Archive for July, 2010

United States

One Call Bob Bradley Should Make This Weekend

BRENT LATHAM- August 2nd is Michael Hoyos’ 19th birthday. It says so right next to these lines, in this press kit for the Argentine Argentine U-20 team, right before it describes him as left-sided midfielder who is a constant threat on goal.

Who knows if Bob Bradley will be coaching the U.S. national team through 2014. But if he wants to do the country, and possibly himself, a big favor, he should pick up the phone and call Hoyos down in Argentina, this weekend. Thomas Rongen knows how to get in touch with him.

Oh, and while he’s wishing the young Estudiantes  midfielder a happy birthday, he might want to do one more thing: invite him to the Brazil match on August 10th. Not just to watch, but to suit up and put on the red, white and blue alongside Landon Donovan and Tim Howard. (more…)

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United States

Milk Cup Wrap: Who Are the Potential Nats?

BRENT LATHAM – The Milk Cup is an important international youth tournament. But it’s not such a huge deal. It’s great that the U.S. won it, but let’s get some perspective here.

How many people, before being reminded this week, could have told you the last time the U.S. won the Milk Cup? We know now it was 2005, and that the star of the team was Dax McCarthy. We also know Northern Ireland was the two-time defending champ before the U.S. knocked them off today. Haven’t seen them on top of any U-20 World Cup podiums, or even at an U-20 World Cup, well, in quite a while at least.

And the U.S. was a last-minute Danish keeper’s error from playing for third with Mexico. So let’s not go overboard about the future of U.S. soccer, any more than we should have been weeping had the U.S. fared poorly.

That said, this is a very positive development. (more…)

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United States

MacMath Headed to Everton to Train

BRENT LATHAM – After a dominating performance at the Milk Cup, U.S. under-20 and University of Maryland goalkeeper Zac MacMath is set to train at Everton with Tim Howard, a source at U.S. Soccer confirmed to 10Kit Friday after the match.

The St. Petersburg, FL native turns 19 early next month, but would need a European passport to hope for any sort of deal with the Toffees, meaning the stint in England is likely just what its being described as – a training session with the top American goalkeeper at present.

MacMath represented the U.S. at the 2007 U-17 World Cup in South Korea, and seems to have the inside track on the starting job for this cycle of the U-20s, after two impressive performances in the Milk Cup against China and Northern Ireland, both clean sheets.

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United States

U.S. U-20s Trounce N. Ireland, Take Milk Cup

BRENT LATHAM – The U.S. under-20 national team took the prestigious Milk Cup elite division title for the second time in history Friday, thrashing host Northern Ireland 3-0.

The U.S. got goals from Gale Agbossoumonde, Juan Agudelo, and Adrian Ruelas in a comprehensive victory, the third in three outings this week for Thomas Rongen’s side.

Agudelo was named the final MVP after slashing his way through Northern Ireland’s defense for 90 minutes, but goalkeeper Zac MacMath, Agbossoumonde, and midfielder Alex Molano also had solid outings among a number of bright points for Rongen’s squad.

The team played the Milk Cup without, in Rongen’s assessment, half a dozen of its top players, and things are looking bright for this edition as they head towards qualifying for the 2011 under-20 World Cup in Colombia.

A full recap and player ratings after the jump… (more…)

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The Continent

World Football: Cameroon Loses a Leader

Continuing 10Kit’s collaboration with journalists from all corners of the planet, we bring you a Cameroonian perspective on long-time Indomitable Lions captain Rigobert Song.

FRANKLIN SONE BAYERN – Charismatic Lions ex-captain faces the press at the Yaounde Hilton this Sunday, expected to be his farewell after an obvious conspiracy to disgrace him out and dampen his legacy.

The man at the cradle of Rigobert Song Bahanag’s career, Jean Pierre Sadi testifies Song was exposed to high level football even before he fully turned a teenager.

A pioneer of the Brasseries du Cameroun football centre in 1989, he signed up before turning 13. He was scouted at a Top Cup competition in Yaounde and received his first high level training under Sadi, pioneer technical director of the centre, with trainers Engelbert Mbarga and Njee Marius.

