Who likes goals?

The FC Liège site had a clip of American Niko Gkionis' first league goal from last weekend, but now it's not working. I will keep an eye out for when that's fixed and get it posted later...

We begin with Fiorentina ace Juan Vargas, who dials long distance rather casually.




Montpellier's Karim Ait Fana hits a sick chip shot that would make Dennis Bergkamp proud.




F-word's Jon Dahl Tomasson nutmegs the keeper from a terrible angle... on the slide... and with a volley (third goal on the clip).




Our free kick nod of the week goes to Bochum's Christian Fuchs.




It didn't last, but Willem II's Arjan Swinkels gave his side a stylish lead at VVV Venlo.




Finally, we go to the Spanish second flight as Salamanca's Salva catches out the sleeping keeper of the week.




- Greg Seltzer

A few things... (updated)

But just a quick few because it's a very busy day. I am fervently working on a monster USMNT Top 10 List for over at S365 (UPDATE: now up), I still have Who likes goals? to come here and I am hoping to have another treat for you later. Oh, and I need to go buy a curtain. And, like, eat...

#1 - The Out of Bounds blog says it was a dream World Cup draw for the USMNT... and, of course, that means they are now doomed. Great bit.

#2 - Was it just me or did anyone else note the potential significance of Everton's Tim Howard stopping a weak-ass Jermain Defoe penalty on Sunday? As for his part of the draw-saving, added time stop, Timmay says watching TV is fundamental.

#3 - Speaking of England, guess who they want to play in their final tune-up friendly this summer... I'll give you a hint, it rhymes with "Plexico".

#4 - The Independent's Sam Wallace looks at the vagaries of selecting Davide Beccamano to the Three Lions World Cup squad.

#5 - In case you hadn't heard, Marco Pappa is back for the Fire. They have made his transfer permanent, which is doubly good news for them as the 21-year old will soon likely be a player European clubs come after. Now, if he leaves, the cash (or at least the MLS-mandated portion of the cash) goes here.

#6 - The Generation adidas trip to South Africa has concluded, and Michael Lewis talks with the players about their experience.

#7 - Finally, and just because, I direct you to the With Wells Thompson blog. I found this recently. It's a hoot.

UPDATE: Almost forgot one!

#8 - Forget stand-up guy, how about stand-up club? This weekend, Serie B side Ascoli scored the opener against Reggina while the visitors were attempting to put out for an injured player.
Duly embarrassed by the way the goal was bagged, the home side promptly allowed a free equalizer before resuming normal competition.

What reward did they get for the gesture? They got beaten 3-1. But still, those are some stand-up guys and we can't take that away from them.




UPDATE UPDATE:

#9 - It seems the USMNT are talking friendly with Honduras for January and Northern Ireland for spring.


- Greg Seltzer

Barnburner of the Week

We had some hot ones this weekend, but NEC giving Dutch leaders FC Twente just about all they can handle takes the prize.




- Greg Seltzer

A few UK press things...

Oh, don't we all just love the British soccer media - even if we hate them? Who else can spectacular-ize every aspect of Frank Lampard's personal life, yet manages to fit at least one factual error in nearly every story about the USMNT or one of its players?

Unlike a normal AFT, I'm just gonna roll out these English reactions to the World Cup Group C draw reading room-style:


- The Sun hardly seems concerned with group play at all
- The Mail's Martin Samuels wonders: What could go wrong?
- Colleague Matt Lawton offers somewhat of a "not so fast"
- UK freelancer James Hamilton goes much further: it's a horror draw
- The Sky Sports group preview installs the U.S. as 2nd favorites
- ... while blogger Paul Merson actually seems a bit worried by us
- The same goes for Telegraph scribe Duncan White
- Mirror man Terry Butcher, however, picks Slovenia second
- Tabloid mate Michael Calvin's full analysis? A lame Donovan jab
- Finally, Brits explode from the blocks for England v USA tickets


- Greg Seltzer

World Cup Draw Video Saturday

And then some...

But the big news is the long-awaited draw and we have all the reaction, starting with USMNT boss Bob Bradley and star man Landon Donovan.






We go back to ESPN for Harkesy's take.




Of course, we also check in on Fab Capello's 3 Lions reaction.




Finally, representing the "and then some" guild, MLS Insider takes us behind the scenes at MLS Cup.





