2006 FIFA World Cup Soccer News and Blog

Dalmy expects World Cup experience to be valuable (Denver Post)
Marian Dalmy doesn’t expect to play much for the U.S. women’s soccer team in the World Cup that began Monday in China, but that’s OK with her.

Inspired China aims to top Cup group (People’s Daily)
WUHAN: China’s women’s soccer players are brimming with optimism after their nail-biting 3-2 victory against a resilient Denmark during both sides’ opening clash at the World Cup on Wednesday. The host players underlined their quiet dete …

World Cup ref helps kick off junior soccer in Bangkok (Bangkok Post)
September sees the start of the new season for the Bangkok Soccer League. Registration Fun Day will be at Bangkok Patana School tomorrow and Graham Poll, England’s famous World Cup referee, will be refereeing a couple of games for us.

Canadian women have eyes on World Cup prize (Canada.com)
Chinese dancers dressed as soccer boots and balls perform during the opening ceremony of the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup football tournament at the Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai, September 10, 2007.

Ian Porterfield, Soccer Player, Dead at 61 (New York Times)
Ian Porterfield scored the winning goal in one of the greatest upsets in England?s F.A. Cup and coached several national teams around the world.

Soccer: Brazil romps in Women’s World Cup (International Herald Tribune)
Marta scored two goals in the second half to lead Brazil to a 5-0 win over New Zealand. Australia also won, 4-1 over Ghana, for its first victory in any Women’s World Cup.

Soccer fan slashes tyres (News 24 South Africa)
A Belgian man angered by the bragging of French soccer fans during the 2006 World Cup has slashed the tyres of dozens of French cars.

Soccer World Cup just 1 000 days away (SABC News)
Tshwane executive mayor Gwen Ramokgopa will deliver an address at the Union Buildings in Pretoria during the start of the 2010 Soccer World Cup 1 000 day countdown. Celebrations are being held in nine host cities countrywide.

South Africa: Revolution If country Gets World Cup Shot On Target (AllAfrica.com)
WITH just 1000 days remaining until the Soccer World Cup gets under way, it is safe to say that SA’s 2010 honeymoon is over.

Soccer: Canada strolls past Ghana 4-0 in World Cup (Honolulu Advertiser)
HANGZHOU, China Christine Sinclair scored twice to help Canada stay alive for a quarterfinal berth with a 4-0 win today in the Women’s World Cup. Canada’s fate will depend on the result of its last Group C game against Australia on Wednesday. Sophie Schmidt and Martina Franko also scored.

United States tops Sweden at World Cup (Ashland Daily Tidings)
CHENGDU, China The U.S. women’s national soccer team has not enjoyed the smoothest start to this World Cup, having labored to earn a tie in its opener and, for 15 troubling minutes Friday, looking as though its intended long-term stay in China might be cut short.

Bhutan pulls out of 2010 men’s soccer World Cup qualifying (Slam! Sports)
ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - Bhutan has pulled out of the qualifying competition for the 2010 World Cup of men’s soccer. FIFA said Friday the tiny Himalayan kingdom decided not to enter the first Asian qualifying round for the tournament in South Africa.

Ian Porterfield, Soccer Player, Dead at 61 (New York Times)
Ian Porterfield scored the winning goal in one of the greatest upsets in England?s F.A. Cup and coached several national teams around the world.

South Africa: Govt Vows to Avoid Cutting Social Projects to Pay for World Cup (AllAfrica.com)
South Africa will not cut social programmes to fund construction of stadiums and other facilities for the 2010 soccer World Cup, the chief executive of its World Cup organising committee has said.

Rock star of opera Luciano Pavarotti dead at 71
Tallahassee Democrat - In summer 2006, as Pavarotti recovered from his cancer surgery, his longtime colleague and friend Domingo sang at the World Cup soccer final, where the Three Tenors first performed in 1990. ”I couldn’t help being quite sad, thinking that Luciano is

Sports Briefs
Cleveland Plain Dealer - Nigeria beat Spain in a penalty shootout to win the Under-17 World Cup soccer championship in Seoul, South Korea. The Africans won their third title, kicking home three goals in the penalty phase as goalkeeper Oladele Ajiboye kept the Spaniards

Canadian women have eyes on World Cup prize (Canada.com)
Chinese dancers dressed as soccer boots and balls perform during the opening ceremony of the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup football tournament at the Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai, September 10, 2007.

Soccer: Nigeria beats Spain for U-17 World Cup title (Honolulu Advertiser)
SEOUL, South Korea Nigeria beat Spain in a penalty shootout Sunday to win the Under-17 World Cup soccer championship. The Africans won their third title, kicking home three goals in the penalty phase as goalkeeper Oladele Ajiboye kept the Spaniards scoreless at Seoul FIFA World Cup Stadium.

