MADRID, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Striker Thierry Henry has admitted he is not performing as well for Barcelona as he did for Arsenal and needs more time to adapt to his Spanish club's style of football.

"The Arsenal Henry was at Arsenal, now I'm at Barcelona and you won't see the Arsenal Henry any more," the France forward told a news conference at the Nou Camp on Tuesday.

"Barcelona are a different team, with a very different way of playing and I, too, have to play differently.

"Maybe I haven't been at my best level up to now, but I've scored four goals and given three scoring passes. I try to help the team...."

Henry signed a four-year deal with Barcelona in the close season for a fee of 24 million euros ($34.57 million) after spending eight seasons at Arsenal. He had been the focal point at the London club, top-scoring in four of the five Premier League seasons between 2001-06.

"Here they play differently to the way they play at Arsenal. There we played a more direct style and the ball came to me more quickly.

"But I have to adapt to the club and the team and not the other way round and that takes time. Barcelona have played this way for many years, it is their style and I have to adjust to it."

Henry, who spent much of his last season at Arsenal on the sidelines because of injury, said he has been playing with pain in his Achilles tendon for the last three games.

The 30-year-old admitted it might have been better if he had made a more gradual return to action this season after such a long lay off.

"Maybe it would have been better to have come into the team more slowly, but with the situation the way it was and with players injured and others coming in late I had to carry out my recuperation at the same time as I was playing."

Henry also defended Barca team mate Ronaldinho who has come under fire after a lacklustre start to the season.

"Ronaldinho has played at top level for a long time but he isn't a robot," he said.

"I don't think he is playing as badly as they are saying. The problem is that expectations are so high. What isn't normal is that Ronaldinho has played at such a high level for such a long time so whenever his performance drops a little people get upset.

"For me Ronaldinho is a very important player for the team because he is a great player and he will always get the attention of the opposition defense and that helps us play."

Asked about the performance of his former Arsenal team mate Cesc Fabregas who has come into his own since Henry's departure, the Frenchman said: "He is an incredible player. He passes, works hard, scores goals and is playing really well."

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ZURICH, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Brazil, the only bidding country, was named as the host nation of the 2014 World Cup finals by FIFA, world soccer's governing body, on Tuesday.

They become the fifth country to host two World Cups following Mexico (1970 and 1986), France (1938 and 1998), West Germany/Germany (1974 and 2006) and Italy (1934 and 1990).

Brazil, who have won the World Cup a record five times and are the only country to have played in all 18 World Cup finals tournaments, last staged the event in 1950.

They become the first South American hosts since Argentina staged and won the 1978 World Cup finals.

Brazil were the only country nominated to bid for the World Cup by the South American confederation (CONMEBOL) whose turn it was to stage the finals after they were awarded to Europe (Germany) in 2006 and Africa (South Africa) in 2010.

Eighteen cities have bid to stage matches, and, according to the FIFA inspection report published last week, it is envisaged that between eight to 10 cities will host games.

However, the report, while giving the bid its blessing, says that none of the stadiums are currently up to FIFA safety standards for staging World Cup matches.

That includes the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, which held a world crowd of 199,000 for the 1950 final.

Brazil were the only contenders because of FIFA's policy of rotating World Cups through its six continental confederations, a strategy that was scrapped on Monday.

More than 160 Brazilian delegation members and media were in Zurich for Tuesday's announcement including the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Romario, a member of Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning team, and Dunga, who captained the side in 1994 and is now the national coach.

Pele, however, who was in Brazil's winning World Cup teams of 1958 and 1970, was not with the delegation. He has not endorsed Brazil's World Cup hosting aspirations in the past.

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ZURICH, Oct 29 (Reuters) - FIFA's executive committee has voted unanimously to end its policy of rotating the hosting of World Cups through its six continental confederations.

By Mark Ledsom

Confirming the decision on Monday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the rotation policy had been dropped with effect from the 2018 World Cup.

Blatter added that a final decision on the hosting of the 2018 event would likely be taken in 2011, with prospective bidders probably needing to signal their interest by 2009.

