USA draws england for World Cup

APE TOWN, South Africa (AP) -- The United States will face England at the World Cup for the first since a famous upset 60 years ago, then play Slovenia and Algeria in the first round of next year's tournament.

The U.S. opens against England in Rustenburg on June 12, the teams' first World Cup matchup since the Americans' 1-0 victory at the 1950 tournament in Brazil.

The United States then meets Slovenia at Johannesburg's Ellis Park on June 18 and completes the first round on June 23 against Algeria in Pretoria. The U.S. has never played either nation.

"This is the best draw we've ever had in any World Cup," said former U.S. forward Eric Wynalda, now an analyst for the Fox Soccer Channel. "No disrespect to England, but this is an ideal group for us."

Several U.S. players are well known to England because they play in the Premier League, including goalkeeper Tim Howard (Everton), midfielder Clint Dempsey (Fulham), defenders Jonathan Spector (West Ham) and Jay DeMerit (Watford) and forward Jozy Altidore (Hull). U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra played for Fulham.

"It will be like a Premier League game," Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said. "The USA is like a team you meet every week. It's better than meeting North Korea and a style of play you're not used to."

The game could feature a matchup of Los Angeles Galaxy teammates Landon Donovan playing for the U.S. against England midfielder David Beckham. Donovan shrugged his shoulders when the U.S. was picked to play England. "It never ends," he said -- apparent reference to his connection to the English star.

"This is going to be awesome," Donovan said. "I can't wait. This is going to be great."

The U.S. has beaten England twice and lost seven times in nine meetings. The other victory was 2-0 in a 1993 exhibition at Foxborough, Mass. In the most recent matchups, England won 2-1 at Chicago's Solider Field in 2005 and 2-0 at Wembley last year.

The only official match between the teams was at the 1950 World Cup.

"It's a tough game," former England manager Terry Venables said. "They will be very well organized and very fit. They won't outplay us but they could out-strength us.

"They won't give in until the last but we do have a bit more."

Mexico was drawn Friday to meet South Africa in the tournament opener on June 11 in Johannesburg. El Tri then plays France and Uruguay in Group A.

In the other groups it was:

Group B: Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, South Korea;

Group C: Algeria, England, Slovenia, United States;

Group D: Australia, Germany, Ghana, Serbia;

Group E: Cameroon, Denmark, Japan, Netherlands;

Group F: Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia;

Group G: Brazil, Ivory Coast, North Korea, Portugal;

Group H: Chile, Honduras, Spain, Switzerland.

AP Sports Writers Ronald Blum and Dave Skretta in New York contributed to this report.

USA World Cup Update

Team USA is in a good spot to qualify for the world cup. Not a great spot considering how close all of the top 4 teams are but good enough. We are leading the group with 16 points and only the top 3 get in and the 4th team has to qualify another way.

True American, Dead at 77

Copied from New York Times

The death of Edward M. Kennedy immediately raises the question of who will succeed him in the Senate — and how quickly — as Congress is embroiled in a bitter battle over plans to overhaul the nation’s health care system.

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Edward Kennedy, Senate Stalwart, Dies (August 27, 2009)

The Caucus: Statement From Kennedy’s Family and Other Reaction (August 26, 2009)

Kennedy Asks to Alter Laws on His Successor (August 21, 2009)

Times Topics: Edward M. Kennedy

Senator Kennedy’s Letter (pdf)

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One of Senator Kennedy’s last public acts before he died on Tuesday was an emotional plea to Massachusetts state lawmakers that they replace him quickly upon his death. Though he did not cite any issues specifically, his note was viewed as an acknowledgment that his absence would leave uncertain not only the identity of his replacement, but also the essence and fate of health care reform, his most cherished legislative goal.

In the letter, dated July 2, Mr. Kennedy asked lawmakers to amend the state’s rules and grant the governor the power to appoint his successor until a special election could be held.

“It is vital for this Commonwealth to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and a special election,” he wrote.

While Massachusetts voters would probably vote in another Democratic senator, any delays caused by a special election could hinder efforts by the party to corral the 60 votes needed in the United States Senate to move health care legislation forward.

But the effort to find a quick replacement for Mr. Kennedy may prove complicated. In the week before his death, reaction in Boston to his request ranged from muted to hostile. The state’s Democrats found themselves in the awkward position of being asked to reverse their own 2004 initiative calling for special elections in such instances.

