing locks, Alexi Lalas has been one of the Apostles of spreading the world on U.S. soccer.

In the 15 years since the U.S. announced its ambition on the world stage, Lalas has witnessed the gradual steps as soccer awareness in America has slowly crept from the fringes, edging closer to the mainstream.

So when his brother Greg decided to host a soccer-themed film festival -- Kicking & Screening -- earlier this year in New York, he jumped at the chance to help. And when Greg Lalas decided to host another event next week in Washington, well, Alexi Lalas was going to be there to both help his brother and help spread the gospel of soccer.

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