Rose Bowl to host CONCACAF Gold Cup matches
PASADENA, Calif. ● Defending champion Mexico will play in the opening doubleheader of the CONCACAF Gold Cup at the Rose Bowl in July. The matches will be played July 7 in the same stadium where Mexico won the 2011 Gold Cup title. The Rose Bowl also hosted the 2002 Gold Cup final, as well as [...]
Brazil shock with firing Menezes
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil ● Mano Menezes was sensationally sacked as coach of five-time world champions Brazil on Friday, dealing a hammer blow to the misfiring hosts of the 2014 World Cup. “I gave him the news myself,” said Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) national squad director Andres Sanches. “Nobody likes to receive news [...]
Concacaf draw World Cup qualifiers in Miami
MIAMI, FL ● CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb, CONCACAF General Secretary Enrique Sanz, and FIFA Head of Olympic and World Cup Qualifying Gordon Savic today will hold the draw for the CONCACAF Hexagonal, the fourth and final qualifying round for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™. The draw, which will determine the schedule for the final qualifying [...]
Ryan Bertrand signs new 5-year deal with Chelsea
LONDON, England ● England defender Ryan Bertrand signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea on Wednesday, four months after rising to prominence for the European champion at the end of last season. The 23-year-old Bertrand finally lived up to his promise at the English Premier League giants last season, and was rewarded with a starting [...]
Record move Korean Ki to Swansea
SWANSEA, Wales ● South Korea international midfielder Ki Sung-yeung left Celtic for Swansea City to become the Welsh club’s record signing on Friday. The 23-year-old has signed a three-year contract although he will not be available for Saturday’s Premier League clash at home to West Ham United. He is still waiting for a [...]
Brazil FA blame Rafael for defeat to Mexico
SAO PAULO, Brazil ● A day after Brazil lost the Olympic soccer final to Mexico, the country’s footballing authorities took the unusual step of singling out full back Rafael for his part in the defeat. A loose pass from the Manchester United defender led to Mexico’s first goal after just 29 seconds. Brazil [...]
Mexico leaves Brazil in tears
LONDON, England ● Mexico left Brazil’s long-cherished Olympic dream in tatters when they scored a stunning 2-1 upset win thanks to two goals from Oribe Peralta to clinch the men’s soccer title for the first time on Saturday. Brazil, the hot favourites and desperate to win the only major soccer title to elude them, ended [...]
Chelsea and Man City ready for first test
BIRMINGHAM, England ● Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo is preparing to test his new attacking formation against defending Premier League champion Manchester City in the Community Shield at Villa Park on Sunday. Chelsea, last season’s FA Cup winner, has overhauled its attacking options despite also winning the Champions League for the first time in its [...]
South Korea beat Japan to take Olympic bronze
CARDIFF, Wales ● South Korea took their first Olympic football medal with goals from Park Chu-young and skipper Koo Ja-cheol that secured the bronze when they beat Asian rivals Japan 2-0 on Friday. The tournament has been marked by massive crowds and more than 56,000 watched a fiercely fought battle at the Millennium Stadium between [...]