Until that year, Massachusetts law had called for the governor to appoint a temporary replacement if a Senate seat became vacant. But when Senator John Kerry, a Democrat, was running for president in 2004, the Democrat-controlled State Legislature wanted to deny the governor at the time — Mitt Romney, a Republican — the power to name a successor if Mr. Kerry won. The resulting law requires a special election within 145 to 160 days after the vacancy occurs.

“The hypocrisy is astounding,” the state House minority leader, Bradley H. Jones Jr., told The Boston Globe on Thursday. “If we had a Republican governor right now, would we be getting the same letter?”

In an interview Wednesday morning with WBZ News Radio in Boston, Gov.Deval Patrick signaled that he was in favor of granting Senator Kennedy’s request to change state law and allow Mr. Patrick to appoint a temporary successor until a special election can take place.

“I believe that the senator’s request to permit the governor to appoint someone to serve for the five months between now and that special election is eminently reasonable and, I think, especially timely when you consider the momentous proposals in front of the Congress right now around health care reform and climate change and so forth,” Mr. Patrick said. “Massachusetts needs two voices in the United States Senate.”

He added: “But having said that, now is the time for us to reflect on the senator s life and contributions and to pray for the comfort of his wife, Vicki, and their family. We’ll turn to succession in due time."

Even if Mr. Kennedy’s death prompts a change of heart, the State Legislature is not set to return until after Labor Day.

In the United States Senate, Mr. Kennedy’s absence had been felt for months before his death as he underwent treatment for a malignant brain tumor at his home in Cape Cod. As deliberations began on a major health overhaul effort — an issue Mr. Kennedy called “the cause of my life” — he had to hand off day-to-day oversight of the health committee to a close friend, Senator Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut.

Despite his reputation as an unapologetic liberal, Mr. Kennedy was known inside the Senate as a master of negotiation, and senators were divided over whether the ultimate bill would be more — or less — bipartisan if he had been around to shepherd it through. Mr. Dodd, who moved a version out of the Health Committee, said he stayed true to Mr. Kennedy’s convictions.

Others disagree.

“It is a very one-sided, very liberal bill,” said Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah. “I know that Ted would not have done that had he been able to be here.”

Because of their struggles pushing the health care overhaul forward, Democrats have increasingly been considering using a process called “reconciliation” to advance the legislation with just a simple majority, rather than 60 votes. With Mr. Kennedy gone and Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia also in poor health, such a maneuver seems even more likely.

Several people, inside the family and beyond, have been discussed as possible candidates to take Mr. Kennedy’s place in the Senate.

In the letter discussing his successor, Mr. Kennedy said the appointee should offer the “explicit, personal commitment” not to run for the seat in the special election. His wife, confidant and policy adviser, Vicki Kennedy, has been subject of speculation in the state as a possible successor, though she said before his death that she was not interested.

Other family members seen as possible heirs include his nephew, former RepresentativeJoseph P. Kennedy II, who has $2 million in leftover campaign funds. Mr. Kennedy has expressed reluctance to return to politics but has not closed the door on the possibility. Senator Kennedy’s sons, Edward M. Kennedy Jr. and Representative Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island, have also been mentioned.

Outside the family, there is a stable of high-profile Massachusetts Democrats considered possible successors, including state Attorney General Martha Coakley and former Representative Martin Meehan, who retired to become chancellor of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell last year, but who has about $4.8 million in campaign cash left.

Mexico vs USA

USA traveled to Mexico where they have not been very good. Well that's an understatement. We have never won a match on Mexican soil. This was suppose to be the game we changed that.

We were looking good when we took the lead in the 9th with a Charlie Davies goal. We played decent until about the 15th min. Mexico started applying pressure and in the 19 min of play Israel Castro scored on a 27 meter shot that sailed right over Tim Howard. After that went in we looked shocked. We never did really recover from it. Landon Donavan looked tired the whole game because of the adjust you have to make with the 7,400 feet altitude in Mexico City. This was a heated game the whole way. One of the US players fell down and the Mexico's player tried to help him up but he didn't want up so a shoving match started. No one was ejected but the match was heated.

Landon Donavan took a corner kick and the Mexican fans were throwing different things at him so the cops had to watch close as he took the corner kick. The whole game was heated and in the 82nd min Mexico took advantage of the home field when Miguel Sabah scored a rather lucky bouncing goal right over Tim Howard.

That was that and the USA squad went home again in another sad defeat. We still have a great shot to make it to the World Cup as long as we win our home games coming up. Our next match is against Trinidad and Tobago on September 9th.