He said that FIFA had already learned of six possible bids.

"Besides England, there is at least one combined offer from the Netherlands and Belgium," Blatter said. "There has also been interest announced from China, Australia, Mexico and the United States."

Monday's decision opens the bidding for future World Cups up to any national association, providing they do not belong to a confederation that has hosted any of the two preceding editions.

Blatter said there would be no restriction on multiple applicants from the same continental confederation.

"We haven't done that because it is the national associations who are the bidders and they all have the right to bid," he explained.

MAKE PRE-SELECTION

"But definitely if there are 10 or 11 bids then we would have to make a pre-selection like they do with the Olympics."

FIFA's change of heart means that the 2018 World Cup will be open to bids from all countries except those in Africa and South America.

South Africa was the first beneficiary of the short-lived rotation policy and is set to stage the next edition of the World Cup in 2010. Brazil is the only candidate bidding to stage the 2014 World Cup in South America and is due to have its host status rubber-stamped by the executive committee on Tuesday.

Blatter said Brazil's sole candidature had been part of his own reasons for wanting to scrap the rotation policy.

"Brazil is a very strong candidate indeed but there was something missing from its bid," Blatter said.

"The bid is beautiful, it has all the necessary guarantees and the backing of the country's governors. But competition was lacking, and football is about competition."

Brazil have won the World Cup a record five times but have only hosted the tournament once before, in 1950.

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LONDON, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes will be out for three months with knee ligament damage, the Premier League champions said on Monday.

"He will undergo an operation on Thursday and will be out for approximately 12 weeks," the club said on their Web site (www.manutd.com).

Scholes, 32, suffered the injury in training ahead of last week's Champions League win over Dynamo Kiev.

He has played 12 times this season for United, scoring once.

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Unfashionable clubs continued to do well in South America as Rampla Juniors went back to the top in Uruguay, Coronel Bolognesi stayed top in Peru and Audax Italiano won again in Chile.

By Brian Homewood

URUGUAY

Rampla Juniors, whose coach Luis Lopez works part time in a Montevideo hospital to supplement his income, went back to the top of the Apertura championship with a 2-1 win over Juventud.

Substitute Martin Peula scored a 78th-minute winner for Rampla, who won despite having Fabricio Cancela sent off early in the second half.

Rampla, who have never won the title since Uruguayan football turned professional in 1932 and are based in one of Montevideo's poorest areas, went two points ahead of Defensor Sporting who did not play.

PERU

Coronel Bolognesi, based in the town of Tacna near the Chilean border and named after a Peruvian soldier who fought in the 19th century War of the Pacific, beat Alianza Atletico 1-0 to stay top of the championship's second stage.

Adan Balbin scored early in the second half as Bolognesi extended their lead to six points. Cienciano moved into second place with a 4-0 win over Deportivo San Martin.

Sporting Cristal beat Universitario 1-0 in the Lima derby with a second-half goal from midfielder Roberto Palacios.

CHILE

Midfielder Carlos Villanueva scored both goals, the first with an overhead kick, to give Audax Italiano a 2-0 win over O'Higgins in a match involving the leaders of Groups Three and Four respectively.

Villanueva took his tally to 15 goals.

Audax, enjoying an unprecedented run, top Group Three with 39 points from 16 games, while O'Higgins have 32.

Traditional teams Colo Colo, who thumped Santiago Wanderers 4-0, and Universidad Catolica, 3-1 winners over Puerto Montt, lead the other groups.

ECUADOR

Striker Agustin Delgado, who has turned down a call from Ecuador coach Luis Fernando Suarez to resume his international career, was on target as LDU came from behind to beat Deportivo
Quito 3-1.

Juan Trivino put Deportivo in front in the 26th minute but Jairo Campos and Patricio Urrutia replied for LDU in the second half before Delgado, who played for Ecuador at the last two World Cups, completed the scoring.

Delgado, banned for six months earlier this year for his part in a brawl on the pitch, has blamed a series of injury problems for his decision to quit the national side.

LDU lead the final stage of the 2007 championship with 10 points from two games, a total which includes four bonus points carried through from earlier stages of the complex competition.

