Daily news roundups

SoB Movie rocks at the Troc, Lahoud returns to full training, Blake called up by JAM, US tops Germany, more

Photo: Barb Colligon

Sons of Ben Movie premiere

Sons of Ben: The Movie had its Philadelphia premiere on Wednesday night at the Troc. It was a great event for a very entertaining film with some truly moving — and funny — moments charting the struggles of a core group of believers to bring an MLS franchise to Philadelphia.

We’ll have photos and video from the event later today. In the meanwhile, let me just say that film would be a wonderful addition to the Union’s season ticket holder package next season.

Philadelphia Union

Michael Lahoud participated in full training with the team on Wednesday for the first time since his injury in the home game against Toronto on May 2. Also at practice was Danny Cruz, who is in town visiting his fiance while Bodo/Glimt has the week off for the international break.

Andre Blake, who was also practicing with the team on Wednesday, has been named to Jamaica’s 35-player preliminary roster for the Gold Cup.

At the Delco Times, Matthew De George talks to Eric Bird about playing his first minutes in a Union jersey in Tuesday’s friendly against Reading after missing the start of the season while recovering from sports hernia surgery. Bird, who reckons he’s 80 to 85 percent fit, said, “It’s always good to get out here and kick somebody who’s not your teammate.” He explained, “There’s nothing like game fitness,” Bird said. “I’m champing at the bit, but it’s not hard. You want to play, but at the same time, you need to be patient. You need to accept your role on the team, and that’s what I’ve done. Just getting out here, it’s fun.”

At the Union website, Chris Winkler has some history on the Philadelphia area and the US Open Cup ahead of next week’s match against Rochester Rhinos.

Brotherly Game takes an optimistic/pessimistic look at last week’s games.

Union Academy

The draws for the US Soccer Development Academy playoffs have been announced. The U-16s have been drawn in Group along with the Everton FC Westchester (June 23 at 4:30 pm),Weston FC (June 24 at 4:30 pm), and Houston Dynamo (June 26 at 11:15 am). The U-18s are in Group E with the Montreal Impact (June 23 at 12 pm), Kendall SC (June 24 at 12 pm), LA Galaxy (June 26 at 9 am).

The playoffs will take place June 23-26 at Grand Sports Park in Westfield, Indiana, with the semifinals and finals being held at StubHub Center in Carson, California, July 16-18.

Local

Ocean City Nor’easters thumped Lehigh Valley United 5-1 on the road on Wednesday night.

More on Tuesday night’s friendly between Reading United and the Union at Reading United and The Sports Quotient.

MLS

LA Galaxy have signed Robbie Keane to a contract extension.

New England loaned former Union goalkeeper Brad Knighton to USL side Richmond Kickers for Wednesday night’s game against Charleston Battery. Knighton, who played the full 90 in the the 1-1 draw, returns to the Revolution after the game and will be eligible for selection when they host Chicago on Saturday.

At Orlando Sentinel, Paul Tenorio reports that a new “core designated player” or “core player” roster spot, which was hoped to be introduced in time for the opening of the summer transfer window, will likely be delayed until 2016. Tenorio explains that, according to one source, “the league was looking at giving teams a maximum of $1.8 million to spend on one player over a two-year period, and that the money would have to be spent on a player from outside MLS. The source also said there was some debate about whether to allow a portion of the funds to be used to buy down other contracts.”

Massive Report reports Columbus Crew is abandoning the yellow jersey as its primary kit. The black jersey will become the first kit with a white jersey featuring “funky colors” being the second kit. That sucks, I like the banana kit.

Washington Business Journal looks at the details of the new stadium deal between DC United and the District of Columbia.

Could Minnesota United have a home in St. Paul if efforts to find a stadium site in Minneapolis fail? Matt Kramer, president of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, says two sites are possibilities, although Pioneer Press reports, “Formal discussions with Dr. Bill McGuire, the owner of the Minnesota United FC, are not planned.”

