Argentina affirms Messi will attend Beijing Olympics

President of the Association of Argentine Soccer (AFA) Julio Grondona affirmed Friday that forward Lionel Messi will compete in the Olympic Games in Beijing, despite the Barcelona club of Spain concede him for the competitions. Grondona said that "if the technical Sergio Batista calls him (Messi), he will be (in the competitions), because the norms of the Federation of International Soccer Associations (FIFA)" oblige to concede the soccer player under 23 years.

"Without Messi there isn't team for Argentina," Grondona said and he warned that if Barcelona club does not want to concede Messi "it will open an antecedent that will provoke protests from other clubs." In declarations to the Spanish daily Sport, Grondona said that "it's logical that Messi plays for Argentina, because Barcelona club has him the whole year" and "are few competitions Messi can play with his national team." Messi will be 21 years old on June 24 and he has expressed his will to attend the Olympic Games of Beijing, where Argentina will seek to keep the gold medal they won in Athens in 2004.

FIFA Gives Green Light To Iraq

Iraq's World Cup qualifier against Australia will go ahead as planned this weekend after FIFA agreed to temporarily lift its suspension. The match had been in doubt after FIFA announced on Monday it was suspending the reigning Asian champion in response to its government's decision to dissolve its National Olympic Committee.

However, FIFA agreed to revoke the ban after the Iraqi government provided written assurances that it had not dissolved the Iraqi Football Association. The lifting of the ban has Australia worried. Pim Verbeek, the Dutch coach of Australia, was happy the match would be played but warned his players Iraq will go in as more dangerous opponents now they have won their fight to play. "This is definitely not to our advantage what has happened," Verbeek said. "They will want to show everybody they deserve to be in the World Cup and we have to be alert on that. "It was not going to be an easy game already and it will be more difficult now."

Australia, which leads Group 1 with four points from two games, would have received six points for two forfeited games, including the return leg on June 7, had the ban been put in place, and one foot in the next qualifying round. However the green light for the game prevented a heavy financial cost for the scrapping of a home fixture before a sell-out crowd, and provided a chance for the predominantly European-based squad to play a competitive game in its club off-season. Asian champion Iraq is bottom of Group 1, which includes Qatar and China which meets on Monday, with one point from two games. The top two teams from each group will proceed to the final qualifying round.

Women's Soccer Team USA nears Olympic Ticket

For the USA Women's National Soccer Team, it is only Team Costa Rica who is standing in their way of a trip to Beijing this August. The team proved their mettle over their tough Mexican counterparts with 1 goal each from Abby Wambach and Natasha Kai making the difference.

The semi-finals match-up between USA and Costa Rica should prove to be an easy one for the USA Soccer team as Costa Rica suffered a 1-0 loss to the other North American team of Canada. The Women's Soccer Team of Canada, on the other hand, also get a shot at the Beijing Olympics as they play against Mexico on the other semi-finals match.

The winner and runner-up of this CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament get their dreams fulfilled of participating in the 2008 Olympics Soccer competition.

A tribute video to the USA Women's Soccer team

U.S.tops Panama 1-0 in CONCACAF Olympic qualifier

Freddy Adu scored on a penalty kick in the 42nd minute to help the United States' under-23 team beat Panama 1-0 on Thursday night in the second round of Group A pool play in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying. The Americans, coming off a 1-1 tie with Cuba on Tuesday, improved to 1-0-1, while Panama dropped to 0-2. The top two teams in the group will advance to the March 20 semifinals in Nashville, Tenn., along with the top two from Group B. The finalists will earn spots in the Beijing Olympics.

The United States will finish group play Saturday against Honduras (2-0). Panama, which cannot advance, will play Cuba (0-1-1) on Saturday. If Cuba loses or ties, the U.S. automatically advances. Honduras already has clinched a spot in the semifinals. Adu scored after Panama goalkeeper Jose Calderon received a yellow card for tripping Josmer Altidore 15 yards from the goal during a breakaway scoring chance. On his penalty kick, Adu struck the ball with his left foot, and it went just past Calderon's outstretched arms into the right side of the net.

The United States again had trouble converting scoring chances into goals. In the 47th minute, Calderon hit the ground to knock a shot away. Later, he stopped Holden Stuart's free kick from 25 yards. The United States had a brief scare in the 56th minute when Adu fell to the ground after making contact with a Panamanian player. But just as Adu was about to be placed on a stretcher, he bounced up off the ground and was playing again moments later.

