Soccer By Ives

Ching expects difficult game against Panama

                                               Photo by ISIphotos.com 

BY DYLAN BUTLER

Panama has 11 players who competed against the United States in the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup at Gillette Stadium. The U.S. has just one.

Brian Ching came on as a late sub, helping hold off a Panamanian squad that cut its halftime deficit in half and gave the Americans all they could handle in a difficult final 10 minutes despite being reduced to 10 men.

“It was an extremely difficult game for us,” Ching said after the final U.S. practice ahead of Saturday night’s quarterfinal clash at Lincoln Financial Field.  “Panama came out and played physical, they’re very athletic and they made it difficult for us in ’07. I expect them to come out and do the same thing this year.”

A closer look at MLS referees

 

                                                 Photo by ISIphotos.com

Officiating has been one of the more talked about topics in MLS circles early in the 2009 season as red cards and penalty calls, many of them which have looked questionable, have drawn criticism from fans and media who have tried figuring out why there has been this new trend of calls and cards.

In my latest piece for ESPN.com, I delve into the subject of MLS referees and I think some folks will be surprised with the findings. In talking to a variety of coaches and players, the consensus has actually been that officiating in MLS is better now, but that there are more big calls being made. Why so many more red cards and penalty calls? New directives from U.S. Soccer have asked referees to look out for specific plays more closely, such as handballs in the box and fouls that deny goal-scoring opportunities.

What do you think of the piece? Surprised that coaches believes the officiating is better this year? Not buying the theory that players will adjust to the way things are being called? Do you still think the referees have been terrible this year?

Share your thoughts on MLS officiating in the comments section below.

Obama discusses American Soccer and a USA World Cup

You have read about U.S. president Barack Obama's support of soccer and for a USA World Cup bid. Now you can see him discussing the beautiful game, as well as a potential USA World Cup, courtesy of Univision (via U.S. Soccer):

What do you think of Obama's comments? Starting to think he's serious about backing a U.S. World Cup bid? Will we see him at any World Cup qualifiers this year?

Share your thoughts below.

U.S. Soccer suspends Marrufo two matches for Jersey-Gate

 

                                                                      Photo by ISIphotos.com

U.S. Soccer has suspended referee Jair Marrufo for two matches for receiving a jersey from Chicago Fire player Cuauhtemoc Blanco after last week's Chicago Fire-Columbus Crew match.

"The initial step in dealing with the situation was to remove Jair Maruffo from his assignment for this weekend," U.S. Soccer spokesman Neil Buethe told SBI. "After careful consideration, the decision has been made to officially suspend him for this week and the following week."

Marrufo, the 2008 MLS referee of the year, was suspended after witnesses saw Blanco toss a jersey into the referee's locker room after last week's Fire-Crew match, a match that included a controversial red card issued by Marrufo to Crew defender Gino Padula for a foul on Blanco. That red card helped spark a two-goal comeback by the Fire, which had been trailing, 2-0.

What do you think of the suspension? Is two games fair? Not enough? Too much? Think Blanco should have been reprimanded?

Share your thoughts below.

Marrufo to miss match for accepting gift jersey (updated)

 

                                     Photo by ISIphotos.com

MLS referee Jair Marrufo will not officiate an MLS match this weekend as punishment for his handling of the Cuauhtemoc Blanco gift jersey situation, the Columbus Dispatch is reporting.

Marrufo, the 2008 MLS referee of the year, received a signed jersey from Blanco after the Chicago Fire-Columbus Crew match, a move that has called into question Marrufo's impartiality and raised some doubts about Marrufo's handling of the Crew-Fire match, which ended in a 2-2 tie and saw Marrufo issue a red card to Crew defender Gino Padula for a foul on Blanco.

"(Marrufo) was informed his actions were unacceptable," U.S. Soccer spokesman Neil Buethe told the Dispatch. "He agreed he made an error in judgment in accepting the jersey after the match. He's not being suspended. (Pulling him off a game) is a chance for him to clear his head a little bit."

MLS referee under investigation for allegedly receiving gift from player

 

                                                                         Photo by ISIphotos.com

MLS referee Jair Marrufo has made his share of controversial calls during his time as an official, but it is a decision he is alleged to have made off the field that has officials investigating him.