PARAGUAY

Libertad stayed one point ahead of Cerro Porteno in the second stage of the championship after the leading pair both won.

Libertad beat Nacional 2-1 after Vladimir Marin opened the scoring from a controversially-awarded free kick.

Oswaldo Martinez increased Libertad's lead with another free kick and Cristian Bogado pulled one back in injury-time.

Cerro Porteno beat 12 de Octubre 4-1.

VENEZUELA

Andres Buendia converted an injury-time penalty as Estrella Roja held leaders Caracas FC to a 1-1 draw. Venezuela forward Alejandro Guerra had put the visitors ahead in the first half.

Caracas stayed five points clear of Deportivo Anzoategui who were held 0-0 at Deportivo Tachira.

Only 100 people watched as Deportivo Italia beat bottom club Union Lara 1-0.

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MANCHESTER, England, Oct 26 (Reuters) - England midfielder Owen Hargreaves has recovered from the knee injury that has stalled his Manchester United career since his move from Bayern Munich in July, club manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.

Hargreaves, who has played just three games since the move because of tendinitis, would start against Middlesbrough in the Premier League at the weekend, Ferguson told reporters.

"Owen is fit and he will play which is great news. We did the right thing with him," Ferguson said.

"We tried to get him through without injections but couldn't do it. He had an injection a few weeks ago and he is ready to play now.

"He's been frustrated as he has only played three games for us. That isn't what he came here for.

"He has fantastic speed about him and he sees danger very quickly. He has a good attitude and he will do a good job for us."

In the absence of Hargreaves and his fellow injured midfielder Michael Carrick, Brazilian Anderson has taken his chance to impress Ferguson.

"He has good talent but the thing that has impressed me the most is his knowledge of the game," Ferguson said of the teenager.

"I have noticed he was directing players around him and that's good to see in a 19-year-old. He is quick around the place. He can attack and defend and has a lot of ability going for him."

United, second in the Premier League behind Arsenal, host Middlesbrough on Saturday.

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MILAN, Oct 26 (Reuters) - AC Milan playmaker Kaka has refused to rule out a move to Real Madrid following fresh speculation on Friday.

The European champions spent most of the close season repelling Real's advances for the 25-year-old Brazilian and reports in Italy and Spain have said Real president Florentino Perez is ready to renew their assault in January.

Milan said in June they were aware Kaka's father had met Madrid officials but club president Silvio Berlusconi said they would not let their best player leave.

"I have a contract with Milan until 2011, I am not in a hurry to renew it and neither are Milan," Kaka told reporters.

"Florentino Perez must talk with Berlusconi. If they find an agreement OK, otherwise I stay here."

Kaka, speaking at the unveiling of a new computer game, also gave fresh impetus to stories linking Milan with a bid for Barcelona forward Ronaldinho, who has not been at his best at the Nou Camp this season.

"Everytime we meet up with the national team, Ronaldinho asks me about Milan, the team and the club. I dont know if he can come. Certainly he has feelings for us," he said.

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Nike has bought the British sporting goods brand Umbro for 285 million pounds.

Umbro provides the kit for the England team and supplies kits for six Premier League clubs. England's Football Association is expected to stay with Umbro under Nike.

FA officials reportedly have played a significant role in the negotiations. If they had canceled their agreement with Umbro then Nike likely would have pulled out of the takeover because they are targeting the England brand.

The FA will now also be able to schedule personal appearances for Nike-contracted players wearing their Umbro products.

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U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati announced today that the contract of U.S. Women's National Team head coach Greg Ryan will not be renewed when it expires at the end of 2007, ending his nearly three-year tenure as the team’s head coach.

“At the conclusion of each world championship cycle, every national team's performance is closely analyzed,” said Gulati in making the announcement. “There are many factors considered in this analysis, and it certainly isn't just about one loss or one particular coaching decision. In this case, after looking closely at the last six weeks and the team's performance at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, we have made a decision to change leadership of the U.S. Women’s National Team. I want to thank Greg Ryan and his staff for their work over the last two-plus years. We look forward to the continued development of our National Team as one of the best in the world.”

