The Beautiful Game

VIDEO: David Akers and the USMNT

2009-07-20T06:15:00.000-07:00

The placekicker for the Philadelphia Eagles enjoyed a fun little training session with some of the boys.

Enjoy!

Get booed like Beckham

2009-07-20T04:58:00.000-07:00

To put it bluntly: the L.A. Galaxy fans didn't exactly give David Beckham a warm welcome in his first game back at the Home Depot Center.

It probably didn't help that the opponent was the last team the Englishman played for: AC Milan.

Beckham was booed in the pregame introductions and during every touch throughout the game. Derisive signs and chants were directed at the DP.

"I'm not disappointed. It doesn't affect me," he said. "You can't be liked by everyone."

Word is he even had a bit of a verbal spat with a fan that could've led to some physical altercation, were it not for security.

You never would've guessed he provided assists on both L.A. goals to lead the Galaxy to an impressive 2-2 tie with the Italian giants (that's beside the point, right?).

No wonder Milan and some EPL teams are posturing for his services.

Take a look at the highlights:

Gold Cup: the final four

2009-07-20T03:41:00.000-07:00

1. United States
Scraped and scrapped though with a 2-1 overtime win against Panama. Kyle Beckerman tied the game in the second half after a Panama goal just before the break. Kenny Cooper drew a foul -- absorbing a kung fu kick to the gut -- in the box and converted the spot kick for the win.

2. Honduras
Cheated their way into the semis with a phantom penalty kick decision to win 1-0 against Canada. That's two straight Gold Cups our neighbors to the north have been cheated out of -- though in 2007 the decision benefited the U.S.

3. Costa Rica
Beat the living hell out of Guadeloupe 5-1 to advance easily. Not so sure what else to add here. At times the Guadeloupe 'keeper looked disinterested and the Cinderella story for the French territory ends a little earlier than last time.

4. Mexico
Another beatdown on Sunday saw El Tri put a 4-0 whooping on Haiti -- the same team that nearly beat the USMNT in the group stage. Giovanni Dos Santos looked brilliant with a goal and couple helpers on set pieces.

Chelsea FC 2, Seattle Sounders FC 0

2009-07-20T01:24:00.000-07:00

What a great day to be a soccer fan in Seattle.

More than 65,000 fans showed up to Qwest Field on Saturday afternoon, not only to see one of the best club teams in the world, but also to root on their team.

A massive stadium full of rave green -- it was a beautiful thing.

Better yet, led by Freddie Ljungberg, the Sounders FC made a game of it.

Chelsea was, of course, the better team, but Seattle gave a fight for 90 minutes. The underdogs had their chances, but just lacked the final scoring touch.

The Sounders FC provided the on-field credibility to the sport in this country that the Seattle fans have already done all season in the stands.

And, of course, I can't overlook the rare opportunity to see world-class players like Frank Lampard, John Terry and Petr Cech in action.

It was a day I'll never forget. Here are the highlights:

VIDEO: Old school MLS highlights

2009-07-17T23:32:00.000-07:00

The old-look ESPN2.

Oh yeah, and the wild and crazy John Harkes and Eric Wynalda -- remember that guy?

Thirsty? LINKS

2009-07-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

Real Madrid has the money.

The stars.

And the water bottles.

Now the links:

Liverpool's third all-white kit. [EPL Talk]
Tevez to buy Ronaldo's house? [Mirror]
MLS newcomer rankings. [Center Holds It]
C. Ronaldo lauds Michael Owen. [Daily Mail]
UCLA plays Inter Milan to 2-2 draw. [Goal.com]
Brian Ching fined for anti-ref tweet. [MLS Rumors]
D.C. United wins top U.S. Open Cup rights. [Goff]
Another surgery, now a knee op, for Joe Cole. [BBC]
ESPN gets Scottish Premier League rights. [Yahoo!]
Ives' USMNT updates (EJ, Cooper, Castillo). [SBI]
Serbia limits foreign players in leagues. [ESPN]
Big/old Ronaldo scores on a header? [FourFourTwo]
Bayern threatens to tattle on Madrid. [SI]

VIDEO: Chelsea juniors dance

2009-07-17T17:21:00.000-07:00

The future of the Blues on display...

Schalke playing home games in the sand

2009-07-17T16:03:00.000-07:00

At least, that's where they're training these days...

Looks fun.

Brass transfer tacks

2009-07-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

Here we go again:

Barcelona's bid for David Villa failed.
Lucio goes from Bayern Munich to Inter Milan.
Some other Valencia striker in high demand.
Tevez wants you to know he rejected Real Madrid.
Some unknown American and Millwall?
Chelsea and Ashley Young?
Gudjohnsen and West Ham?
And, of course, your Manchester City updated target list of Diego Forlan and Joleon Lescott.

City should sponsor this everyday post of mine...

Peter Crouch is engaged

2009-07-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

It took the lanky dude some three or four years (depending on who you ask) to propose to this lovely lady, Abigail Clancy.

Congratulations to the happy couple.

VIDEO: Slomo fight

2009-07-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

I kind of like the effects in this one. Makes it original.

Samuel L. Jackson: a red

2009-07-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

The ESPYs host proudly flashed his own personal jersey on the aptly named red carpet the other day.

