BC Soccer News, Weekends, June 19-21, 2015
DAY 15-17 – FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
ROUND OF 16
Sunday, June 21
CANADA 1 SWITZERLAND 0
BC PLACE, VANCOUVER
BRAZIL 0 AUSTRALIA 1
MONCTON STADIUM, MONCTON
FRANCE 3 SOUTH KOREA 0
OLYMPIC STADIUM, MONTREAL
Saturday, June 20
GERMANY 4 SWEDEN 1
LANSDOWNE STADIUM, OTTAWA
CHINA 1 CAMEROON 0
COMMONWEALTH STADIUM, EDMONTON
PHOTO GALLERY: NIGERIA 0 UNITED STATES 1, JUNE 16, 2015 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes
Herdman: Time to become heroes is now – TSN
“This is where you get the chance to write your name into football history, when you play in these big matches,” said Herdman on Thursday before the team headed out for training in Vancouver. “The tournament is a progression. The big players tend to step up in these rounds.”
Herdman: If Canada can win Sunday, ‘We’ve got a chance of going all the way’ – Metro
There are no more second chances. Win and you move on, lose and you’re done. It’s so simple, except for the Canadian women’s soccer team, it really isn’t.
Swiss no underdogs against Canada: Herdman – 24 Hours
“There’s no David and Goliath story about this game,” said Herdman. “You’ve got a very organized Switzerland team with two world-class strikers who play on the top (pro) teams in the world, who have been plying their trade across Europe, scoring goals wherever they’re asked.
Canada’s Schmidt to play through pain vs. Swiss – Sportsnet
Schmidt came off in the 81st minute of Canada’s 1-1 tie with the Netherlands on Monday after falling awkwardly challenging for a ball.
Women’s World Cup: What’s gone right and wrong for the U.S. so far? – Washington Post
The U.S. women earned first place in Group D and progressed to the round of 16, but they weren’t overly impressive in group play.
Lenarduzzi: It’s a knockout as World Cup’s biggest games yet come to B.C. Place – The Province
The Women’s World Cup has reached the knockout stage, and the biggest match in the country is right here in Vancouver, as Canada takes on Switzerland on Sunday.
Women’s World Cup — Round of 16 primer – The Equalizer
Here is a quick look at the eight matches for the next round. They are listed from top to bottom on the bracket so the winner of the first match will meet the winner of the second and so on and so forth.
Big names and bold newcomers shine – FIFA
The stakes are set to rise at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ after a group stage that set the tone with some unforgettable moments. A total of 107 goals were scored across the six sections as the heavyweights laid down serious markers and several ambitious challengers proved their worth.
England’s Karen Bardsley grows into Women’s World Cup along with team – The Guardian
The only stable department has been goalkeeping, with Karen Bardsley playing every minute. During Wednesday’s 2-1 win against Colombia in Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, Bardsley did as much as anyone to ensure England secured the victory that earned them second place in Group F.
Fans Love Women’s Soccer. They Don’t Love FIFA. – Bloomberg View
It’s disingenuous to wag your finger at those fans who are actually, finally watching women’s soccer. It’s also telling that there’s no mention of the fans who have continued to watch men’s events throughout FIFA’s ongoing controversy, from the UEFA Champions League Final to the ongoing Copa America.
Women’s World Cup turf not an equal rights issue – Sportsnet
The validity of the message is related to the messenger. Abby Wambach is the wrong messenger to be speaking out about the FIFA Women’s World Cup being played on artificial surfaces. Not only is it not an equal rights issue, it isn’t having an adverse effect on play.
Assessing NWSL players at WWC – The Equalizer
NWSL players past and present made their mark on many of the 36 group matches. Following is a look at how they did. Keep in mind that everyone sees the World Cup differently and it is next to impossible to give full attention to every match. Comments are, of course, welcome.
The Official Book of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015. On Sale Now at Amazon.ca
WHITECAPS FC & MLS
Ousted stops two PKs as Whitecaps FC claim thrilling 2-1 win over 10-men New York Red Bulls – Whitecaps FC
If there isn’t already a David Ousted statue erected somewhere in Vancouver, it’s probably coming soon. The Danish goalkeeper stopped two Bradley Wright-Phillips penalty kicks as Vancouver Whitecaps FC (9W-6L-2D) defeated the 10-men New York Red Bulls (4W-5L-5D) 2-1 on Saturday at Red Bull Arena.
Preview: Whitecaps FC return to MLS action Saturday afternoon against New York Red Bulls – Whitecaps FC
After stunning the defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy with a 1-0 win on June 6, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (8W-6L-2D) now head to the opposite coast for a date with New York Red Bulls (4W-4L-5D).
Match Preview: Red Bulls vs Whitecaps – Eighty-Six Forever
In the opening stages of the campaign the New York Red Bulls and the Vancouver Whitecaps stormed to the top of the Eastern and Western Conference standings. Many across the league were eager to wax poetically about the early success enjoyed by the two, and while both have slowed down since a very fruitful spring Saturday’s meeting in Harrison, NJ promises a great deal in quality nonetheless.
Carl Robinson urges team “to prove people wrong,” end tradition of summer slumps – MLS
While building on that momentum may have been preferable in some respect, Robinson said the break came at the perfect time for the Whitecaps, coming as it did in the middle of a grueling five-game stretch on the road, after a busy spell that led Vancouver into a mixed run of form.