- Greg Seltzer

Gut reactions

Over the moon, to use the oldest British football cliche in the book. England v USA was the one I wanted above all. We are "natural rivals" as Bob Bradley says, if not yet big ones: Americans want to beat England more than vice versa. That the clash comes first means there won't be quite as much tension as in a decider, so a defeat allows time for wounds to be licked. I'd rather a win either way to set the group alight.

The UK press has unanimously called the draw a victory for Fabio Capello, with Three Lions qualification a shoe-in. E(ngland) A(lgeria) S(lovenia) Y(anks) bleated The Sun's front page this morning for instance, hailing "The best English group since the Beatles"; maybe so. Wonder if they've heard of Belo Horizonte. Yes England are stronger, but the US defeat of Spain should be ringing alarm bells at the FA. Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan can strike elusively at pace, Michael Bradley can trouble the goal from distance, Carlos Bocanegra from up close...we'll be chewing this one over for a while.

The US would come away with a tie happier than England, though it does not seem rash to start thinking about who both will be playing in the Round of 16.

There are two other teams with a say in Group C, world-ranked 28th and 33rd respectively. I watched Slovenia lose to England earlier this year at Wembley and they were a slick but lightweight outfit, full of pretty passing but easilly outmuscled. Algeria are more of an unknown quantity but appear the weakest of the African qualifiers. "I don't know, I have to study them" was Capello's response to them coming out the hat.

*Away from the draw in Cape Town the FA and USSoccer both came away smarting after their presentations for the 2018 World Cup failed to catch fire. Luis Figo, perhaps in revenge for the 3-2 US win in Suwon in 2002, entered the hall with Fernando Hierro during the American promotional video and a gaggle of journalists got up to follow him, ignoring the US film. "It was totally ruined," said Don Garber. Ouch! http://www.gousabid.com/

England's video went down badly too. The FA, uniquely, employed animation, which was described in The Independent as "a low-budget South Park" and by the Daily Telegraph as "among the least professional of the 10 bidders, a cut-price animated show." http://www.england2018bid.com/

Only the presence of the magnet that is David Beckham saved the FA's promo from sudden death, apparently. I've always thought the US' best bet is 2022, so hopefully lessons will be learned this time, such as locking the door when the movie starts.

-Sean O'Conor

Three simple questions: Chicago Fire

We're getting near the end of the series, and as promised, Fire Confidential rookie of the year Sam Stejskal is here to explain the Chicago Fire. As you may remember, these guys were my preseason title pick, so I'd like some answers as well. Clearly, they did not follow my instructions.

NSC: What went wrong?

SS: The Fire's issues this season were mental ones. They were one of the most talented teams in the league throughout the year but lost a ton of points by giving up late goals -- especially at home. Despite the squad's veteran makeup, they were never good at closing out games and that came back to haunt them in the end -- as we saw with the penalty kick loss to Real Salt Lake.

NSC: What went right?

SS: The way-young guys stepped up while filling in for injured veterans. This is especially important considering Chris Rolfe and Cuauhtemoc Blanco won't be back next year and Gonzalo Segares is likely to move on to Europe. Mike Banner, Daniel Woolard, and Patrick Nyarko all got significant minutes in 2009 and proved that they will be able to step into the starting lineup for 2010 if necessary.

NSC: What, if not who, does the team need to acquire?

SS: The Fire's roster is actually looking pretty good for 2010. However, if I'm Technical Director Frank Klopas, I'm looking for a creative attacker that can fill the hole that Cuauhtemoc Blanco's departure creates. I would think the Fire would splurge on a DP (or maybe make a run at Schelotto) for this spot.


- Greg Seltzer

World Cup Draw LIVE

The draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off in about 30 minutes and we will update the proceedings as the groups fill out. After they're done, I will attempt to make the fastest sweet 16 prediction in the world.

Get your refresh button ready, the lottery basket starts spinning at 10 minutes before the top of the hour. Back then...

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Just about ready to draw this thing...

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Game on!


GROUP A
South Africa
Mexico
Uruguay
France

GROUP B
Argentina
South Korea
Nigeria
Greece

GROUP C
England
U.S.A.
Algeria
Slovenia

GROUP D
Germany
Australia
Ghana
Serbia

GROUP E
the Netherlands
Japan
Cameroon
Denmark

GROUP F
Italy
New Zealand
Paraguay
Slovakia

GROUP G
Brazil
North Korea
Ivory Coast
Portugal

GROUP H
Spain
Honduras
Chile
Switzerland

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And there you have it! Not a bad draw at all for the USMNT!