No 2008 Olympics For Pregnant U.S. Soccer Team Captain

The captain of the U.S. women's national soccer team the past three years and world record holder for caps will miss the Olympics because she is pregnant. Kristine Lilly, who has been part of all eight U.S. Women’s World Cup and Olympics teams, said she will not play any international soccer in 2008. In April, the team will try to qualify for the Beijing games. The 36-year-old Lilly has scored 129 career international goals, second in women's soccer history to Mia Hamm (158). Lilly said she is open to playing again in the future. "I'm not closing any doors as far as soccer," said Lilly, who has played 340 games for the United States. "But for now, I’m focusing on becoming a mom for the first time and everything that goes with that experience."

Lilly played in her 300th match on Jan. 18, 2006, against Norway, at the Four Nations Tournament in China, becoming the first man or woman to reach that milestone.

2007 Women's Soccer World Cup Coaches continue to fall-off

Within a day of announcing U.S. Women's Soccer coach Greg Ryan's contract will not be renewed, another coach decided to quit and pursue other endeavors. Women's National Soccer Team coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors decided to pack her bags and call it quits for the Team China. Possibly due to inability to reach her goal to reach the 2007 Women's World Cup semi-finals, Domanski-Lyfors, in her statement, said she will need to take a break from work and concentrate on her personal and family life for the meantime. Another possible controversial reason for Marika Lyfors departure was her disappointment that she was left with little control over decision-making in her team during the 2007 World Cup.

Marika Domanski-Lyfors had a respectable stint while coaching the Chinese National Team but was more recognized in improving the play-making abilities of her wards. I guess we won't be seeing Lyfors and Ryan in the 2008 Beijing Olympics now. Not as a coach anyway.

Get your own top of the line Soccer gear here:
adidas Men's +F30.7 TRX Firm Ground Soccer Shoe
adidas Men's Copa Mundial Soccer Shoe
adidas Glider Soccer Ball White/Red
Manchester United (mens)
adidas Predator Beckham Shinguards

U.S. Women's Soccer Coach Greg Ryan sacked?

Looking at the developments after the recently concluded 2007 Women's Soccer World Cup, it doesn't take a lot to get booted out of the team. Well... actually the one thing that got Soccer coach Greg Ryan "booted out" of the team was the one thing that probably cost the U.S. Women's Soccer team a shot at the 2007 World Cup!

U.S. National Soccer authorities have concluded recently that they will not be renewing Coach Ryan's contract and would let it expire till the end of the year. Coach Ryan owns an impressive win-lose record of 45-1 since taking over the team coach post in 2005.

One question I have though, hasn't anybody thought of the possibility that coach Ryan threw the game against Brazil? Sounds really far off but anything is possible!

Great Soccer Gear find it below:
adidas Men's +F30.7 TRX Firm Ground Soccer Shoe
adidas Men's Copa Mundial Soccer Shoe
adidas Glider Soccer Ball White/Red
Manchester United (mens)
adidas Predator Beckham Shinguards

Team Germany Is The 2007 Women's Soccer World Cup Champion! Convincing win against Brazil 2-0

The German Women's Soccer Team proved that they are still the force to be reckoned with in the world of women's soccer! Goals from Birgit Prinz and and Simone Laudehr dealt the Brazilian the heart breaking loss as they seemed invincible in the run-up matches to this 2007 Women's Soccer World Cup finals. In fact, the Brazilian women had somewhat the upper hand on this match against Germany as they had longer possessions than their opponents and also had more free kicks. Goals however were the things that counted the most as Brazil failed to scored in their lengthy possessions while the German women were precise in their tactics. This competition is a 2008 Beijing Olympics Qualifier tournament.

Player of the match Nadine Angerer took the limelight as she saved a penalty kick by Marta. Marta and the rest of Team Brazil were frustrated the whole match.

Great Soccer Gear find it below:
adidas Men's +F30.7 TRX Firm Ground Soccer Shoe
adidas Men's Copa Mundial Soccer Shoe
adidas Glider Soccer Ball White/Red
Manchester United (mens)
adidas Predator Beckham Shinguards

Click here for the complete story on Germany's win in this 2007 World Cup! Congratulations to Team Germany!


FIFA Women's World Cup 2008 Olympics Olympics Soccer