Soccer: Duerst, Tarpley among state connections to Women’s World Cup (The Capital Times)
Dean Duerst is going to get really familiar with Group D. The Madison native and former University of Wisconsin women’s soccer coach is part of the United States’ scouting team for the Women’s World Cup that starts Monday. He’s responsible for watching the group that includes host China, New Zealand, Brazil and Denmark. If it advances to the semifinals, the U.S. would play a team from Group D on …

Playing in World Cup again special for Lang after returning from knee injury (Slam! Sports)
HANGZHOU, China (CP) - The scar on Kara Lang’s right knee isn’t very large, but it has left a huge mark on her life. Lang, a midfielder-forward for Canada’s women’s soccer team, missed most of the 2006 season recovering from knee surgery.

Wambach scores in first World Cup match (WROC Rochester)
The United States women’s soccer team began World Cup play overseas in China at 5am eastern time Tuesday. Rochester s Abby Wambach and the Americans facing North Korea in the first round.

Soccer, women’s World Cup: O’Reilly’s goal rallies U.S. to 2-2 draw with North Korea (Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune)
CHENGDU, China — For those who thought the U.S.-North Korea matchup might be the best of the women’s World Cup, they weren’t disappointed.

ESPN2 Kicks Off ‘Challenging’ Women’s World Cup Slate (MultiChannel News)
For those who missed the match live from Shanghai s Hongkou Football Stadium this morning at 7:55 a.m. (ET), they can catch up or relive the drubbing today on ESPN Classic at 5 p.m. as part of ESPN networks extensive coverage of the 2007 FIFA Women s World Cup.

Canada’s opposition at the women’s soccer World Cup (Canadian Press via Yahoo! News)
(CP) - A look at the teams Canada will face during Group C play at the FIFA women’s World Cup of soccer in China:

American soccer player Lilly looks forward to women’s World Cup (Colorado Springs Gazette)
For Kristine Lilly, the beginning was a long time ago and the memory is a bit hazy. Lilly is the most experienced player in international soccer history and she leads the U.S. team into the women s World Cup which starts today in China.

Soccer: Nigeria beats Spain for U-17 World Cup title (Honolulu Advertiser)
SEOUL, South Korea Nigeria beat Spain in a penalty shootout Sunday to win the Under-17 World Cup soccer championship. The Africans won their third title, kicking home three goals in the penalty phase as goalkeeper Oladele Ajiboye kept the Spaniards scoreless at Seoul FIFA World Cup Stadium.

New American soccer stars seek national respect (The World)
CHENGDU, China Americans get up for the big events the Olympics, for instance, or the Super Bowl. Halfway around the world, 21 soccer players are hoping the three-week women s World Cup played in five cities across China will grab the country s attention.

Few noticeas top-ranked U.S. begins World Cup (El Paso Times)
CHENGDU, China — Americans get up for the big events — the Olympics, for instance, or the Super Bowl. Halfway around the world, 21 soccer players are hoping the three-week women’s World Cup — played in five cities across China — will grab the country’s attention.

WOMEN’S WORLD CUP: U.S. looks ready to roll (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
For those who remember the dream-like summer of 1999, when the U.S. Women’s World Cup team seemed to take over the nation, here’s a thought that might take a while to get used to: This year’s team is better.

Germany, US favored as women’s soccer World Cup set to open (AP via Yahoo! Singapore News)
Defending champion Germany and the United States will be the favorites when the women’s soccer World Cup kicks off Monday with a return to its birthplace. The first women’s World Cup was held in China in 1991, with the United States winning. The Americans, ranked No. 1 in the FIFA rankings, are favored to win their third World Cup _ they also won in ‘99 _ despite being drawn in a …

Soccer: Nigeria beats Spain for U-17 World Cup title (Honolulu Advertiser)
SEOUL, South Korea Nigeria beat Spain in a penalty shootout Sunday to win the Under-17 World Cup soccer championship. The Africans won their third title, kicking home three goals in the penalty phase as goalkeeper Oladele Ajiboye kept the Spaniards scoreless at Seoul FIFA World Cup Stadium.

Germany a marked team as it kicks off defense of women’s soccer World Cup (AP via Yahoo! Singapore News)
Germany will be a marked team when it kicks off the defense of its women’s World Cup title on Monday. The Germans, who beat Sweden in extra time of the final four years ago, open the tournament against South American champions Argentina, and coach Silvia Neid said she realizes Germany is now in the center of the spotlight of world soccer. “Four years ago nobody thought we could …

Voting for 2010 world cup poster starts tomorrow (SABC News)
South Africans will have an opportunity to vote for one of three designs to become the official poster for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the FIFA communications department said today.