USA vs. Mexico

If you are an American soccer fan or Mexican, you will undoubtedly know about the upcoming World Cup Qualifying Match occurring on the 12th, just 3 days from now. This match is huge, if the USA wins they will have a chance to jump to the top of the qualifying bracket passing Costa Rica(if they lose their 6th match) and regaining lost pride from the humiliating loss on American soil during the Gold Cup Final. Despite both teams using their reserves in that match, it still meant a lot for Mexico who normally dominates the rivalry, with a record of 29-11-15 overall, though USA having the main say since 2000.

Mexico is currently 4th in Qualifying, with only this and another match reaming this could be live or die for them, as a win would put them in a much better position and most likely give them the momentum to finish with another win. The top 3 in the group get into the World Cup in 2010, with the 4th place team having to play the 5th place team from South America (currently Ecuador) for a trip to South Africa next summer.

So here are the stakes, USA playing to regain lost dignity and a definite place in the World Cup (If they do lose their next two games, there is a possibility, however low, that they won't make it), and Mexico playing for a better position in Qualifying, currently only one point below 3rd place Honduras. A draw would profit America the best as they would also be secure with that result, while a draw for Mexico means they are in the hands of fate.

See you at the Azteca on the 12th at 3pm ET! It will definitely be on TV.

Everton Vs MLS All Stars

This story is posted both on Everton Fan Zone and USA FAN Zone because it is a story for both teams so it well be reported for both Fan Zones.


Everton started out quick in the game stealing a sloppy pass from one of the MLS Defenders and Louis Saha finshed the goal perfect into the bottom corner of the net. Later in the 26th min of play Brad Davis tied it up on a sloppy clear. It was a fun match it this point as it should since it is only a Allstar Game for the MLS Allstars. On the other hand Everton probly wanted to come out and get confidence going into the EPL this season with a good 5th place finish last season. Conar Casey put a great header far side of the net in the 38th min of play but out of no where Tim Howard saved it! It was a great save by a great keeper it shows why he truly is one of the best in the world. He showed this again in the 41st min when he pushed a shot by Fredrick Ljungberg wide of the net. The action packed first half ended and the teams went to the locker room for some Gatorade! Come on who doesn't like gatorade?

The second half was just as good as the first. The start of the half was made up of lots of subs. Jo, and Landon Donovan were some of the subs made in the game to start the second half. Zack Thorton injured his leg in a wierd type play and he had to get taken off and Casey Keller was sent back on after they asked the refs if it was ok. Landon Donovan had a very ugly moment in the 73rd min when he hit the easy goal off the inside of the post which would of gave there team a 2-1 lead but it stayed at a even tie. Tim Howard pushed away a quick header in stoppage time to keep the game tied as he started to get a cramp as seen when he had to stretch after making such a remarkable save. Conar Casey got a ball in the final seconds of the game and trapped it in the box but Tim Howard again came up big and and snatched the ball before any damage could be done.

At the end of 90 mins the game was tied so it went to PK's. After some great goal keeping from Conar Casey, and Tim Howard they went into extra's in the PK's as well. Tim Howard came up with another save to win it. He simply showed why he is one of the greatest goalies we have in soccer today.

USA Wins and Advance

Honduras and USA played at Soldier Feild, in Chicago. It was a great match the whole way. USA scored at the very end of the first half to him them a one nothing lead going into the locker room. It was a header goal scored by Clarence Goodson a header goal right into the back of the net. Coming out for the second half Honduras didn't want to fall back any more so they came out ready to play they didn't get a goal but did get a few good chances.

The USA sqaud ended the game for good in the 90th with another goal by Kenny Cooper to finish the game off. All in all it was a great game for the USA even if it is there B Team playing. They well now play the winner of Haiti and Mexico in the Gold Cup Finals!

US beats Panama 2-1

USA started this match short handed. They lost a few players becuase they went back to there club teams which really hurt us. Blas Perez put Panama ahead in first-half stoppage time. Later on Beckerman tied the score in the 49th min of play. Kenny Cooper converted a penalty kick in the 105th minute of play. Which gave the US a 2-1 victory over Panama and a semi-final berth against Honduras, Honduras beat Canada 1-0.


Other News:

Sunday matches:

Guadeloupe vs Costa Rica

Mexico vs Haiti

USA Finishes first round of Gold Cup Play

USA played its last match of the first round in gold cup play with a tie against Haiti. The USA came out quick in the match when Davy Arnaud gave the usa a 1-0 lead in just the 4th min of play. However just before half time Haiti responded with a goal by Vaniel Sirin in the 45th min of play.

