1. Honda Player of the Year Poll

    October 6, 2008 by Jordan

    Sometime last week balloting closed for the winner of the Honda Player of the Year which is given to the best player on the U.S. National Team for the calendar year.  While we often think of the stars - Donovan, Dempsey and Beasley - I think the most valuable player for the U.S. team this year clearly was goal keeper Tim Howard. 

    Check out his game stats - 5 shutouts in 8 world cup qualifying games this year which includes a 0-0 tie against the number one team in the world, Argentina.  In that match, he made 6 or 7 highlight saves and clearly made the difference while the rest of his team played extremely sloppy.

    We know that Landon Donovan is having an incredible year in the MLS, but as far as the National Team goes, Howard is the unquestioned MVP.

    I think his improvement and leadership have come, in large part, from having played 5 years now in the English Premier League with Manchester United and Everton.  Playing in the best league in the world certainly helps improve a player, especially when he is getting shots from the likes of Rooney, Lampard, etc.

    Who Should Win the Honda Player of the Year?

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  2. FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008 Update

    October 4, 2008 by admin

    Much of the soccer world is unaware of one of the more entertaining events happening right now in Brasilia and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  

    A little history…

    The FIFA Futsal World Cup began in 1989 and has since been held two years after the FIFA Football World Cup.  Since its beginning, there have only been two champions: Brazil and Spain.  Brazil won the first three titles, with the Spaniards winning the last two.  Interestingly enough, Brazil has played in every championship game since the inception of the FIFA Futsal World Cup except for the last tournament held in 2004 when Spain defeated Italy for the championship.

     

    Sixteen teams participate and are permitted to do so only after qualifying.

    The first round of the FIFA Futsal World Cup includes four groups of four teams.  The top two teams in each group advance to the next round which includes two groups of four teams.  The top two in each of these groups then advance to a semifinal round, and the winners, of course, go on to the championship.

    This year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup features the following teams:

    Group A: Brazil, Russia, Cuba, Japan, Solomon Islands

    Group B: Italy, Portugal, Thailand, Paraguay, United States

    Group C: Argentina, Ukraine, Guatemala, Egypt, China

    Group D: Spain, Czech Republic, Uruguay, Libya

    So far, the traditional powerhouses of Brazil and Spain remain the favorites for this year’s World Cup.  For futsal highlights, take a look at the video below…

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  3. David Beckham the Author?

    October 2, 2008 by admin

    What can’t David Beckham do?  Well, don’t let the title of this article fool you.  Although Beckham announced yesterday that he will be launching a series of children’s books next year, he will not be the actual author of the books.  

    Of course.

    Inspired by The David Beckham Academy in London and Los Angeles, the series of books are to be aimed at seven year olds and will contain tips, tactics, and soccer statistics.

     

    “The David Beckham Academy is more than just David’s dream of giving children the chance to experience great football coaching, it exists to encourage all aspects of their learning and development.
     

    “David is particularly pleased that The Academy has inspired a series of books that will bring children to reading through football,” a spokesperson for David Beckham mentioned.

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  4. Freestyle Soccer Moves

    October 1, 2008 by Jordan

    This is the craziest soccer video I’ve ever seen.  The people in this clip have incredible moves and quickness.  For this post, less writing = better writing.  Give it 4:21 of your time.  It’ll be time well spent.

     

    YouTube Preview Image

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  5. Review: FIFA ‘09 for the xbox 360

    September 27, 2008 by Jordan

    I had the chance to download the FIFA ‘09 demo for the xbox 360 and gave it a shot.  I’ve been a huge fan the FIFA series since it came out on the original xbox.  The ‘09 futbol game looks better than ever.  The graphics are incredible, as usual, and the gameplay is smoother than any other game in it’s history.  

    In last year’s game, the speed seemed off and the passing wasn’t as real as it could’ve been.  There were times when I would have the ball in the middle of the field and look to make a strong pass on the ground to a winger only to find the ball intercepted because the pass was incredibly weak.  This year’s game has a strength meter for not only the shots, but all passes as well.  Fantastic.  No more weak sauce passes from one defender to another.

    Two years ago I complained that the ability to make moves with the feet didn’t exist.  Last year they put it in but it was somewhat sloppy and hard to use.  The ‘09 game features easier to use ball skills but it’s still not quite perfect.  It passes, though.

    The shot system is fantastic and very realistic.  I went into a penalty shootout against Real Madrid and to put the ball in the upright corner is much harder than last year.  In the ‘08 version, you could put the control stick all the way to the right or left and you were almost guaranteed a corner shot.  This year, if you do that, you’ll miss the goal by 4 feet.  When you choose the right way to dive with your keeper, you actually have a chance to make the save.  

    The appearance of the game is unreal.  I think futbol video games are the most realistic and best looking sports games out there and FIFA ‘09 in no exception.  From the different stadiums to the player’s faces and the mud on their uniforms after getting tackled or tackling somebody else.