The decision was made after a review of the team's third-place finish at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China. Ryan finishes his career with an official record of 45-1-9, after originally joining the team as head coach in January, 2005. Ryan also served as an assistant coach for the team in 2004.

The search will be led by a three-person committee made up of Gulati, U.S. Soccer Secretary General Dan Flynn and Hall of Fame Women’s National Team forward Mia Hamm. An announcement on the new coach is expected in the next 30 to 45 days.

The U.S. team will return to training in January and will play a full schedule of domestic and international games in preparation for qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Women’s Soccer Tournament in Beijing, China.

Press release courtesy of www.ussoccer.com

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(Soccer365.com) Jose Mourinho has ruled himself out of the running to replace under-fire England manager Steve McClaren.

There is speculation that McClaren's tenure as national team boss could be coming to an end after England's Euro 2008 qualification hopes were taken out of their own hands with a 2-1 defeat by Russia in Moscow.

England now need Russia to slip up against Israel or Andorra, or for Macedonia to shock group leaders Croatia if they are to retain any hope of reaching the finals in Austria and Switzerland.

Former Chelsea manager Mourinho has been strongly linked with the post, should it become available, but the Portuguese insists he is more interested in club football and the only international side he would manage is his home nation.

He told the News of the World: "I couldn't see myself coaching any national team other than Portugal. If I were coach of another team and had to face Portugal, it would be wrong.

"I think there are those who adore me in England. I adore English football. But I won't go back there for now. I'd like to come back later.

"I'd like to continue in club management, perhaps in Italy where I can test myself against their tacticians. The national team would be for later. The Portuguese national team is an ambition but not for the Jose Mourinho of today.

"Being the coach of a national team is not the same as being coach of a club. It's a job for someone who doesn't like working much."

And Mourinho insists that bringing in coaches from overseas to lead international sides is wrong.

He added: "I'm completely against having foreigners with national teams, not because I doubt the professionalism with which they do it, but I think that a national team should bring together the best players and the best coach from each country.

"The national team is an obsession for me but it will be at the end of my career. Let there be no doubt about that."

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(Soccer365.com) Late sub John Thorrington bagged a deft chip in the waning moments to give Chicago momentum heading into the postseason with a 1-0 victory over visiting Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon.

The midfielder broke in alone and took his time to set up the lob shot to beat Joe Cannon, who had kept Galaxy playoff hopes alive with nine saves, several of them big stops.

The LA netminder produced fine saves on C.J. Brown, Chad Barrett, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Wilman Conde to keep his side in with a chance, but the Galaxy could only produce one shot on goal.

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(Soccer365.com) Former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho is believed to be the clear favourite to manage England if FA chiefs decide to sack Steve McClaren.

The 'Special One' cannot manage another Premier League club in the near future without compromising his compensation package from Chelsea, but he is known to be happy living in England.

The FA are expected to dispense with McClaren if and when failure to qualify for Euro 2008 is confirmed and will return to a non-English boss after the disaster of the former Boro manager's reign.

Most bookies now make Mourinho the favourite, while Martin O'Neill, Luis Scolari, Arsene Wenger and Guus Hiddink have all been heavily backed.

Hiddink has only recently signed a new two-year extension to his contract with Russia, and he is unlikely to risk upsetting Roman Abramovich by walking out on that job, while Scolari was put off by the English press when he was considered for the role after Sven-Goran Eriksson left the job.

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(Soccer365.com) Wayne Rooney scored but then gave away a harsh penalty as England lost 2-1 in Russia to lose their advantage in Euro 2008 qualifying Group E.

Rooney had given England a 29th-minute lead with a superb goal in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, but the striker was controversially adjudged to have fouled Konstantin Zyrianov in the box on 69 minutes - and substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko put away the resulting penalty.

And just four minutes later, Pavlyuchenko stole in to score again from close range after Paul Robinson had parried a Zyrianov shot into his path.

The result means Russia have now gained the initiative in Group E - and England will have to hope Guus Hiddink's side slip up in Israel next month.