As promised, my instant sweet 16 picks listed by group (first place, second place): France, Uruguay, Argentina, Nigeria, England, U.S.A., Ghana, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Slovakia, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Spain Honduras.


- Greg Seltzer

FIFA Prison Blues

Robben Island, famous for being Nelson Mandela's jail for 18 years has hosted a leper colony, quarantined animals and political prisoners of various hues over its 400-year history.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site today, with a population of around 25,000 rabbits. The latest inmates were the FIFA Executive Committee, the 24 most powerful men in football, who dropped by today for a chat ahead of tomorrow's World Cup draw.

Choosing the shrine of the world's most respected statesman for your shindig was symbolic - soccer is as big as global politics, and a lot more popular, so we have no shame in treading in Madiba (Mandela)'s footsteps. FIFA takes global diplomacy seriously, as former President Joao Havelange modestly explains on the FIFA website - "I met – I can safely say – all the state presidents, kings and queens and prime ministers in the world and in addition His Holiness the Pope."

How disappointing then that they fluffed their chance to quench the world's desire for fair play in the wake of the Thierry Henry scandal, by ducking cries for extra officials or TV replays at the World Cup. Sepp Blatter's defence that non-European referees' assistants would need time to adapt made little sense to me: FIFA officials are surely already well trained in spotting infractions wherever they occur on the field of play.

Perhaps they should have left the decision to Lizo Sitoto, a former Robben Island inmate who played in the prisoners' football league in the 1960s - "FIFA provided us with an escape mechanism, as there were so many topics to discuss," he told FIFA.com: "The offside rule, what constitutes handball, is the ball fully over the line, etc."

But technology or extra officials are on the way, make no mistake: "The executive came to the decision that actual refereeing is no longer consistent with the quality and the speed of the game and the close interest taken by television," said Blatter. "First of all we shall have a look at technology or additional persons and this shall be done across all our relevant committees."

South Africa is too soon to see changes therefore, but expect them in situ come Brazil 2014.

* The other big issue brewing in Cape Town is the fight to host World Cup 2018, with decision day under a year away. England staged a counter-attack after criticism of their bid by rolling out their biggest gun - David Beckham, whose aura entranced Jack Warner and Blatter apparently, judging by his starstruck comments.

ITV reporter Martin Geissler managed to nab Warner in the street and asked, quite reasonably, why good stadia and infrastructure were not enough to win a World Cup hosting.

The CONCACAF boss, half expecting an Andrew Jennings mugging, uttered some muffled platitudes about social responsibility and legacy, before Geissler probed - "and celebrity?"

"That will help," added Warner -"Isn't that what football is about?"

-Sean O'Conor

Damn you, interwebs!!

Problem solved now. I'll be back tomorrow.


- Greg Seltzer

Video Wednesday

I've been trying to find a good quality clip of Charlie Davies' ESPN Sunday interview, but no dice. However, a Du Nord reader hooked up a makeshift webcam version to fill the online void. We also have a brief interview with AGF attacker Jeremiah White about his future with the club.

Today, I have so much stuff, I'm needing to be picky and make cuts. Maybe I'll do another tomorrow or Friday...

Let's begin our viewing with a slightly belated 2 Good 2 Bad from Match of the Day 2.




Among other things, Landon Donovan says the odds of him moving abroad this winter are even Steven.




With AGF fans now coming to grips with the notion that Jeremiah White may soon be leaving, one has put together a long reel of JW highlights from his time in Aarhus. Since the folks back home don't get to see so many SAS Liga matches, this is a nice treat.




Fulham ace Clint Dempsey joins Bono, Didier Drogba and others to launch Nike's Red campaign to fight AIDS.




ESPN's Jeremy Schaap, suddenly all over soccer, reports from the FIFA meetings in South Africa.




CNN has some amazing footage of a blind Russian club training. Yes... I said "blind" soccer team. Note how someone is standing inside the goal, obviously with some sort of sound mechanism to guide shooters.