    So, overall, I loved the game.  To be fair, it was just a demo and I only had the chance to play with a couple teams that were featured, but it seems like it will be another great addition to the FIFA lineup.

    Ratings 0-10 (10 is highest)

    Graphics - 10

    Gameplay - 9.5

    Passing - 9

    Shooting - 10

    Foot Skills - 8.5

    Stadium Looks - 10

    Overall - 9.5

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  6. Landon Donovan to play in Germany?

    September 26, 2008 by admin

    Landon Donovan, arguably the best player the United States has ever produced may be leaving the MLS for another shot at playing in Europe.  Bayern Munich has reportedly expressed interest in Donovan, to which Donovan replied, ”That’s one of the best teams in the world.  As of now, I’ve got to worry about what’s going on here, but if January rolls around and there’s interest, and the league is willing to discuss it, I would be excited to talk about it.”

    Certainly not the news LA Galaxy and MLS fans want to hear!  However, fans of the United States Men’s National Team may find comfort in knowing that the skilled forward would be under the tutilage of one of the greatest forwards ever, Jurgen Klinsman, who coaches for Bayern Munich.  While the talent gap between the MLS and European leagues is narrowing, it is still very apparent that the quality of soccer is much greater overseas.

    Donovan isn’t hiding his feelings towards the idea.  

    “It’s up to my relationship with the league and the Galaxy and if they’re willing to let that happen,” Donovan said. “There have to be teams interested, so there’s a lot of ifs, but if a team like Bayern Munich came calling, you don’t really turn them away without thinking about it.”

    “I would love for it to happen,” Donovan said of a move to Bayern Munich. “It’s up to the league, it’s up to the Galaxy and it’s up to me. I feel like I have a good relationship with all those parties, and if it were to happen, I think that would be great.”


     

    Should Landon Donovan play for Bayern Munich?

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  7. How-To’s: Free Kicks

    September 25, 2008 by admin

    This video clip (although a bit long…9:40) is a tutorial given by David Beckham to a group of youth soccer players.  Those looking to improve their free kick skills ought to take 10 minutes to watch.  There is a lot of good information and ideas on how to practice free kicks without having anything but a ball and a goal.

    Plus, learn how to really “bend it like Beckham”!  Enjoy…


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  8. 2010 World Cup Mascot Announced

    September 24, 2008 by admin

    It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no, it’s Zakumi!

    Named by taking the first two letters of the host country’s name in Afrikaans, Zakumi the friendly, cuddly, leopard was publicly unvieled on Monday, September 22.  The mascot was created by Cape Town native Andries Odendaal

    “Zakumi represents the people, geography and spirit of South Africa, personifying in essence the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We are certain we will have a lot of fun with him in the lead-up to and during the FIFA Confederations Cup and the FIFA World Cup,” said FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke.


     

    Check out the video…If you ask me, it’s pretty funny!

    YouTube Preview Image

    What do you think of Zakumi?

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  9. Celtic May Sign U.S. Goal Keeper Dominic Cervi

    by Jordan

    According to si.com’s soccer page, Celtic is looking to sign U.S. Keeper Dominic Cervi after having had him on trial since April.  Gordon Stratach has been in the market for a while looking for a keeper to really challenge the #1 keeper Artur Boruc who’s personal life has made him shaky between the posts lately.

    Cervi was taked by the Chicago Fire in the MLS Superdraft this year, but rejected the chance to play in the U.S. with hopes of taking his talents to Europe.

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  10. Call For The US Team To Play With More Sophistication

    September 21, 2008 by Jordan

    I recently read an article by Frank Dell’Apa off of ESPN Soccernet that talked about the lack of sophistication shown by the US Soccer Team.  He wrote about CONCACAF and how the teams within the group don’t help the USA, nor Mexico for that matter, advance in the World Cup.  His point is this: the USA will never be as good as the Europeans or South Americans if they don’t have better challengers in CONCACAF for World Cup qualifiers.

    I agree with him.  So far, the US Team has outscored it’s opponents 14-0, which is great, but only if you don’t read who they’ve played so far.  Those 14 goals have come against opponents such as Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala and Cuba.  I wouldn’t call those countries powerhouses in the world of futbol.  

    Dell’Apa even went so far as to compare the structure and formation that the US National Soccer Team plays with other known powerhouses like Spain and Argentina.  The US normally uses a two-striker formation while the rest of the world, it seems, only has one true attacking forward.  The two striker formation has provided dividends so far during this qualification season, but it has done so against inferior teams.

    So the questions I have and pose to you all is, how does the US Soccer Team get out of the doldrums they find themselves in?  Is it simply a matter of waiting for the teams around them in the CONCACAF to get better or do we try to get more and more friendlies against better European and South American teams?

    It is clear that the US is not as good and sophisticated as it could be.  Watching the Premier League is a joy.  Watching the MLS is tough - almost like comparing watching Varsity and Junior Varsity teams at a high school.

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