FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Sunday, July 5
FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP FINAL
UNITED STATES vs. JAPAN
4:00 PM – BC PLACE STADIUM, VANCOUVER
Saturday, July 4
THIRD PLACE MATCH
GERMANY vs. ENGLAND
1:00 PM – COMMONWEALTH STADIUM, EDMONTON
BC Soccer News, Thursday, July 2, 2015
Stoppage-time own goal sinks England; Japan to final – The Equalizer
An own goal off the foot of Laura Bassett authored the cruelest of endings to England’s World Cup as the goal handed Japan a stoppage-time winner and a return to the World Cup final. Bassett put what looked like a harmless cross off the crossbar and in–as called by goal line technology–to give Japan a 2-1 victory.
World Cup devastation for Bassett and England – Sportsnet
Wednesday’s FIFA Women’s World Cup semifinal marked uncharted territory for England, while for Japan it was a chance to return to the final and defend its title.
Sampson consoles, praises Bassett after crushing loss – The Equalizer
Wednesday night, and maybe for some time to come, Bassett will be looking to her England teammates for support, and maybe for some shoulders to cry on.
Laura will bounce back after England own goal, insists Bassett’s mother – The Guardian
The mother of Laura Bassett has insisted that her daughter will “bounce back” after scoring the injury-time own goal that cost England a place in the World Cup final. Marie Bassett promised ITV News: “She will come through it, she will come through it.
England’s Laura Bassett’s tears bring back Italia 90 memories – BBC Sport
Twenty-five years after Paul Gascoigne cried his way into the nation’s hearts, another England player’s tears are again the defining memory of a tournament.
The hardcore fans following USA in Canada: ‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ – The Guardian
Nearly everywhere USA have played in the tournament, crowds from across the border have followed them. The Americans played in front of sold out crowds in Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Ottawa, where demand for hotel rooms spiked.
Alyssa Budhoo excited to be part of Trinidad and Tobago’s new Women’s Premier League – Red Nation Online
Alyssa Budhoo is one of the former Futsal Club Toronto players that will help inaugurate Trinidad and Tobago’s new Women’s Premier League as she signed for Team Angels.
I cheered! I cried! Nothing ‘inferior’ about this women’s World Cup –The Guardian
The thrilling semi-final between England and Japan had everything: amazing athletes, excitement, controversy, joy and devastation. The only reason the public don’t watch women’s sport is because television doesn’t back it.
What I Was Supporting at BC Place on Saturday – Eighty-Six Forever
My goodness there are a lot of journalist hacks this morning using Canada’s result to shill their pet development plan. A kind of “I told you so” that is really sticking in my craw. Eoin O’Callaghan and Jason deVos being the prime perps today.
What will the legacy of the Women’s World Cup be for Canada and the world? – Paste Soccer
There’s an ongoing misconception that soccer is a niche sport in Canada. It isn’t. Despite the lack of a national professional league on the women’s or men’s side, Canadians love the sport of soccer. It is already far and away the most popular sport for kids, both girls and boys, with thousands upon thousands more girls playing organized soccer than playing our ostensible national sport, hockey.
The Official Book of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015. On Sale Now at Amazon.ca
WHITECAPS FC & MLS
Vancouver Whitecaps find the right balance – Vancouver Sun
If there’s been one constant during Carl Robinson’s tenure as coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps it’s that the system takes precedence over players.
Red Bulls feel like New York team to beat after latest derby win – SBI
The Red Bulls continued to assert themselves as the alpha dogs in the Big Apple on Wednesday, putting together a thorough 4-1 win over the Cosmos in the fifth round of the U.S. Open Cup. The victory came three days after the Red Bulls knocked off New York City FC in league play for the second time this season, and had them bristling with confidence as they left Red Bull Arena with even more bragging rights.
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CANADA – 2015 CONCACAF GOLD CUP
Canada’s cynical fanbase will only respond to one thing at the Gold Cup – success – MLS
The reality is that the one thing Canadians love is a winner—or at least, a team perceived as having a good chance at winning something meaningful. We’ve seen that in full force over the last few weeks during the Women’s World Cup in the great white north, as Canadians—many of whom could count the number of women’s soccer games they’d ever watched on one hand, and have numerous fingers left over—suddenly began living and dying by the results of the home team.
Michael Bradley named as USA captain for CONCACAF Gold Cup – Fox Soccer
Klinsmann opted to hand Bradley the role for the upcoming tournament to allow Clint Dempsey to focus on his playing duties in the wake of an incident in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 16.