Embedded video from CNN Video

We must all sit and listen to Johan Cruijff. Because we always must. The man could talk jibberish and say something creative.

I once stood near the corner flag in the freezing, windy, wet cold for 23 minutes because he was talking about throw-ins. And when I finally beg off to take my press box post at the proper time, he says "Oh... so you've learned enough now?". Awesome.




- Greg Seltzer

Quick on the Draw

The groupings for Friday's World Cup Finals draw have been revealed, based on FIFA's World Rankings for October. Eight groups of four to be picked. How about the US with Brazil, Ivory Coast and France? Can't be much worse than last time can it?

Pot 1 (Seeds): South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Argentina, England

Pot 2 (AFC, OFC & CONCACAF): Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Mexico, Honduras

Pot 3 (CAF & CONMEBOL): Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay

Pot 4 (UEFA): France, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Greece, Serbia, Denmark, Slovakia

The BBC's Jonah Fisher takes a tour around the rebuilt Soccer City in Soweto. At least South Africa has pulled out all the stops for its World Cup Final venue.

Durban's 70,000-seat stadium opens with a goal; why so far from the field though? I smell the dreaded running track post WC

However, take a moment to see what's behind the football...The ground in the film is Orlando Stadium, home of the Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows; only a training venue for 2010, but it will also host the opening concert party.

FIFA have banned Diego Maradona from Friday's draw because his two-month ban for using fruity language at a press conference is still on. Meanwhile, Sepp Blatter has praised LA's David Beckham thus:

"Perhaps he is not the best player in the world but he is a good guy and he is also the best ambassador for fair play in football."

Just to remind us, here's David's fair play in action. Ok, a bit cruel. But AC Milan think they've got a tiger on their books:

- Sean O'Conor

It's scooping time again!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I told you I'd start dispensing some holiday goodies this week, and here is what I hope to be the first of many: having been bought out of the final 2+ seasons of hs FC Midtjylland deal, Danny Califf is headed for Philly Union.

It should all be official next week. The defender obviously could not say much, but I already had the goods and he was willing to explain his reason for heading home in January.

- Greg Seltzer

Three simple questions: Chivas USA

We return to our series of woe and hope to get through the last few clubs, starting with the first of two L.A. sides picking up the pieces. Really, I could have asked 100% Soccer/Daily Breeze all-star Nick Green to do either Home Depot Center side - but the Galaxy were still alive when I asked him, so here we are.

NSC: What went wrong?

NG: Same old story: too many injuries and not enough firepower. That's been the case the last two seasons, too. And it's the reason Preki is no longer around. Preki was known around the league for working his players way too hard in training, hence the litany of key injuries to such players as Ante Razov, Maykel Galindo, Sasha Victorine and on and on.

NSC: What went right?

NG: Preki left.

NSC: What, if not who, does the team need to acquire?

NG: Given the likely retirement of veteran Claudio Suarez, the inexplicable late-season trade of Bobby Burling and the loss of Shavar Thomas in the expansion draft, one is tempted to say central defender, but the bigger problem is scoring.

Ante Razov, who missed the entire season, needs to retire. Will Galindo - 12 goals in 2007 - ever recapture his form before his three hernia operations or is he Chivas USA's version of the Galaxy's one-season wonder Herculez Gomez? Justin Braun is not an MLS-caliber player and needs to go back to the Utah rec leagues. Eduardo Lillingston's work rate is abysmal, so he isn't the answer. Maicon Santos has showed flashes of promise, but he can't do it alone.


- Greg Seltzer

Top 5 First Half Euro-Lollygaggers

It's very simple. Some clubs in Europe simply aren't getting the expected job done. I believe Durham Bulls manager Joe Riggins said it best (with slight alterations by me):

Skip: You guys. You lollygag the ball around the midfield. You lollygag your way down the wing. You lollygag in and out of the dugout. You know what that makes you? Larry!

Larry: Lollygaggers!

Skip: Lollygaggers.

Honorable mention: Hajduk Split, Liverpool, Rangers, Standard Liège, Villarreal

#5 - Sporting Lisbon

Yes, they lead their Europa League group, but it's a pitiful foursome that includes our #3 pick today and fellow letdown Heerenveen. In Portugal, they are 11 back of the lead through 11 - which is not what you'd expect from the Lions at all.

This squad should know how to win together and there is plenty of talent. Looks like it's time to break up the band, dudes.