The Queens Times-Ledger has an update on NYCFC’s search for a stadium site. Basically, there is no new info: The search continues and “a Queens site as an option again.”

More on efforts to bring a MLS franchise to Milwaukee at CBS58 and Fox6Now.

US

Bobby Wood. American hero. Again.

For the second game in a row, Wood scored a late winner for the US, this time a stunning strike from distance as the US defeated Germany 2-1. In Germany. For the first time ever.

Wood’s goal followed an equally beautiful equalizer from Mix Diskerud just before the end of the first half, a goal that was the culmination of a 35-pass, 90-second sequence.

Oh, and Michael Bradley is on fire.

Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger said after the game, “I’ve always said they were a good team.”

Recaps and reports at US Soccer, CONCACAF, Fox Sports (recap, report), CBS Sports, MLSsoccer.com, SIASNGoal.com, SBIProSoccerTalkDeutsche WelleWashington Post, BBCthe Guardian, The Sports NetworkReuters, and the AP.

Player ratings at MLSsoccer.com, ESPNASN, Soccer America, Goal.com, ProSoccerTalkNew York Times,

Fox Sports has five points, the Guardian has five things learned, Soccer America has three takeaways, Goal.com has ten takeaways, and ESPN has three musings from the game.

The wins over Netherlands and Germany are fantastic confidence builders ahead of this summer’s Gold Cup. On Wednesday, CONCACAF released the provisional 35-player rosters of the 12 teams that will be participating in this year’s Gold Cup. The announcement notes,

In line with the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2015 Regulations, the preliminary rosters publicized today will provide the total universe of players from which each national team may choose its initial 23-player roster. Each national team will also be permitted to make up to six replacements to that 23-player list after the conclusion of the tournament’s group stage. Those replacements must also come from the provisional list of 35 published today…The final 23-player roster announcement will be made by CONCACAF and the Participating Member Associations on June 23.

Included on the US roster is DaMarcus Beasley, who has offered to come out of international retirement to help the US campaign.

Elsewhere

The Vancouver Sun reports reviews are mixed so far from players at the Women’s World Cup on the newly installed artificial surface at BC Place. A representative of the company that installed the surface said, “It will get better and better every day, so by the time the July 5 final is played here it should be almost perfect — at least 99-per-cent optimal.” At least 99-per-cent optimal, eh?

FIFA has announced the resignation of director of communications Walter De Gregorio with immediate effect. The Guardian notes that at the end of an interview on Swiss TV broadcast on Monday, De Gregorio was asked, “The FIFA president Sepp Blatter, the director of communications and the general secretary are all sitting in a car – who is driving?” De Gregorio responded, “The police.”

Reuters reports from Zurich, “One of seven FIFA officials arrested two weeks ago in a dawn raid on a luxury hotel in Zurich has appealed his detention during extradition proceedings tied to U.S. corruption charges.” Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice did not name the individual. The Reuters report continues, “The Swiss Federal Criminal Court will now rule on whether or not he will have to remain in custody for the entire length of the extradition proceeding, which can take months.”

The Swiss Attorney General’s office has confirmed it “seized IT data” from the offices of multiple high-ranking FIFA officials on Wednesday, including those of Sepp Blatter, general secretary Jerome Valcke, and finance director Markus Kattner.

At ESPN: “FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been urged to step down immediately by members of the European Parliament, which also called for an interim leader to be appointed.”

The AP reports Former Brazil star Zico has announced he has “confirm[ed] this decision about the possibility of being a candidate in the next FIFA election.” Decisive stuff.

27 Comments

  1. I never realized what a debt of gratitude I owe Brian, Corey, Dan, Ed and the others who created the opportunity my family and I have to be a part of this special “thing” we call the Philadelphia Union.