In the first half, there had been a scare for England after 11 minutes when Aleksandr Kerzhakov went down in the box under a challenge from Joe Cole - but replays showed the Sevilla forward had dived.

Centre-back Vasili Berezutsky became the first player booked on 14 minutes for a late tackle on Cole.

England won their first corner shortly afterwards, and it ended in a Joleon Lescott header being tipped over the bar.

Soon after at the other end, full debutant Lescott and Ferdinand both made crucial blocks from two Russia shots, the second from Bilyaletdinov a real threat to Paul Robinson's goal.

Then on 26 minutes, Konstantin Zurianov's fizzing low shot from just inside the England area was tipped onto the post and wide for a corner by Robinson.

But England took the lead when Michael Owen leaped highest to flick on a long clearance from Micah Richards. Rooney expertly controlled the ball on his chest before smashing it past home goalkeeper Vladmir Gabulov into the centre of the goal.

After Rooney's goal, the home side started to exert considerable pressure and in the space of five minutes forced half-a-dozen corners.

Rooney required treatment on a leg injury soon after the restart but was soon back on the pitch, and on 50 minutes captain Steven Gerrard missed a gilt-edged opportunity to double England's lead.

Gareth Barry swung over a high free-kick from wide on the right, all the way over to an unmarked Gerrard at the far post - but his central midfield colleague sidefooted it just past the post when he should have scored.

Rio Ferdinand picked up a booking on 57 minutes for hauling down Zhirkov, and will now miss England's final qualifier at home to Croatia next month.

The pressure was increasing from the home side - and after 69 minutes, Pavluchenko equalised from the penalty spot.

Rooney tugged at the shirt of Zurianov, and Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo pointed to the penalty spot - though replays showed the offence was committed outside the area.

And with 17 minutes remaining, Pavlyuchenko turned the game on its head by scoring for the second time in four minutes.

Robinson parried away a rising shot from Alexei Berezutsky and the substitute reacted quickest to the rebound.

Steve McClaren responded by bringing on Frank Lampard, Stewart Downing and Peter Crouch in place of Wright-Phillips, Lescott and Joe Cole.

Rooney had a low shot turned around the post by Gabulov and Campbell headed over from a Barry corner - but Russia ran out winners.

Afterwards England boss Steve McClaren rounded on the referee after seeing his side suffer a potentially fatal blow.

"We had it. It was in our grasp and we've ended up losing it," McClaren said.

"I've just seen the penalty again. It's an absolute disgrace .

"It's outside the box. The linesman didn't give it. It was the referee from quite some distance. Things like that turn games.

"We were comfortable. They were running out of ideas and that just turned the game.

"It was a mad four minutes after that and unfortunately we conceded a second.

"But I can't fault the players for the gameplan, the way they've endeavoured to work, the commitment, the blocks we got in, the headers."

"We've ended up losing a game that really, after 70 minutes, I never thought we'd lose."

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(Soccer365.com) U.S. National Team boss Bob Bradley says he is going to be patient with teen phenom Freddy Adu, who is in the squad that will face Switzerland on Wednesday.

The youngster has only made a few appearances since moving to Portuguese giants Benfica from MLS, which Bradley finds to be a common step in the growth of a player.

"It's normal that a young player needs time to move along in a team like Benfica, and it's the same way in the national team," Bradley told reporters.

"He must show everyone that he is learning, that he is picking up little things every day."

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(Soccer365.com) As the U.S. Women's National Team were getting ready to face Mexico in St. Louis on Saturday, netminder Hope Solo made public apologies for her remarks after being sat in their World Cup semifinal match against Brazil.

The 26-year old was on the sideline for the 5-1 win, but was not in uniform.

"I would like to apologize to my teammates, coaches and everyone else adversely affected by my comments at the Women's World Cup," said Solo. "This public apology comes later than it should have, but I hope that does not diminish the fact that I am truly sorry. I made a mistake and I take full responsibility for my actions. I let my teammates down and have lost their trust."