#4 - Stuttgart

Of course this 17th place team won't be in or probably near the relegation mire come season's end, but saying that off the bat would gloss over how bad they've been... oh, wait... never mind.

Somewhat like Sporting, the Schwabians have become a bit stale and personnel changes are in order. The attack is third worst in the Bundesliga and the defense has managed to let in 20 goals in 14 games - and that's with four clean sheets to their credit. Of course, they only won one of those four games And they've only won once in seven home games.

Their Champions League play has been more encouraging, and they can make the sweet 16 with a home win over Unirea Urziceni next week. But that just highlights how much they've underachieved domestically.

#3 - Hertha Berlin

Yeesh. I knew last season's fourth place finish was flattering and based largely on the game-by-game size of the fight in your dog... but last place? One win in 14 games? You played Brøndby much tougher when they knocked you out in the Europa League playoff round. What gives?

Hertha allowed 41 goals during the 2009/10 Bundesliga season; they have already allowed a joint-worst 30 this season. The offense may be in worse form, actually. In November, Hertha scored only four goals, while former striker Marko Pantelic had five for Ajax. They let him go for free and now have a forward stable with six goals in 18 matches across the two competitions - with three of the coming in one game. Ouch.

Nobody has replaced Josep Simunic or Andriy Voronin, either. Gojko Kačar has gone from Manchester United target to bench victim. Arne Friedrich is making mistakes.

It's just ugly right now, is what I'm saying. Every week, I check closely to see if any of the young Americans at the club will get a shot. I'm still waiting.

#2 - Everton

I actually thought the Mersey Blues could make a top four run this season. I did. They had the mainstays back, guys like Jo and Steven Pienaar would be that much more comfy in the Prem. They added versatile toughness in Johnny Heitinga (who has been up and down) and the balletic ball movement of Diniyar Bilyatedinov (who has been nearly terrific).

Problem is, almost all of the holdover regulars have disappointed. The defense is... what's the word? Unreliable will do. To make matters worse, Everton have notched just nine goals and five points from seven Goodison league matches and are suddenly looking over their Europa League group shoulder thanks to a pair of Benfica hublings.

Honestly, the only thing keeping the Toffees from the top spot in this ranking is the constant injury headache making David Moyes rub his eyes. They should be three points from a Champions League place, not three points from the drop zone.



#1 - Atlético Madrid

Gosh... where to even start?

Los Rojiblancos are hanging just above the trap door after consecutive fourth place finishes. After netting 80 goals last term, they are now on a pace that wouldn't even threaten 60. They definitely have an aging defense. They leak two goals per game in La Liga, and have conceded 16 times in just six away matches. They have only six goals by someone not named Diego or Sergio in 12 league matches. Even in the Champions League, that wonder duo has only bagged two goals in five outings. And Atlético are still sweating a comlete expulsion from Europe with just a one-point margin on last place with one matchday to go. On top of it all, they have too much money tied into underachievers (yes, you, J.A. Reyes) and the star trio of Agüero/Forlán/Maxi Rodríguez seems about ready to go play elsewhere.

Yeah, I guess that's a good start.


- Greg Seltzer

A few things...

Busy, busy, busy...

#1 - New Philly forward Alejandro Moreno doesn't sound too happy about leaving Columbus.

Meanwhile, The Always Sunny Gang (I will be pushing this nickname for them, by the way) also officially has a new keeper in Chris Seitz.

#2 - K.C. Wizard and Nebraska Furniture Mart celebrity Jimmy Conrad has a detailed and intriguing plan to move MLS forward. What I love most about it is that many will think he's crazy. But really, he's not so much.

#3 - New England defender Jay Heaps is set to retire. And Steve Nicol's woes increase.

#4 - Fire Confidential ace Sam Stejskal seems to want a Euro-coach hire.

#5 - Toronto FC are already trying to add seats at BMO.

#6 - You may not be able to tell, but Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill is reeeeeally happy that he will be able to pass the #1 shirt from Brad Friedel to Brad Guzan.

#7 - Barcelona's Lionel Messi is your 2009 Ballon D'Or winner.

#8 - S365 colleague Andrew Discenza with his weekly Prem look back at the weekend.

#9 - And finally, an event notice for Friday (click for full size)...





- Greg Seltzer