Uruguay have become the kings of South America for a record 15th time

Uruguay has won its first Copa America since 1995 after a comprehensive 3-0 win in the final over a toothless Paraguay at the Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Goal-line technology 'a year away'

Goal-line technology could be introduced for the 2012-13 Premier League season, according to chief executive Richard Scudamore. 

The issue of goal-line technology has long-been debated, in particular after television replays at last year's World Cup showed England midfielder Frank Lampard's strike against Germany had crossed the line.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, previously an opponent of technology in football, came under pressure in the wake of the incident, and, in recent months, tests have been ongoing over resolving the issue.

Writing in the Premier League's new review of the season, which will be distributed to MPs and peers on Wednesday, Scudamore said: "The whole point of the game is about scoring goals. Players strain every sinew to either create or deny them, fans shout themselves hoarse exhorting their teams to score them, managers' and players' careers can be defined by them.

"The technology is available, it is the fairness that is important and the Premier League would introduce it tomorrow if it could. Now FIFA is constructively engaged we are hopeful the 2012-13 season is a realistic aim.''


source: Soccernet.com

Foreign coaching has propelled the USA women - is it time for the men's team to emulate that success?

Watch Highlight of Women's World Cup Final : Japan vs USA.  

For all the success the United States women’s national team has had during the 2011 Women’s World Cup, it wasn’t too long ago that the team struggled to live up to expectations and appeared to be stagnating.

The U.S. hasn't won the World Cup since 1999 and had fallen behind Brazil and Germany when it came to pumping out talent. Making a bold decision to hire a foreign coach three years ago, the team has been reinvigorated and now awaits Japan in the 2011 World Cup final.

With the United States men’s national team declining in the quality of its play during the most recent Gold Cup, is it time for the team to emulate its successful partners?


While the difference in talent and playing style between the men’s and women’s game remains substantial, the philosophy of coaching is relatively the same.

For example, the Japanese men's and women's teams play an almost identical style of soccer. Since most teams have a physical advantage over the Blue Samurai, both teams emphasize passing and ball movement.

U.S. starting goalkeeper Hope Solo believes that under a foreign coach, the U.S. national team improved because the team was liberated by the freedom and confidence granted by Pia Sundhage.

“I think a lot of the American-style coaches, they like to be more involved with every pass and every play,” said Solo.

“From the moment Pia stepped in, she really changed the dynamic of the team. She has a completely different philosophy. She is one of more laid-back coaches I’ve ever had. She really wants to push the players to start being creative and thinking for themselves on the field.”


Surely the male and female games must be approached differently, but the Xs and Os apart, the tactical and technical sides of the game don't change much on either level.

During the Gold Cup, in almost every match the U.S. team appeared lethargic and uninterested. The only time the team looked motivated was, ironically, the first 30 minutes of its embarrassing 4-2 loss to Mexico in the final, when it took an early two-goal lead.

After that match, star player Landon Donovan refused to back head coach Bob Bradley, revealing a growing frustration with the current coaching situation.

It isn’t that head coach Bob Bradley is inept as a coach; he has done a solid job under difficult circumstances with an average group of talent. However, the team needs a change in the mental aspects of the game. A foreign coach would provide the team with the means to continue its growth.

Solo remembers being immediately impressed by Sundhage’s style of coaching, as it allowed the team to enjoy the game rather than focus on too many instructions.

“She said, 'You guys are creative, you are soccer players,'” said Solo. “She wanted us to think and read the game for ourselves. She makes us think when we watch films and dissect the game so that when we step on the field, we can think for ourselves and she doesn’t have to be on the sidelines saying, 'Pass the ball to Carly' or other instructions.”

She added, “She lets the game come to us.” 


source: Goal.com

Argentina 3-0 Costa Rica: Aguero double provides Copa America salvation

Sergio Aguero was the Argentina hero on Monday evening, as his double helped dismiss the threat of Costa Rica and secure a 3-0 victory for Sergio Batista's under-pressure outfit, and in the process confirm its place in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Copa America as Group A runners-up.

How do you replace Scholes???

For first time since 1994, Paul Scholes will not be roaming in Manchester United’s midfield, providing the accurate pass or clutch goal, for a club clearly in a transition phase.

Despite his obvious decline physically, Scholes’ steady foot and soccer IQ were held in high regard by coach Sir Alex Ferguson, who admits that he doesn’t know how he will be able to replace those assets as he rebuilds the team. 

“The big problem for us is, of course, how do you replace someone like Paul Scholes? It is very difficult,” said Ferguson. “I think that he is certainly one of the top four players in the world.”


The Red Devils, who recently lost goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar and defender Gary Neville to retirement, have been unusually aggressive in attracting new players to fit their blueprint for next season. While the club won the English Premier League title, its 3-1 loss in the Champions League final displayed the divide between itself and champions Barcelona.

After that result, United signed Aston Villa’s Ashley Young, Blackburn’s Phil Jones and Atletico Madrid’s David de Gea, leaving returning players, fans and management excited about the upcoming season.   


The team still needs a playmaker to distribute the ball to attacking players Wayne Rooney, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, Dimitar Berbatov and others. It is rumored that the veteran manager is looking to add Inter’s midfielder Wesley Sneijder to pull the strings in the midfield. 

“I think it is impossible to get another Paul Scholes, but if we get another player in similar lines in terms of the quality of his passing and vision, we would have to do something,” Ferguson said.

If Ferguson is unsuccessful in capturing Sneijder or any other top player, there might be some options on his team that warrant a second look. It was only four years ago when the Scot invested a reported 30 million pounds in a Brazilian midfielder with some promise named Anderson, who recently signed a four and a half year contract extension. 


Ferguson acknowledged that rebuilding United wasn’t a process that was decided over this summer but from three years of planning. 

“With Gary Neville , Paul Scholes, and Edwin Van Der Sar, we were well aware that we were going to have to replace them at some point,” said Ferguson. “So the work in the last two or three years has been about that, trying to make sure we still have the quality in the squad to succeed.”

It might be exciting for Red Devils fans to continue to see marquee names being added to the team but sometimes a familiar face can provide similar results if given the chance. 


source: Goal.com

Facebook Challenge Goal Manchester United

Facebook challenge Manchester United strikers and others : Rooney, Nani, Chicharito, Van de saar and their fitness coach.  And the winner is Chicharito!