Usual suspects are favorites for Copa America

Usual suspects are favorites for Copa America
It isn’t quite the World Cup, but Copa America is without question the best soccer tournament in this part of the world, and once again, Brazil and Argentina (surprise, surprise) are favored as the 12-team event began Friday in Argentina.

Read more on Miami Herald

UPDATE 1-Soccer-Japan drawn with hosts Argentina in Copa America

UPDATE 1-Soccer-Japan drawn with hosts Argentina in Copa America
Guest team Japan will meet hosts Argentina in the Copa America next year while Uruguay and Mexico will repeat their 2010 World Cup group clash following Thursday’s draw for the continental tournament.

Read more on Reuters via Yahoo! Canada News

Beckham: Coming to America

• Will he accomplish the American Dream?
• Run Time 60 mins
• Highest Quality Recording

Description
David Beckham brings a wealth of soccer knowledge and a quiet ability to impress. In this DVD we catch a glimpse of the man behind the ball-a star in the making and a genius in action. Rare interview footage from fellow professionals and lifelong friend… More >>

Beckham: Coming to America

1987 Copa América: 1987 Copa América Managers, 1987 Copa América Players, Diego Maradona, Romário, Dunga, Iván Zamorano, Claudio Caniggia

Product Description
Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher’s book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: 1987 Copa América Managers, 1987 Copa América Players, Diego Maradona, Romário, Dunga, Iván Zamorano, Claudio Caniggia, Enzo Francescoli, Carlos Bilardo, Oscar Ruggeri, Jorginho, Paulo Silas, Ricardo Roberto Barreto Da Rocha, Sergio Goycochea, Valdo Filho, Müller, José Carlos… More >>

1987 Copa América: 1987 Copa América Managers, 1987 Copa América Players, Diego Maradona, Romário, Dunga, Iván Zamorano, Claudio Caniggia

Mikasa FSC62 America Futsal Soccer Ball

• Official Size 4

Product Description
Adult size; Synthetic low bounce cover; indoor use…. More >>

Mikasa FSC62 America Futsal Soccer Ball

Spice Girls in America – A Tour Story

Spice Girls in America – A Tour Story

United flop Juan Veron retains title as the best player in South America

United flop Juan Veron retains title as the best player in South America
Juan Sebastian Veron has been named the best player in South America for the second year in a row. The 34-year-old now captains his hometown club Estudiantes La Plata.

Read more on Daily Mail

How David Beckham has boosted “soccer” in America

The arrival of David Beckham at the Los Angeles Galaxy team a couple of years ago may not have provided much success for the club itself, but it has certainly raised the profile of the “beautiful game” in the United States.

Beckham and Posh brought together the VIP celebrity culture and the higher echelons of the footballing world in a way that had never been seen before in America. Before his arrival (in fact even now), the top American footballers could only dream of earning a fraction of the astronomical figures bandied about when Beckham’s overall wages are mentioned.

But still, he seems to have had the desired impact of raising the game at grassroots level, as well as in the celebrity world. This was emphasised by the massive crowds on show when Chelsea, AC Milan and Inter Milan appeared in the States for a pre-season tournament. Every game was played in front of a sell-out crowd. I seem to remember over 100,000 being at one match involving Chelsea, dwarfing the numbers seen at pre-season games even in England.

The rise in the popularity of “soccer” has also seen a rise in the blogs and fan-sites appearing in the States, and a few have caught my eye recently as they seem to have a completely different way of looking at football than the English natives. Maybe we should change it to “soccer” too, it might change our attitudes!

I particularly like the strangely named AmongTheThugs (a reference to a book by American writer Bill Bruford about UK hooligans from the nineties i believe, although it is not mentioned on the site). This is a site set up by six West Coast football fans, who between them support five different English teams, and they have a delightfully humorous outlook on the football scene in England. No-one is safe from their jibes and i find myself regularly checking back to see who their jokes are aimed at next.

They have recently asked why Carlo Ancelotti would deliberately throw a game against Wigan which i found quite amusing, and they projected a new eye protection for Van Persie to wear when he next faces Adebayor!

Another one that tickled me is the comparison of Carlos Tevez to a Caveman! You have to see them to get the jokes, so go over and have a look. You will not be disappointed. The good-natured ribbing of the teams supported by the other writers is something you just don’t get in angry old England! If you are into soccer and like a laugh, check it out, you won’t be disappointed with AmongTheThugs!