This goal gave Haiti a big boost coming out for the second half. They showed this by how they responded with a quick goal in the 49th min by Mones Chery. The USA looked a little stunned and for the rest of half it was kind of scarey to think we could lose it. The USA sqaud got there shot in the 90th min and they took it when Stuart Holden put in a goal. This tied the score at 2-2.

The score ended 2-2 and now we just have to wait to see who we get in the second round of the cup.


Here is the final standing for each round of the gold cup. Note* Group C has more games to play so there standings are not final.

Santino Quaranta scores a goal in the 75th min to break a tie at 0-0 to put usa up 1-0. It didnt stop there. In the 79th min Brian Ching put in a goal to put the usa up 2-0 and that finished hondouras off. All in all it was a great game for the USA. They hope to win there group which they are currently leading with a 6 goals for 0 goals against 2-0 record.


League Standings

There next match is against Haiti.


A tie would clinch there ticket to the next round.

Gold Cup

USA beat Grenada 4-0 in the first match in the gold cup. Goals were scored by the Freddy Adu in the 6th min and Stuart Holden in the 31st minute. Later on Robbie Rogers who assisted on both the first 2 goals scored in the 60th minute and Charlie Davies finished the night off good in the 68th min with a nice goal for him self.


Here is a link to the gold cup standings.

As you can see USA has got a good shot to win this cup again. Even if this is there B team playing in the cup it is good to get to see new faces playing for us and they well be our future stars.

Happy 4th of July!

It's Independance Day! Enjoy it!

Harrisburg stuns New England in Open Cup

-Associated Press

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- The Harrisburg City Islanders came from behind to upset the New England Revolution 2-1 in overtime in a third-round match Tuesday night in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Geoff Bloes scored the winning goal late in the first overtime. Mo Odur also scored for Harrisburg City, which plays defending Open Cup champion D.C. United in the quarterfinals July 7. Harrisburg City is a USL-2 team and D.C. United play in Major League Soccer, as do the Revolution.

Two years ago, New England beat Harrisburg City 2-1 in the quarterfinals and went on to win the championship. This time, New England played with mostly reserves because several starters were out with injuries

"It?s nice to get some redemption," Bloes said.

New England used mostly reserves because several starters were out with injuries. The Revolution were forced to play short-handed for the final 30 minutes of regulation and both 15-minute overtime periods after injuries to Khelli Dube in the 63rd minute and Michael Videira in the 81st minute. Revs coach Steve Nicol used all three of his substitutions at halftime, leaving his team without any reserves for the final 45 minutes.

Early in the first overtime, New England was three players down momentarily when Sainey Nyassi was shaken up.

"We had to make changes at halftime because people who were playing were already (playing hurt)," Nicol said. "There?s nothing you can do."

Harrisburg City, which was playing its third road game in five days, tied it in the 67th minute when Odur headed in a free kick from 35 yards by Jason Pelletier. The Islanders took the lead in the 105th minute when Bloes knocked in a loose ball that New England goalkeeper Brad Knighton wasn?t able to control.

Earlier, New England took a 1-0 lead on a free kick by midfielder Jeff Larentowicz in the 38th minute. He sent a low shot from 20 yards that went inside the far goalpost.

In the second half, Bloes also made a huge play on defense when he stopped a 40-foot shot by Stephane Assengue from going in.

"I think we came out of the locker room with more confidence," Harrisburg City coach Bill Becher said. "The message was, We're already down a goal, what are we going to lose?? We came out more aggressive."

USA Looks Forward

After the tough loss to Brazil the USA team looks forward to the Gold Cup. They well likely send there B team to the tournment from what I have been told from ESPN. They open up play with Grenada on the 4th of June.

Gold Cup Fixture

Hondoras
Haiti
United States
Grenada

After the gold cup they will play in a World Cup Qualifying match against Mexico on Aug 12th.

Here are the standings so far for qualifiying.




*note top 3 move on to next round

Usa vs Brazil

Brazil 2 time champion of the Confederations Cup. USA never made a finals apperance. Brazil never trialed this whole tournment. USA got into the Semi-finals by pure luck. USA shouldn't of been in the game. We have never been in the finals of any Fifa tournment, we have only beat Brazil once in our history, just last week we were killed by the great brazil team 3-0.

With all that said. You would think Brazil would come into the game and take care of buisness. Beat us and win another Confederations Cup to add to there collection. From the start USA came to play. In the 10th min Clint Dempsey flicked a great cross into the back of the net. That was followed by Donovan in the 27th min with a great pass from Charlie Davies to put us up 2-0. The rest of half USA defended for the most part and Tim Howard was huge! Tim Howard made save after save after save AFTER save.