Weber: Carl Robinson goes Backe to mentor when he needs advice – The Province
Robinson, the Whitecaps coach, counts Swede Hans Backe among his mentors. And Robinson was reminiscing this week about his days under Backe because the Caps are in New York on Saturday, where Robinson played for Backe’s Red Bulls and got his start as an assistant coach.
Countdown: Toronto FC v NYCFC – Red Nation Online
Toronto FC are back home and looking to maintain their current run of positive results as they host New York City FC on Saturday night. A week bye for the Reds has allowed some rest and time to prepare the side to take on a team who have had some good performances of late.
June is the cruellest month – and the Gold Cup hasn’t even begun – The Guardian
It’s a full house in MLS amid chaotic, grueling June schedule. After a relatively relaxed bye-week which only featured five matches, Major League Soccer returns with a full slate of games. Many of the clubs returning to regular duty however will be forced to hit the ground running … hard.
Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer: Tuesday night ‘wasn’t our proudest moment’ – Seattle Times
Tuesday night’s U.S. Open Cup match between the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers at Starfire Stadium, which ended with three Sounder ejections, plastic bottles tossed at the visitors and the referees leaving the field via police escort “wasn’t our proudest moment,” Seattle owner Adrian Hanauer said following practice on Thursday morning.
MLS anonymous player poll on diving, relegation, salaries, concussion, more – ESPN FC
Major League Soccer is celebrating its 20th season and, to commemorate the anniversary, 61 current players on the condition of anonymity gave their thoughts to ESPN FC on the state of the league and its place in the world game.
Could DC United Goalkeeper Bill Hamid Be the Next Tim Howard? – The Big Lead
The highest-paid goalkeeper in MLS thanks to a lucrative new deal signed in May, Hamid is beginning to take on a leadership role in his sixth year with the club. The reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, the chiseled Hamid enters a pivotal stretch in his career: Can the 24-year old Hamid emerge as the heir apparent to US National team goalie Tim Howard?
IT’S A REMATCH: Cosmos vs. Red Bulls in US Open Cup Round of 16 – Big Apple Soccer
About 11 hours after prevailing over New York City FC in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt/U.S. Open Cup, the Cosmos discovered they would take on the Red Bulls in the Round of 16. The game will be played at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. on July 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
A Beloved Creation: At the heart of Soccer City, USA, historic Providence Park shines as a home for soccer – Portland Timbers & Howler Magazine
It was a large, anonymous field—nothing much to look at and certainly nothing special in the young city of Portland, which had fewer than 50,000 residents in 1890. The city had plenty of open space, but it needed a place to play. So in 1893, 26 American football players, founders of the Multnomah Athletic Club (MAC) two years previously, made a decision that would alter the future of sports in Portland forever: they leased the land, transformed the pasture into a playing field, and set in motion a string of events that continue to reverberate around the Goose Hollow neighborhood and beyond more than a century later.
WFC2 & USL
Preview: Whitecaps FC 2 set to host Timbers 2 Sunday at Thunderbird Stadium – Whitecaps FC
Whitecaps FC2 (3W-7L-4D) welcome a familiar foe in Timbers 2 (5W-6L-2D) as they host the Cascadia rivals at Thunderbird Stadium on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PT. To celebrate Father’s Day, all dads will get in free with the purchase of at least another ticket.
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CANADA
Canadian Men’s and Women’s Soccer Teams Nominated For TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games – COC
On Friday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canada Soccer announced the soccer athletes who have been nominated to represent Canada in the men’s and women’s tournaments at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from July 10 to 26 July.
BC SOCCER
Whitecaps to start youth academy in Victoria – Times Colonist
The Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS announced Thursday they will establish the Victoria Prospects Academy beginning in September, their second on the Island along with the existing Whitecaps Upper-Island Prospects Academy in Nanaimo. They will both come under the expanded banner of the Vancouver Whitecpas FC Island Academy Centre.
NASL
FC Edmonton announce signings of midfielders Cruz and de Freitas – FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton announced today that it has come to an agreement with midfielders Pablo Cruz and Thiago de Freitas, pending international clearance. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
FCE adds midfielders Cruz and Thiago de Freitas, as Miller woes poor defensive record – the11.ca
Both were on hand at FCE’s south-side headquarters Thursday as they were unveiled to the media. Cruz — who has played in NASL for the Atlanta Silverbacks and the San Antonio Scorpions — has long been admired by FCE head coach Colin Miller. Thiago is expected to help FCE in the possession department.
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WORLD OF SOCCER
Copa America: Peru 1-0 Venezuela: Pizarro downs 10-man opponents – Goal
Peru boosted its qualification hopes from Group C with a hard-fought win over 10-man Venezuela on Thursday.
The Neymar transfer is one big hot steaming legal mess – Soccer Gods
Barcelona’s signing of Neymar is turning out to be one of the most litigious of all time. There is already a case opened against Barça’s former and current presidents, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, for tax fraud on the deal. If they are found guilty, they could face real jail time.
Under-20 World Cup final preview: history beckons for winner – The Guardian
Brazil will carry a significant edge in experience and a remarkable record of defensive impregnability into Saturday’s final against Serbia at the Under-20 World Cup in Auckland.
Euro U21 – Young Lions overwhelmed by slick Portuguese – The Independent
The modern curse of the Under-21s European championships continued for Gareth Southgate’s England team, beaten by Portugal and now one game into their third tournament without a single victory.