Total Futbol

Real Madrid signs 7-year-old! Bradley to Egypt?

Hey there Soccer-holics. Just getting back from vacation.

In case you missed it, here is my Sunday column addressing Miami's MLS hopes and new US coach Jurgen (no umlaut anymore) Klinsmann. Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know. Would love to get more conversation going on this blog. Don't be afraid. Jump right in. Just keep it clean and respectful.

In other news, soccer matches all over London have been canceled today due to rioting. Very, very sad. London -- one of the great cities of the world -- is burning. Hope it stops soon.

Also read today that Real Madrid signed a 7-year-old! No, I'm not kidding. A 7-year-old Argentine kid signed with Real Madrid today. And his nickname is...Leo!  Read all about him here!

Finally, word is that former US coach Bob Bradley is in talks with Egypt about becoming their coach. Good man. Wish him well wherever he lands.

Chivas stuns Barca 4-1!!

Hi from Sun Life Stadium..place is rocking! Crowd of 70,080 is largest for soccer match in state history! Heavy traffic getting here. A sea of Barca jerseys in the stands (mostly Messi's No. 10)

Barca's starting 11: Pinto, Piqué, Thiago, Xavi, Villa, Keita, Dos Santos, Abidal, Fontàs, Carmona, Cuenca

Chivas starting 11: Michel, DeLuna, Reynoso, Araujo, Esparza, Fabian, Arellano, Medina, Ponce, Baez, Mejia

National anthem. Fireworks! Here we go...

 Chivas nearly takes lead in second minute, but Barca defender Abidal clears it off line in time.

David Villa GOOOAL! fourth minute. Barca 1, Chivas 0.

Halftime: Barca 1, Chivas 0.

Second half: Xavi, Villa, Pique out. Iniesta, Pedro, Busquets in.

60th minute, Chivas SCORES! Golazo by Marco Fabian, into upper left corner to tie the score 1-1.

63rd minute. WOW! Fabian finds back of net again, this one on a gorgeous scissor kick to give Chivas 2-1 lead. Crowd, stunned, begins to chant "Barca!"

72nd minute. Chivas strikes again! Giovanni Casillaas scores to make it 3-1.

And the Mexican team isn't done yet...Jose Luis Verduzco scores in extra time and it's 4-1 Chivas over Barca. Crowd -- and Barca bench -- are stunned. Exhibition, yes. But nobody expected this score.

Thoughts?

MagicJack to fold?

The Women's Professional Soccer league and Dan Borislow, the unorthdox, controversial owner of the Boca Raton-based MagicJack team, have been feuding for quite some time, and it appears the league is so fed up it is seeking to terminate the club after this season. Here is today's press release from the league...

"Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) holds all teams and owners to a uniform professional standard, and all owners must agree to those standards in order to play in the League. When Dan Borislow took over as the majority owner of the Washington Freedom (now magicJack) franchise, Mr. Borislow had an obligation to follow, and embrace these standards and to honor the franchise’s commitments to the League, players and sponsors.

Mr. Borislow has failed to honor his commitments to the detriment of the League, our players and our partners. From unprofessional and disparaging treatment of his players to failure to pay his bills, Mr. Borislow’s actions have been calculated to tarnish the reputation of the League and damage the League’s business relationships. Now, Mr. Borislow has filed a baseless legal action against WPS. The League is not intimidated by Mr. Borislow’s unfounded claims and will not tolerate his mistreatment of players and flouting of the rules.

Mr. Borislow is asking a Florida court to bar the League from exercising its right to terminate his franchise at the end of the season for breach of his contractual obligations. No such entitlement exists under League contracts, and Mr. Borislow’s many contractual breaches more than justify any decision by the League to terminate his franchise.

“It is disappointing that rather than run a professional organization and partner with his fellow owners, Mr. Borislow has chosen to threaten the League by filing this action,” said WPS Board Chairman and Atlanta Beat Owner, T. Fitz Johnson. “All of us at WPS are involved in this business because we love the sport, we are committed to our incredible athletes and fans, and we know that there is a permanent place in sports for the women’s professional game.”