The 2nd half Brazil responded early with a goal in the 46th min by Fabiano which gave him 4 goals in the Confederations Cup and that is the most by any player in the tournment. ( Dempsey is in a tie for 2nd with a few other players at 3 goals) The USA defended for most of the start of the 2nd half. In the 57th min Brazil almost put in a corner kick. My heart stopped when i saw it happen. We got a lucky break on the play. In the 60th min Tom Howard came up HUGE !!! He made a great save when he pushed the ball into the cross bar then got up and grabbed it. Once again my heart stopped! After further review i think the ball mave have cleared the line which would have tied it 2-2. The refs didn't think so but i am not so sure yet. I watched it over and over on my TV and i don't know, that ball seemed it mave have crossed the line, but good job by Howard to get the ball out of there. Donavan had a shot pushed wide in the 64th min and later Dempsey had a shot in the 65th min which was pushed wide for a corner. The corner didn't create any thing else for us though. In the 70th min Tom Howard ran out and grabbed the ball before anything could happen but then screamed at his defenders for some help. Brazil had lots of chances so far in the half but only one of them had gone in.

Fabiano scored a header 74th min. Which gave him his 5th goal of the tournment and a tie with USA. The USA players were stunned by this and Tim Howard was mad. He saved the first shot but the header came to Fabiano and Howard couldn't do anything about it. In the 84th min Brazil put the game to bed with a with a goal by there captain Lucio. USA was deafeated 3-2 in the final. All in all it was a good tournment for the USA they got runners up and played well.

The World Looks On! 45 Minutes More!

-Johannesburg

In a shocking development the U.S.A. Soccer Team is stunning the world and Brazil, with a 2-0 lead at half time against the 5-time world champions. They aren't looking much like the team that beat the U.S.A. 3-0 earlier in the cup.

They are still out shooting, out possessing, and out skilling the Americans, but they are lacking where it counts, the score. Efficiency is something the U.S. is not lacking no more than 2 shots on goal and no less than 2 shots in the goal.

It started off with the U.S. scoring in the 10' with a little touch off of Spector’s fantastic cross, following their pattern of scoring first. Then, some 10 minutes later the U.S.A. looks a little like their opponents, with a fantastic counter off a Brazil corner, with Donovan and Davies with some beautiful passes finished off by great composure from Donovan to knock it in the net from the top of the 18.

Look for Tim Howard to continue to be a big presence with terrific positioning and saves, but watch out for the likes of Melo, Robinho, and last but not least Kaka. The U.S. must continue to play smart and create opportunities off counter attacks, because Dunga is not going to go easy. See you back in 45 minutes!

Most Important game in USA Soccer History?

There have been articles written about this game being the biggest game in the history of USA soccer. In the USA soccer has been overshadowed by other sports such as football, basketball, and baseball. Many think that a win here would make soccer big in the USA. With all that preasure riding on our team how will they overcome it? Who will step up? I don't know if the USA has a big star like a Kobe Bryant type guy that will take over the game when they need it. The closest thing to that we would have is maybe Landon Donavon or maybe the keeper Tim Howard. Last game against Spain it was Tim Howard that stepped up. Now I know he needs another big game but Iam looking for Donavan to play big as well. Game is on ESPN on Sunday June 28th at 2:30.

USA To Face Brazil

The USA has reached the Finals of the Fifa Confederation Cup after beating Spain 2-0 after two goals by Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey. There they will face Brazil who beat host South Africa today 1-0 with a beautiful shot off a free kick in the 88th minute by substitute Daniel Alves.

The game between the USA and Brazil would normally be a no-brainer for analysts, Brazil wins. But it's not the same this time. After a resounding 3-0 loss against Brazil in the Group Stage the Americans look poised to make a better impression, especially following the emotional high from the stunning victory over ranked #1 Spain. Brazil itself looked rocky against South Africa just managing to get away (and unlike USA-Spain it was back and forth the whole game) in the 88th minute. The key for the USA will be getting back on Brazil's well known counter-attacks. The US will be playing without coach Bob Bradley's son Micheal Bradley, who was issued a red card in the 86th minute in the game against Spain.

The game will be shown on ESPN at 2:00 ET on Sunday. So go to church (if you must) but hurry home and watch our boys attempt to win their first ever Fifa Confederation Cup. If they manage to do it they may easily be known as the best American Team we have ever seen.

Good Luck USA!

~Swede