Marrufo is under investigation for allegedly accepting a jersey from Chicago Fire star Cuauhtemoc Blanco after the Fire's recent 2-2 tie vs. the Columbus Crew, a match Marrufo presided over. The Columbus Dispatch secured statements from both U.S. Soccer and MLS, which are both looking into the accusation.

The allegations are even more damning considering a controversial decision Marrufo made during the Fire/Crew match. Marrufo issued a highly-questionable red card to Crew defender Gino Padula for a challenge on Blanco, a call that helped spark a two-goal comeback by the Fire, and a red card Columbus is now protesting. Now witnesses are saying that Blanco visited the referee's locker room after the match and gave somebody a signed jersey of his.

What do you think of this development? Think Marrufo acted improperly if he, in fact, received a gift from Blanco? Think this is just sour grapes from Columbus Crew officials/fans after Saturday's blown lead and subsequent tie following Marrufo's suspect red card on Padula?

Share your thoughts below.

58 of 70 USA World Cup venue candidates express interest

And then there were 58.

Representatives from a total of 58 of th original 70 stadiums listed by U.S. Soccer's World Cup bid committee as potential sites for World Cup matches have expressed interest in hosting World Cup matches in either 2018 or 2022.

Representatives from Las Vegas and Raleigh-Durham markets have expressed interest in being considered as hosts for the World Cup as well (No, Las Vegas doesn't have a stadium now, but a proposed stadium project is in the works). Also, Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah has also applied for consideration.

Two venues, one in Jacksonville and one in Oklahoma City, are still in discussions with the U.S. bid committee as officials analyze the feasibility of hosting World Cup matches.

Here is a rundown of the original list of 70 potential World Cup stadiums (with the 12 stadiums that declined interest crossed out):

Obama writes FIFA to back USA 2018 World Cup bid

  

The United States' bid to host the 2018 World Cup received an assist from none other than President Barack Obama, who wrote a letter to FIFA in support of the nation's bid to host the game's most prestigious event.

"As a child, I played soccer on a dirt road in Jakarta, and the game brought the children of my neighborhood together," Obama wrote, according to excerpts released by the U.S. Soccer Federation. "As a father, I saw that same spirit of unity alive on the fields and sidelines of my own daughters' soccer games in Chicago."

"Soccer is truly the world's sport, and the World Cup promotes camaraderie and friendly competition across the globe," Obama wrote. "That is why this bid is about much more than a game. It is about the United States of America inviting the world to gather all across our great country in celebration of our common hopes and dreams."

What do you think of Obama's words? Think he can help the U.S. bid? Still see FIFA giving Europe the 2018 World Cup? Do you see the United States having a better chance of hosting the 2022 World Cup, or are you still holding out hope for 2018?

Share your thoughts below.

USA bid committee identifies 70 venues as potential World Cup sites

 

The USA World Cup bid committee contacted 70 different venues across the United States as potential sites for the USA bids for World Cups 2018 and 2022.

Some familiar soccer-friendly venues, such as Soldier Field, Gillette Stadium and RFK Stadium, and some stadiums still being built, such as Cowboys Stadium and Meadowlands Stadium, were among the 70 sites contacted by the USA bid committee.

As you might expect, the list includes some intriguing markets, such as Fayetteville, Arkansas and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Basically, the list includes every major college football and NFL stadium in the country.

Here is the complete list of venues contacted by the USA bid committee:

Who will start in central midfield for the USA?

 

                                                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

With a chance to further distance the U.S. national team from the rest of the pack in the CONCACAF Hexagonal, and facing the prospect of playing in one of the more hostile environments in the region, U.S. head coach Bob Bradley has several tough decisions to make. Among those decisions is which of his many central midfield options should he start next to Michael Bradley on Saturday vs. El Salvador.

Michael Bradley is riding a wave of good form for both club and country and is an easy choice to start, but choosing who to partner him with is a bit more difficult. With the surplus amount of central midfielders that Bob Bradley has summoned for the next two World Cup qualifiers, there is plenty to choose from.

Here is a look at each of the central midfielders who could start next to Bradley on Saturday:

CONCACAF Gold Cup venues unveiled: Giants Stadium to host the final

 

                                                                          Photo by ISIphotos.com

It is going to be a good summer for soccer fans across the country.

CONCACAF announced a list of 13 different cities that will play host to CONCACAF Gold Cup matches this summer. Giants Stadium will host the final on July 26th while Soldier Field in Chicago will host the semifinals on July 23rd.