He dropped down a fraction of a notch in my book for this one...

Manchester City watchdogs

2009-07-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Some anonymous English publication that I won't mention, ~~The Sun~~, got busted for potentially publishing a horribly false story the other day.

The paper allegedly said Manchester City players all got some nice watches as a gift from the team ownership. The club was soon to refute the report:

Manchester City can confirm that the story in The Sun newspaper this morning claiming that our players visiting Abu Dhabi had been given expensive watches by Sheikh Mansour is a fabrication.

The club is pursuing the matter legally and will do so in the most robust fashion possible.

The link the original story on the website has been taken down.

Sounds like someone journalist is gonna get a talking to...

Ljungberg staying in Seattle

2009-07-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

Now that's a nice DP.

The Anti-Beckham (kinda) Freddie Ljungberg said he isn't looking to make a move to any European club -- whether there be interest or not. He's staying in the Emerald City.

"I will stay here. I like it in Seattle," Ljungberg said after the Sounders wrapped up practice Thursday at Microsoft Corp. headquarters. "I just want to say that there may be rumors and stuff but I want to stay here and want to play, and let the fans and everyone know that I'm staying."

The former Arsenal and Swedish national team star is under contract for one more year. There was no mention of any extension talk.

Oh and bad news for another Sounders FC players. Rarely used and oft-injured Jarrod Smith has been released, but can rehab with the team.

VIDEO: Down goes Blatter!

2009-07-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

A nasty, but hilarious, fall.

Call him Sepp Splatter.

Estudiantes: Copa Libertadores champions!

2009-07-17T05:50:00.000-07:00

I'm a day late on this one, but I don't think I get many readers from South America anyways. The Argentine side beat Brazil's Cruzeiro 2-1 in the second leg after a scoreless first leg to win the tournament.

I think I care more about the Juan Sebastian Veron sighting as much as anything...

Anyways, congratulations boys!

Beckham returns, L.A. throttles N.Y.

2009-07-17T04:33:00.000-07:00

Whatta day for a comeback!

The ~~Galaxy v. Red Bulls game~~ return of David Beckham to MLS had the attention of the soccer world Wednesday night. Heck, the Fox Soccer Channel announcers were all but reading Grant Wahl's book on the air during the broadcast.

Predictably, there were (scripted?) awkward man-hugs and unnatural affection between the two Galaxy stars. I wasn't buying it, but with a 3-1 scoreline, it really doesn't matter.

The team will take all the drama in the world to dominate opponents and continues its winning streak -- now at four games.

But don't be fooled into thinking the madness is close to over. England national team coach Fabio Capello is already pleading for the Beckham return to Europe.

Oh and this other columnist dude really ripped the Englishman.

USMNT gets an ESPY

2009-07-17T03:17:00.000-07:00

Look at the sharp lads, led by Landon Donovan (not the captain Bocanegra?), accepting the award for Best Upset.

Suck it Spain. Dos a cero!

VIDEO: Dude your shorts...

2009-07-16T23:21:00.000-07:00

They're on backwards...

Where's the love LINKS?

2009-07-16T18:32:00.000-07:00

Guadeloupe is having another great run in the Gold Cup, in the quarterfinals in 2009 after reaching the semifinals in 2007.

But don't expect the see the small French region in FIFA World Cup qualifying.

Damn politics.

Gimme some links:

Ronaldo won't wear "C. Ronaldo" shirt. [Daily Mail]
No beer in Toronto is good? [The Offside]
Vieri and the paunch. [Unprofessional Foul]
Newcastle rules out Kinnear return. [Guardian]
All-ugly MLS team. [Goal! NY Times]
Old John Terry photo. [Who Ate All the Pies?]
MLS and Miami? [Miami Herald]
Drogba and Bosingwa's bans reduced. [BBC]
Iraq can host internationals now. [Canadian Press]
Grant Wahl's L.A. notebook. [SI]
French team call off tour for swine flu. [ESPN]
A Maurice Edu update. [Yahoo!]

VIDEO: Beckham making the rounds

2009-07-16T17:17:00.000-07:00

1. The Today Show

2. Regis and Kelly

Inter Milan dudes and Marilyn?

2009-07-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

More interesting than Ochocinco...? (8 posts ago)

Happy transfers

2009-07-16T14:39:00.000-07:00

Every day, another million links:

Adebayor close to Manchester City?
Or Manchester United?
Danny Szetela to D.C. United.
Flip-flopping. John Terry not for sale now?
Barca sign Inter defender Maxwell.
Downing to Aston Villa.
Ronaldo happy to stay at Corinthians.
Mexican team gets Carlos Ruiz.
Aquilani and Liverpool?
RSL gets Campos from San Jose.

The big four in the EPl still pretty quiet.

Seattle Sounders FC and attendance

2009-07-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

A great post over The Offside: Seattle compares the glowing attendance totals at Qwest Field to those around the world's leagues.

12th in the Bundesliga (top attended league in the world)
12th in the Premiership
8th in La Liga
6th in Serie A
3rd in the Scottish Premier League
13th in Major League Baseball

VIDEO: Dynamo, Atletico and the chicken

2009-07-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

Not a lot going on in soccer land these days, less than a month before a lot of the big Europeans leagues start up again, Off the Post gives us an ol' entertaining clip...