“He was the major (best of his batch),” says Sadi. “He was very talented and disciplined and his trademark fighting spirit was already manifesting at that tender age.” (more…)

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News in brief, United Kingdom, United States

FRI July 30 (AM): On Fernandez, US v. Brazil, and Other Critical News

MLS welcomes yet another DP to their ranks, as Seattle has signed Uruguayan midfielder Alvaro Fernandez in an attempt to salvage a sinking season. Fernandez, previously on loan with Universidad de Chile in Chile’s Primera Division, played in four World Cup matches for La Celeste, starting the team’s quarterfinal victory over Ghana.

The 24 year old figures to help replace the pending – and expected – loss of Freddie Ljungberg.

Seattle coach Sigi Schmid and goalkeeper Kasey Keller discussed the Sounders newest acquisition.

(more…)

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United States

U.S. U-20s Play for Milk Cup Title Friday

The U.S. under-20 national team, lead by Coach Thomas Rongen, play for their first title of the cycle as they take on host Northern Ireland Friday at the Milk Cup.

Rongen’s team has found success in a competition the U.S. has won only once to date. The Americans are the only team in the elite division to have won their first two games, defeating China and Denmark while testing out a full roster of players. (more…)

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United States

When are the Puerto Rico Islanders Bigger than Man U?

BRENT LATHAM – So no sooner do I finish my week long ode to the greatness of MLS than Bruce Arena goes out and gets two separate teams outscored by 9-3 in a 24-hour period. Nice job Bruce.

Of course that counts the 4-1 loss to the Puerto Rico Islanders in Los Angeles  on Tuesday, and really, who cares, right? I mean the big game was the MLS All-Star game against Manchester United. The All-Stars were scored, if not played, off the field by Manchester United, and that will erase all the gains made over the previous weeks and months in terms of the league’s image, right?  So who would even care about the result of some regional league against a Division II team?

Except that the Galaxy’s loss to Puerto Rico probably means much more in the long term scheme of things. (more…)

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News in brief, United States

THU July 28 (AM): Adu moving again, Losing is learning, Hughes beats Bradley, Good day for California, etc.

Freddy Adu, whose rights are still owned by Benfica while on loan to Aris FC, is apparently no longer in that team’s plans.  He’s training with the Swiss club FC Sion and reports that he is hobbled by pain.  He insists that he’s made no decision yet on the upcoming season.

Like every team that loses a match by three goals, the MLS All Stars are looking at their All Star Game loss as a learning experience.

Bob Bradley may coach in Europe, but apparently not for Fulham.  The Guardian reports that Mark Hughes (former Manchester City coach) will take over for Fulham[erica] in the next 48 hours.

Californians rejoice!   Real Madrid is bringing all of its stars for their upcoming California tour (of San Francisco and Pasadena).  Less exciting, David Beckham may return to training for the Galaxy in “late” August.  Or he may play for West Ham United.  And Californian Anton Peterlin signs with the Plymouth Argyle Pilgrims, where he is expected to feature immediately after no first-team appearances with Everton last season.

Briefly, no news on Landon.  Seattle takes 1-0 lead after home match in CCL prelims.  Ribery confesses.  Maradona rants and raves.

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United States

Wait, MLS Lost 5-2?

 JENNA PEL – Seven goals. 70,728 attendees beneath Reliant Stadium’s shuttered roof. The appearance of the Manchester United #11 and #18 shirts worn by Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes respectively. Apparently the MLS All-Stars were vanquished by Manchester United by a score of 5-2. But you wouldn’t know it from the atmosphere.

Houston’s Reliant Stadium was teeming with the color of red as fans filed in to watch the 2010 MLS All-Star Game. There was a spattering of green and gold (the colors used to identify dissent against Manchester United’s owners the Glazer family) but it wasn’t obvious to anyone not already familiar with the movement.

Faces were painted, flags were worn as sarongs, Man United replica shirts were everywhere. It was obvious that the evening would belong to the men in red, despite the best efforts of MLS and its All-Stars. Presumably that was the only attraction that people came out in throngs to see.

The buzz began when the Manchester United players took to the field to begin training. The stalwarts like Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher and Paul Scholes were delivering pin-point crosses to the youngsters Frederico Macheda, Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley. Admirers hung over the railings with cell phone cameras aloft, hoping to immortalize the moment when their idols were just yards away from them.

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