Young secret weapons on glory trail in 2007 Women’s World Cup (People’s Daily)
When the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup is going to be reeled off in five cities in China from Sept. 10 to 30, young budding stars are expected to unleash their prowess for changes of the women’s soccer world. Canadian Kara Lang made herse …

Favourites to open women’s World Cup (AAP via Yahoo!7 Sports)
Defending champion Germany and the United States will be the favourites when the women’s soccer World Cup kicks off Monday.

Players to watch for at women’s soccer World Cup (Canadian Press via Yahoo! News)
(CP) - Five players to watch at the FIFA women’s World Cup of soccer in China:

Germany a marked team as it kicks off defense of women’s soccer World Cup (AP via Yahoo! Singapore News)
Germany will be a marked team when it kicks off the defense of its women’s World Cup title on Monday. The Germans, who beat Sweden in extra time of the final four years ago, open the tournament against South American champions Argentina, and coach Silvia Neid said she realizes Germany is now in the center of the spotlight of world soccer. “Four years ago nobody thought we could …

U.S. women ready to bring third soccer title home (Houston Chronicle)
Americans get up for the big events the Olympics, for instance, or the Super Bowl. Halfway around the world, 21 soccer players are hoping the three-week women’s World Cup played in five cities across China will grab the country’s attention. The top-ranked Americans are favored to win it all, but few back home have seemed to notice.

Few noticeas top-ranked U.S. begins World Cup (El Paso Times)
CHENGDU, China — Americans get up for the big events — the Olympics, for instance, or the Super Bowl. Halfway around the world, 21 soccer players are hoping the three-week women’s World Cup — played in five cities across China — will grab the country’s attention.

Preview: Time for another European force to shock women’s soccer world (People’s Daily)
Will there be an Asian party when the women’s soccer World Cup backs to China after 16 years? Small talks are simmering before the tournament kicks off this month in five cities of the East Asian pioneer nation of women’s soccer. Puttin …

Favourites to open women’s World Cup (The West Australian)
Defending champion Germany and the United States will be the favourites when the women’s soccer World Cup kicks off Monday with a return to its birthplace.

Canadian women head to World Cup confident of medal but vexed by recent play (Canadian Press via Yahoo! News)
(CP) - Canada heads into the women’s soccer World Cup in China confident the national team has the ability to win a medal but vexed by the side’s unpredictable play in recent matches.

Canada’s opposition at the women’s soccer World Cup (Canadian Press via Yahoo! News)
(CP) - A look at the teams Canada will face during Group C play at the FIFA women’s World Cup of soccer in China:

Favourites to open women’s World Cup (The West Australian)
Defending champion Germany and the United States will be the favourites when the women’s soccer World Cup kicks off Monday with a return to its birthplace.

Canada’s opposition at the women’s soccer World Cup (Slam! Sports)
Norway, Wednesday in Hangzhou: By far the toughest match and the one that can set the tone for the tournament. The best Canada has to show for eight games against Norway is a 1-1 draw in 2002. Canada has faced Norway twice in World Cup play and lost by a combined score of 14-1.

FIFA’s World Cup timing doing women’s soccer a disservice (USA Today)
Let’s say you run a major international sport that hosts a quadrennial event, and, eight years ago, you hit the jackpot and staged the most popular women’s-only sporting event ever held on earth. The soccer tournament went on in June and July, one of the few truly quiet times on the world’s sports calendar. That’s the story of the Women’s World Cup, which is holding its tournament in September …

Canadian women head to World Cup confident of medal but vexed by recent play (Canadian Press via Yahoo! News)
(CP) - Canada heads into the women’s soccer World Cup in China confident the national team has the ability to win a medal but vexed by the side’s unpredictable play in recent matches.

Favourites to open women’s World Cup (AAP via Yahoo!7 News)
Defending champion Germany and the United States will be the favourites when the women’s soccer World Cup kicks off Monday.

Preview: Time for another European force to shock women’s soccer world (People’s Daily)
Will there be an Asian party when the women’s soccer World Cup backs to China after 16 years? Small talks are simmering before the tournament kicks off this month in five cities of the East Asian pioneer nation of women’s soccer. Puttin …

Germany, US favored as women’s soccer World Cup set to open (AP via Yahoo! Singapore News)
Defending champion Germany and the United States will be the favorites when the women’s soccer World Cup kicks off Monday with a return to its birthplace. The first women’s World Cup was held in China in 1991, with the United States winning. The Americans, ranked No. 1 in the FIFA rankings, are favored to win their third World Cup _ they also won in ‘99 _ despite being drawn in a …