"I would like to especially apologize to Greg Ryan and Briana Scurry. There is no excuse for insulting a coach or a teammate. My focus now is solely on reconciliation with the team. I am here to support the team for these games, but after apologizing in person to all my teammates and the coaches, I have made the choice not to suit up for these games since I believe this is the first step in the healing process."

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(Soccer365.com) Cesc Fabregas' agent says he is in the dark over reported interest from Barcelona - but admits the midfielder would be willing to talk to them.

Fabregas, who has been trailed by Real Madrid for over a year, has been recently linked in the Spanish press with former club Barcelona, where he learned his trade before switching to Arsenal four years ago.

However, Diaz claims neither he nor the player had heard nothing from Barca about the possibility of signing Fabregas, who is currently preparing for Spain's European Championship qualifier against Denmark on Saturday.

"I have spoken with Cesc and we are not aware of any interest from Barca. And if they do have interest... hopefully they do, because they are a great club, who play great football and Cesc was very happy there," Diaz told Radio Marca.

Diaz later told Marca newspaper: "Neither Cesc nor myself have confirmed the news, and the truth is that the only thing that we are concerned about now is the game against Denmark. What will come, will come.

"If we received an offer from Barcelona, clearly we would listen to it. It is the club which taught Cesc everything and it would be a compliment if that happened."

Barca's arch-rivals Real Madrid were keen to bring Fabregas back to Spain this summer, with the player himself admitting he had spoken to Real president Ramon Calderon and sporting director Predrag Mijatovic during the close season.

However, the 20-year-old Fabregas, who signed an eight-year contract extension with Arsenal last season, insisted last month he had no regrets about shunning a potential move to the Bernabeu to remain with the Gunners.

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(Soccer365.com) U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bob Bradley has named 21 players to the initial roster that will train in Europe in advance of the team’s international match against Switzerland.

Kickoff against the co-hosts of the 2008 European Championship is set for Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 8:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. ET) at St. Jakob's Park in Basel, and the match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision. The final roster for the Switzerland match will be named following next weekend’s league competitions.

"This is a great opportunity to gather many of our European-based players to have some quality time together, with the reward at the end of it being a match against a very good Switzerland team,” said Bradley. “We are continuing to develop our team as World Cup qualifying approaches, and this week gives us another good chance to integrate more players into our system.”

The training camp roster holds eight players from the 2007 Gold Cup championship team this summer, led by team captain Carlos Bocanegra. Glasgow Rangers midfielder DaMarcus Beasley posted three goals in the tournament, and his nine total points are second-highest for the U.S. this year. Bocanegra and his Fulham teammate, Clint Dempsey, scored in the USA’s thrilling 4-2 loss to Brazil last month in Chicago.

Derby County midfielder Eddie Lewis and Reading FC goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann return to the U.S. fold for the first time since the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Lewis is the leading capwinner on the roster with 73 appearances for the United States, including starts in two matches in Germany in the summer of 2006.

While eight players in camp have one cap or less, they boast plenty of experience at the youth international level. Six players were part of the USA’s FIFA U-20 World Cup team that advanced to the quarterfinals in Canada this past summer, with four players – Freddy Adu, Michael Bradley, Danny Szetela and Sal Zizzo – starting all five matches. Both Adu and Szetela had three goals in the tournament, while Bradley scored the game-winner in overtime against Uruguay that put the U.S. through to the quarterfinals.

Switzerland finished in first place in Group G of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, ahead of eventual runners up France. Falling to Ukraine in the Round of 16 in penalties after a 0-0 draw in regulation time, the Swiss became the first team in World Cup history to be eliminated from the tournament without surrendering a single goal.

The U.S. will be searching for their first-ever victory against Switzerland, with a lifetime record of 0-3-3. This is the USA’s third visit to the country, the most recent trip a 2-1 loss on June 2, 1990 in St. Gallen. The most memorable meeting took place in the teams’ opening match of the 1994 World Cup on June 18 in Detroit, when Eric Wynalda’s free kick goal just before halftime secured a crucial point that would eventually allow the U.S. to advance to the knockout phase before being eliminated by Brazil.

