Daily news roundups

US face China, Union face Impact, more news

Photo: Daniel Studio

USA v China

The US are a well organized, but young, Chinese team away from facing the winner of France-Germany in the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup. Kickoff tonight is at 7:30 pm (Fox, NBC Universo, Fox Soccer 2Go, NBC Deportes En Vivo Extra, SiriusXM FC).

Previews at US Soccer (preview, notes), FIFA, Philly.com, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, LA TimesCNN, Fox SportsESPNWCBS Sports, SIthe Guardian, Philly Soccer News, ASN, Soccer AmericaGoal.com,

FIFA has issued a warning, but no suspension, to Abby Wambach for her comments criticizing the referee in the 2-0 win over Colombia, comments for which she later apologized for. FIFA said in a statement that Wambach’s apology was a factor in not suspending her.

The Wall Street Journal on how the US team must deal with being held to the standard set by the 1999 Women’s World Cup winning team. The Washington Post on how the US team will never be able to live up to the legacy of the 1999 Women’s World Cup winning team.

Delran’s Carli Lloyd, rock star.

The Press Association reports,

Sepp Blatter’s attendance at the Women’s World Cup final in Canada next week appears to be in jeopardy due to the twin investigations into FIFA by American and Swiss justice authorities.

Blatter would normally attend the final and hand over the trophy to the captain of the winning team but Fifa will not confirm whether he or the secretary general, Jérôme Valcke, will attend.

A FIFA spokesperson said, “In terms of the FIFA president and the FIFA secretary general, their future travel plans will be confirmed in due course.”

Reuters reports, “Funds allocated to the development of women’s soccer will be closely monitored with random audits to ensure the money is going where it should, world soccer’s governing body FIFA said on Thursday.”

Philadelphia Union

The busy stretch continues for the Union on Saturday when they host Montreal Impact (7 pm: 6abc, MLS Live, MLS Direct Kick. DirecTV).

Will CJ Sapong set a new club record for goals scored in consecutive games? Will the Union defense keep another clean sheet? I’m sure the team, just like the rest of us, are more concerned with ending the match with a win.

Our preview will be up later today. In the meanwhile, check out our quick reference and these previews at Philadelphia Inquirer, Brotherly Game, MLSsoccer.comMontreal Impact, Metro,

Philly Sports Network recaps Wednesday’s win.

At the Behind the Crest blog, Chris Winkler rounds up some individual and team stats.

Philly Voice has a “non-sports fan’s guide to the Sons of Ben.”

The Union opened up PPL Park on Thursday to Chester residents who were still without power after Tuesday night’s could shower and get a meal. Nick Sakiewicz said, “This is what good neighbors do and we are trying to create a really good neighborhood here in Chester.” As of Thursday afternoon, some 24,000 Delaware County residents were still without power.

The Union have announced that PPL Park will again host the Army-Navy Cup game, which will take place at PPL Park on Oct. 2.

Union Academy

The Union Academy U-16 and U-18 teams return to play at the US Soccer Development Academy playoffs outside of Indianapolis today. The U-16s, who are 2-0-0 after coming from behind to defeat Weston FC 2-1 on Wednesday with goals from Tiger Graham and and Jack Skahan, face Houston Dynamo today at 11:15 am. The U-18s, who are 0-1-1 after losing 3-2 to Kendall SC on Wednesday (Frederick Gil and Mohamed Conde were the goalscorers) kicked off this morning at 9 am against LA Galaxy and, at the time of this writing, were leading 1-0 at the start of the second half after a goal from Yosef Samuel in the 8th minute.

Local

Harrisburg City Islanders are on the road to face Charleston Battery on Saturday (7:30 pm, YouTube).

Ocean City Nor’easters host Baltimore Bohemians tonight with a 7 pm kickoff. Lehigh Valley United Sonic are on the road to face DC United U-23s. Reading United have the weekend off.

MLS

At SI, Brian Straus reports the name of the new Atlanta franchise will be Atlanta United FC. “It will be introduced officially on July 7, along with a logo that’s thought to feature a prominent ‘A’ and the club’s red, yellow/gold and black colors.”

After Straus broke story, Atlanta United president Darren Eales talked to MLSsoccer.com about how the name was chosen.

Don Garber on Minnesota United and the July 1 deadline to have a stadium deal in place:

They’ve got an upcoming deadline to hopefully finalize something with their stadium, so I’m not going to comment on it until that deadline is upon us. I’ve got a lot of respect for Bill McGuire and his partners. We love the market, we want to see something happen there, and we’ll wait and see.

We really want to have a team in Minnesota, but they’ve got to play in a downtown stadium because that’s the deal that we cut.

Garber also said the league would not consider allowing the team to begin play at Target Stadium, the home of Major League Baseball’s Minnesota Twins.

This just in from the Department of Yep, ASN has a commentary piece titled, “MLS Needs to Stop Playing Silly Midseason Friendlies.”

Well done, former Union man Chris Konopka, well done:

US

The Adjudication and Discipline Panel of the US Open Cup has suspended Clint Dempsey “a total of six US Open Cup matches or the next two years of US Open Cup competition, whichever is greater” for his disgraceful behavior during Seattle’s loss to Portland in the tournament last week. That means Dempsey will be ineligible to play in the tournament until 2018.

Elsewhere

The Press Association reports, “Sepp Blatter has fuelled speculation about his future by insisting he has not resigned as FIFA president and will lay down his mandate at a special congress.” The report continues, “However, a FIFA source insisted that Blatter had no intention of standing as a candidate again, telling the Press Association: ‘Nothing has changed — he is not going to stand.'” More on the story at The Guardian and the AP.

The AP reports,

Switzerland’s Federal Criminal Court has rejected a request for release on bail by one of the seven men arrested on corruption charges last month in a raid on FIFA’s luxury hotel in Zurich.

The Swiss court said “there was a risk that the appellant would abscond if released.”

The court did not identify which of the seven detainees this was.

Also from the AP, “Paraguay’s president has signed a law repealing the immunity that the headquarters of South America’s football confederation enjoyed for nearly two decades.”

Cool read at Eight by Eight on how football helped shape the making of the legendary Clash album London Calling.

Check out the latest Footy on the Telly for listings of live soccer on TV, online, and on satellite radio for the upcoming week.

3 Comments

  1. I thought DC had exclusive rights to use United in their name?

  2. I love Chris Konopka drinking that dudes beer. Love it.
    .
    Awesome Clash, London Calling article above.
    .
    In other news and speaking of music…here’s hoping the US play as The Beastie Boys like to say, “we’re putting it on wax…it’s the NEEEWWW style.”
    .
    They better look good and fresh and new following France and Germany which……. will likely look good and fresh and new.
    .

  3. No Danny Cruz highlights in half a season….Hmm.

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