    The movie was an amazing journey, most of which I was unaware of. Yes, I remember signing a petition years ago to show my support for a team. I remember that day in 2008, crazy though my hubbie thought I was, plunking down $200 for my season ticket deposit. I never knew how close we were to not getting a team and how hard the SOBs worked to make it a reality.

    Union til I die!

  2. We’re in the middle of a bunch of shady, nontransparent dealings in FIFA resulting in scandal and shame. What better time for MLS to look for further shady, nontransparent dealings in the shadows to help the main office’s favorite teams skirt a cap the rest of the league must abide by?

  3. The Realist Brian says:

    What a day for the U.S.! Awesome, except when your buddy texts you “Holy Fucking Shit” when you are tape delayed by about 15 minutes (Ed- that’s twice now 😉
    .
    I love how all the anti-media shills like Tannewald and Shin Guardian, Dolye at MLS ect. are eating crow after their anti-Klinnsman hissy fits after he called the media out earlier this year. Especially our lil’ Goalkeeper with his bullshit comments about “fitness” in yesterday’s snarky “I am an asshole who knows nothing about soccer except I lived in France for a World Cup so therefor I am an expert” tweet. Hey Jonathan, how about them apples? Klinnsmann is fantastic, and he is a godsend for our team and development for our soccer nation. And I am sure Doyle was mashing his keyboard watching our German-Americans playing against their country of birth. Fuck both of those guys.
    .
    How good is Jordan Morris on that dummy? Brilliant. And Wood has something, doesn’t he? What a strike.
    .
    General Bradley was incredible yesterday, and I love that they are breaking that first line of defense in Midfield by dribbling out of trouble. In both games, it was a pleasure to watch. He is the man. Pantheon status.
    .
    I am surprised that no U20 was called into the provisional roster. I would think that Emo, Gedion, Rubin and possibly CCV getting a look…they have to be on the U23s first maybe. Saturday/Sunday night at 12:30am is a huge game against Serbia. Who is staining up?

    • +1……..well done……all of it! I stood up and applauded after reading this………

    • I have to admit I rail against our USMNT….. but beating Italy in Italy, Mexico in Mexico, the Dutch in Holland and now inconceivably the Germans in Germany it is hard to argue with. I can only say well done and sit and observe. He has earned the right to do and say what he wants IMO.
      .
      Still over Chandler though.
      .
      I agree about Bradley all in all but could you imagine if he was able to pick out the final pass when on the break too. That would be Pantheon status for me. As it is he’s on Rushmore at least.

      • Not that wins against Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, and Germany on their grounds aren’t impressive, but I’m still not ready to praise Klinsy as the messiah of US soccer. Historic wins, but don’t forget about rough loses to Austria, Ukraine, Denmark, Chile, and Scotland on the road? Oh, and Colombia (in London) and Belgium (in Ohio). Look, good on the USMNT for these recent results, but I’ll reserve judgement for things like the Gold Cup, WC Qualifiers, and the World Cup itself.

      • Nor I. I’m looking to Copa 2016.

      • …..and getting our doors blown off in Dublin……that one was tough to watch

    • Eli Pearlman-Storch says:

      I was with you all the way to the end, but you lost me with staining up. Gross.

      But yeah. We will be up and tweeting that U-20 game. The Fightin’ Paunos are going to be tough to beat.

    • pragmatist says:

      CCV is still a little too young…but the future is very, very bright.
      And I’m a Spurs fan, so I’m hoping for many great years out of him!

  4. Boo to the crew changing colors. Their kit and the new logo are fantastic. We don’t need any more black jerseys out there.

    When will the rest of us get to see the Sons of Ben movie?

  5. Maynor Figueroa released by Hull City.
    .
    I’ve just identified a better, younger and likely more reasonably priced LB target than NeNe did for infinitely less than he did. Nikky I don’t need $500K to consult, can you guys at least comp me a beer next game?
    .
    Dude is the definition of “Philly Tough” and would actually lend some credence to Curtin’s overuse of that phrase

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