The U.S. will complete its 2007 schedule when they make their first-ever trip to South Africa when they take on the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts on Nov. 17 in Johannesburg as part of the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup. Kickoff at Ellis Park Stadium, which will host one World Cup semifinal match in 2010, is set for 4 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET).

U.S. Men's National Team Roster vs. Switzerland

GOALKEEPERS (3): Marcus Hahnemann (Reading FC), Tally Hall (Esbjerg), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham FC), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Dan Califf (Aalborg BK), Jay Demerit (Watford FC), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock), Steve Purdy (1860 Munich)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Hamburger SV), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Danny Szetela (Racing Santander)
FORWARDS (4): Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Preston Zimmerman (Hamburger SV), Sal Zizzo (Hannover 96)

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(Soccer365.com) A phenomenal seven goals from Brazil striker Afonso Alves ripped through hapless Heracles Almelo on Sunday. Alves' hat-trick came in a devastating opening 19 minutes before he claimed another four in nine second-half minutes to set an Eredivisie record for scoring.

Striker Gerald Sibon punctuated the one-man scoring festival with a goal five minutes into the second period before Alves, who was making his second start of the season and his first in the Eredivisie after a dispute with his club, embarked on his second spree with four more goals.

Sibon then netted his second nine minutes from time to complete the rout and leave Heracles Almelo one place off the bottom of the table.

Sibon laid on the first goal for Alves after 10 minutes. The 26-year-old's initial shot was saved by visiting goalkeeper Martin Pieckenhagen but the Brazilian netted the rebound.

Karim Bridji shot straight at Rob van Dijk from long range at the other end before Alves, who made his first start of the season against Helsingborg in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, scored his second, curling in a free-kick from 30 yards.

Heerenveen scored again one minute later when Alves netted his third from close range.

And it could have been four before half time when Alves found Michael Bradley who forced Pieckenhagen into a smart save.

Half-time substitute Jacob Poulsen set up Sibon for the fourth after 50 minutes, finding the striker inside the box and he hit a shot into the top-left corner.

Everton forced Van Dijk to tip over at the other end before Alves scored again.

His fourth strike came courtesy of a long ball from Gianni Zuiverloon, but Alves still had to beat three defenders before putting the ball into the bottom-left corner for a superb solo goal.

Alves converted Michael Dingsdag's cross for his fifth before shooting from close range following Miralem Sulejmani's cross for his sixth and Heerenveen's seventh.

But the Heerenveen onslaught was relentless, with Alves at the forefront and he scored a fantastic header after 77 minutes for his seventh of the match.

Substitute Sulejmani was the provider once more when he crossed for Sibon to tip the ball in and round off the scoring. Alves departed to a standing ovation.

Heerenveen, who had just one Eredivisie win under their belt prior to Sunday, are in mid-table.

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Posted by SoccerAdmin at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Soccer365.com) Pat Noonan factored in all three goals as the New England Revolution won its first-ever cup championship with a 3-2 victory against FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Wednesday night.

Noonan scored the game’s first goal and assisted on Taylor Twellman’s go-ahead goal and Wells Thompson’s game-winning goal to help the Revs lift the U.S. Open Cup for the first time ever.

The victory came in New England’s second overall trip to the Open Cup final - and fifth cup final overall - having also advancing to the title match in 2001. The win was also the first championship at Pizza Hut Park, having lost both MLS Cup 2005 and MLS Cup 2006 at Pizza Hut Park.

The U.S. Open Cup is America’s oldest cup competition and is considered the U.S. Soccer Federation’s domestic championship. The tournament is open to soccer teams from all levels of soccer in the U.S. and includes qualifying rounds for amateur and lower-level professional clubs. This season, 40 teams qualified for the main bracket, with the Revs winning through all the way to the championship.

Noonan put the Revs on the board in the 21st minute, tapping in Steve Ralston’s deflected angled cross. Ralston put a long pass inside the six-yard box, but Dallas defender Adrian Serioux deflected the ball over Hoops goalkeeper Dario Sala, who was waiting to collect the ball uncontested. The re-directed ball fell to Noonan at the far post where he tapped in his shot for the early 1-0 Revolution lead.