Groups and match schedules have yet to be released but, according to sources with knowledge of the draw, the United States will open Gold Cup play on July 4th at Qwest Field in Seattle, followed by group matches at RFK Stadium on July 8th and Gillette Stadium on July 11th. The U.S. team would then play its quarterfinal match on July 18th in Philadelphia.

Here is a rundown of all the venues, including the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium, which will have a Gold Cup match be its first sporting event:

Who makes your All-State Best XI?

 

There are few things that get American sports fans more worked up than state pride.

Whether you're a Jersey boy or Cali dude, chances are you won't miss a chance to debate the merits of your state's best soccer players.

With this in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to ask readers to name their Best XI from players born and/or bred in your state (old school SBI Mafia members will remember the last time I did this). The criteria is simple. If a player was born AND lived at least five years in a state before he turned 18, then he qualifies for that state. Also, a player has to have lived five years in a state or played club ball in a state for five years BEFORE the age of 18. Simply being born in a state isn't enough, so no Brede Hangeland for Texas (sorry folks, he lived there for less than two years as an infant before moving to his family's native Norway).

Since it wasn't clear to some of you, this team is for current ACTIVE players, not an All-Time Best XI, though that could be a good exercise for another day.

I will get things started with Team New Jersey, which is a pretty good squad and would be among the favorites in a hypothetical tournament of states (California would have to be the favorite). Here is the Garden State's Best XI:

USA vs. Mexico countdown: USMNT fans asked to wear red on Feb. 11

 

                                                                                   Photo by ISIphotos.com

If you are a U.S. national team fan who plans on being in attendance on Feb. 11 when the U.S. team faces Mexico, be sure to bring a red top to wear.

U.S. Soccer is asking American fans to wear red for the match as a show of solidarity, and to help provide a better home-field effect when the teams take the field for the crucial World Cup qualifier.

Here is the statement from U.S. Soccer:

Which cities should host USA qualifiers this cycle?

 

                                                                          Photo by ISIphotos.com

The Hexagonal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying gives each of the participating teams five home matches, five chances to host crucial qualifiers, five opportunities to let fans see important matches on their native soil.

For some countries, picking the venues for these matches is relatively easy. For some, like the United States, the wealth of options often leads to tough decisions and inevitably some unhappy fans who are forced to travel some distance to see the national team play.

Two of the U.S. national team's five home qualifiers have been set, with the Mexico match set for Feb. 11 in Columbus, Ohio and the Trinidad & Tobago match set for April 1 in Nashville. That leaves three home dates and a plethora of cities hoping to get the call.

Here is a look at the cities that should be in the mix for those dates, as well as a look back at previous Hexagonal round hosts:

USSF names executive director to lead bids on 2018, 2022 World Cups

The U.S. Soccer Federation has named David Downs, a former president of Univision Sports, as executive director of the USA World Cup bid committee. The appointment comes on the same day that USSF president Sunil Gulati declared that the United States has expressed its desire to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

Gulati will serve as chair of the Bid Commitee, with U.S. Soccer CEO Dan Flynn, MLS commissioner Don Garber and Phil Murphy, the former National Finance chair of the Democratic National Committee serving as the initial members of the committee.

The United States joins a group of ten candidates vying to host the 2018 World Cup, a group that includes England, Spain/Portugal, Mexico, Russia and Australia.

What do you think of this development? Do you like the USA's chances of winning the bid for 2018? Does 2022 seem more feasible? Surprised to see Mexico bidding?

Share your thoughts below.

USA to announce World Cup bid plans

 

                                                                   Photo by ISIphotos.com

U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati has scheduled a conference call for Monday to announce U.S. Soccer's bid intentions for the upcoming FIFA World Cups. Gulati will reveal which World Cup U.S. Soccer will make a bid for (2018 or 2022) and will also introduce Executive Director of the bid committee.

Which World Cup will it be? The USSF is set to bid on both World Cups. The United States had long been considered a strong candidate for 2018, but with the deep field of contenders for that World Cup the United States could eventually wind up shifting its directions toward 2022.

As strange as it is to be talking about an event that is 13 years away, we can still start to think about which tournament would be better for the United States. Might the current state of the American economy make pushing back the target bid more prudent? Should the USSF stay in the 2018 race and try and knock off the likes of England?

What do you think? Here's your chance to vote:

poll by twiigs.com

Which World Cup would you like to see the United States bid on? Share your thoughts below.