“We continue to focus on our world-class athletes and their accomplishments, and we won’t let the antics of one owner steal the moment from them and from our fans,” said Anne-Marie Eileraas, CEO, Women’s Professional Soccer. “We will defend the League against Mr. Borislow’s latest attack and will continue to hold all of our teams to the same professional standards in order to protect our players, fans, teams, partners and the integrity of the sport.”

It would truly be a shame if the two sides can't work this out. In the wake of the Women's World Cup buzz, MagicJack has been a hot ticket. The club drew a league-record 15,404 in Rochester (Abby Wambach's hometown) for a game against Western NY, drew 9,345 for a game in Atlanta, and last week drew team-record crowds of 3,200 at FAU for their first two home games since the World Cup.

 They have a home game tonight at 7 against New Jersey. Stay tuned!

 

WWC outdraws All-Star Game, British Open

Women's World Cup postscript: Much of America is suffering from post-WWC hangover this morning.

Here's what's going on in the news...

1. WWC final drew an 8.6 rating on ESPN. British Open golf got 2.6. Last week's Major League Baseball's All-Star Game 7.9. Top markets for the Women's World Cup were Baltimore, San Diego, West Palm Beach, DC, Norfolk. The 1999 final, played in the US and shown on ABC, got 11.4.

2. Abby Wambach and Hope Solo on Letterman Tuesday night.

3. WWC Final set a Twitter record for tweets/second (7,196). Brazil's Copa America loss to Paraguay yesterday, also on PKs, was close behind at 7,166. Both beat Osama's death and royal wedding of Will and Kate.

 

Poll: Who will win Copa America?

Heartbreaker. Sigh...

Alex Morgan!!! 1-0 USA over Japan!!! WOW! 69th minute. TAlk about tension. Youngest player on the team, great future. Buckle your seat belts. Where are you watching? TEll us about the atmosphere. We were invited to several watch parties. Very cool day for Women's Sports. Just heard from Donna Shalala, UM prez, who is there as guest of US Soccer. SAys it's a wild scene.

Uh-oh! Don't celebrate yet. Japan scores to make it 1-1 with 10 minutes to go...US defense clears twice to the middle and gives Japan the goal. American fans groaning.

Abby Wambach to the rescue again! Unbelievable! Header in extra time 103rd minute off Alex Morgan beautiful cross. WOW. USA 2, Japan 1.

NO WAY! SAWA Scores for Japan! Her fifth goal in six games. Amazing. She has played in five World Cups, and it shows. USA 2, Japan 2. This is killing me. What a game.

Going to PKs. Unreal. 

Funny sign: Marry me Hope! I'm Solo!

PKs. Let's go...OHNO! Shannon Boxx misses. OHNO AGAIN! Lloyd over the post. Tobin Heath, who just came in, also misses. Three misses in a row. OHMYGOODNESS. US loses in PKs. They look stunned. So heartbreaking for the US team after so much drama and after capturing the American imagination. Two US leads, and they lose. Japan is the world champion, beats USA for first time in 25 tries.

Abby Wambach classy in post-game interview.

Your thoughts?

Pia SINGS to the media! DO NOT MISS!

The Women's World Cup final is 48 hours away, so what does US coach Pia Sundhage do? Something Bob Bradley would never do. Something Pat Riley would never do. Check it out right here! AS IF there weren't enough reasons for fans to love this team.

And here is ANOTHER video of Pia's musical talent.

15 minutes 'til pre-game...

You ready? USA vs. France Women's World Cup semifinal! 15 minutes 'til pre-game show. 45 minutes 'til game time. Where are you watching? Who's going to win?  ESPN and Galavision. The choice is yours.

Check out my advance story on Ali Krieger, who scored the winning PK for the US vs. Brazil in Sunday's thriller and has Miami ties.

Buckle your seat belt! This should be fun! Let us know where you're watching.