FC Dallas leveled the score in the 30th minute when Arturo Alvarez blasted a bending 18-yard shot past Revs keeper Matt Reis. Alvarez cut inside on the left after taking the ball from David Wagenfuhr, and launched his left-footed shot that bent inside the far post and found the side netting for the tying goal.

Twellman put the Revs ahead, 2-1, just before the half, converting on the team’s corner kick from Ralston. The service from the right side met Noonan at the middle of the area where he and Carlos Ruiz collided. Noonan managed to flick the ball on to Twellman running on the far post, and the striker collected and punched the ball in past a diving Sala.

Twellman nearly put the Revs up 3-1 just after the start of the second, taking a Noonan cross-field pass and running onto goal undefended. He blasted a shot past Sala, who was off his line, but the left-footed attempt was wide right of the far post by inches.

Wells Thompson, starting on the right wing as the Revs had to juggle the lineup with defensive midfield cog Shalrie Joseph suspended for the match, gave New England a two-goal cushion in the 58th minute. Twellman and Noonan had a two-on-one breakaway on Sala, but Noonan’s pass back to Twellman went past him toward the byline. Twellman ran down the errant ball and sent a low pass into the area to Noonan. His strike partner back-heeled the ball behind him, where Thompson won a footrace with Serioux and blasted a shot past Sala.

Dallas quickly cut the Revs’ lead back to one goal in the 64th minute when Abe Thompson, who had just entered the game less than one minute earlier, connected on Clarence Goodson’s headed pass back across the face of the goal. Off a broken free kick, Serioux sent a long ball from the near sideline to Goodson on the far post. Falling backward, he had enough power on his pass to find Thompson near the edge of the six-yard box where he volleyed his first touch of the game past a diving Reis in traffic.

Dallas put five forwards on the field in the closing minutes in an effort to score the equalizing goal, but the Revs were able to withstand the attack as Wagenfuhr and Kenny Cooper both blasted shots high of frame.

Posted by SoccerAdmin at 05:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

(Soccer365.com) DaMarcus Beasley provided an assist and scored as Rangers notched one of their most impressive European wins in history with a 3-0 win over Lyon at the Stade Gerland on Tuesday night.

“We had seen in previous games away from home that Beasley had done well for us because he has that little bit of pace,” manager Walter Smith said of the American Abroad.

The Scottish side grabbed a surprising lead in the 23rd minute after Beasley cross was headed home by Lee McCulloch.

Daniel Cousin went on to add a second goal three minutes into the second half and Beasley finished matters off in the 53rd minute.

After receiving a long ball on the left side from Cousin, Beasley took advantage of a slight hesitation from Remy Vercourte to send the 2,000 or so visiting fans into a frenzy.

Smith said: "We couldn't have imagined that we would win so emphatically. I had to pinch myself when the third goal went in but it was a fantastic night.”

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Posted by SoccerAdmin at 09:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

(Soccer365.com) Wayne Rooney's first goal of the season was both clinical and decisive as it gave hosts Manchester United a 1-0 Champions League win over Roma.

These two sides locked horns at Old Trafford last season, and the scoreline was a staggering 7-1 to United.

But it took until the 70th minute for the deadlock to be broken this time, with Rooney latching on to Nani's clever throughball and steering a right-footed angled drive in off the upright for the game's only goal.

A defeat was arguably harsh on the Italians, who posed plenty of problems, with Francesco Totti the biggest threat, drawing a fine first-half save from Tomasz Kuszczak and lifting a chip just over the bar on 49 minutes.

Nani was the star man for United, setting up a Rooney half-volley and clipping the crossbar with a deft dink on 55.

Michael Carrick and sub Carlos Tevez weren't far off with long-range efforts, and Cristiano Ronaldo had an audacious back-heel ruled out for offside.

But after Mauro Esposito's drive whistled narrowly wide of the post late on, the hosts closed out their second consecutive win in Group F.

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Posted by SoccerAdmin at 09:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)