Mexico lose Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez to injury in dour 0-0 friendly draw with Honduras in Houston – MLS
Mexico’s underwhelming runup to the CONCACAF Gold Cup continued in Houston on Wednesday with a 0-0 draw in a friendly vs. Honduras at NRG Stadium, a dour result further darkened by a shoulder injury to striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez.
Hernandez set to miss Gold Cup after breaking collarbone – FIFA
http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/266/030/4/index.html
Manchester United striker Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez suffered a broken collarbone playing for Mexico in a goalless friendly against Honduras and is expected to miss the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Gold Cup: Five up-and-coming talents who could break out at CONCACAF’s marquee event – MLS
CONCACAF’s marquee competition kicks off on July 7. Every fan will be hoping to see one of their players fulfill their potential as the next big thing, but here are five up-and-coming players who could be set to break into the big time this month.
NASL
Jalali set to showcase against Scorpions – FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton will be missing several players due to international duty and injury when the North American Soccer League (NASL) Fall Season kicks off on Sunday, July 5. The vacancies in the roster include up front and Eddies forward Sadi Jalali understands that this could be his chance to showcase what he can do on the pitch.
BC SOCCER
Pinns get that winning feeling – Penticton Western News
A 5-3 win against Vancouver United FC gave the Tim Hortons Pinnacles a split in Pacific Coast Soccer League Premier men’s division play. The Pinnacles opened the weekend with a 5-2 loss to Khalsa Sporting Club at Kings Park Saturday. Scoring for the Pinnacles were James Fraser and Isaac Koch.
Cup win for U15 Coquitlam soccer club – Tri-City News
Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC downs Mountain FC in 4-3 win in provincial championship game.
Mountain girls win first Cup – Burnaby Now
Mountain United’s last dance at B.C. Soccer’s Premier Cup was a beautiful thing. The under-18 league runner-up Mountain girls defeated regular season champion Surrey United 3-1 with a grand display of entertaining football in the provincial final at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex-West on Sunday.
Barca back to Trinity Western varsity – New Westminster Record
New Westminster Barcelona product Carly Willmott was one of five new recruits to Trinity Western University’s women’s soccer team. The 5-6 Walnut Grove Secondary grad will help bolster the Spartan’s defensive unit at the centre back position.
Burnaby girl wins International Soccer Challenge – Burnaby Now
Grade 4 Catholic school student won two awards for precision penalty shooting in continent-wide shootout.
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WORLD OF SOCCER
U.S. requests extradition of seven FIFA officials after Zurich arrests – ESPN FC
The Swiss Federal Office of Justice has received a formal request from the United States to extradite seven FIFA officials arrested in Zurich in May. The requests were received on Wednesday, within the deadline required by a bilateral treaty.
US files formal extradition papers for FIFA 7, but prepare for the long haul – Inside World Football
The United States has formally asked Switzerland to extradite the seven senior FIFA officials arrested in Zurich in May on charges of alleged bribery and corruption – but it could take several months, possibly up to a year, for the request to be processed.
Sepp Blatter on Sepp Blatter: I’m not corrupt and I’m going to heaven – Soccer Gods
FIFA “President for Life” Sepp Blatter (née September, hopefully) is an amazing man. But you probably already knew this, especially if you were one of the 13 people who saw the FIFA-financed blockbuster film United Passions, which acutely dissects Blatter’s amazing life from his virgin birth in a manger through the moment he saves humankind.
Turmoil in Russian football as government limits foreigners – Washington Post
With just 10 days until the start of the new season, Russian football clubs’ transfer plans risk being upended as the government threatens to cut the number of foreign players they can field.
Leicester City make move for Guus Hiddink – Leicester Mercury
Leicester City have made their move for their next manager, believed to be Dutchman Guus Hiddink. The former Holland manager has emerged as the front-runner to succeed Nigel Pearson in the City hot-seat.
Kyrgyzstan is Both a Haven and Dumping Ground for West African Soccer Players – Vice Sports
When Olawale Sunday left Nigeria for a trial with a pro soccer club in Russia, he had visions of solid career ahead. What he didn’t foresee was playing for a fraction of the average wage in one of the poorest countries in Central Asia.
Hong Kong: ‘In this city, football has never been respected’ – Honk Kong Free Press
On a rainy May evening 30 years ago, the Hong Kong men’s football team lined up against their Chinese counterparts in front of a crowd of 80,000 at the Beijing Workers’ Stadium. The managers smoked nervously on the sidelines. The winner would reach the final Asian qualification round for the 1986 World Cup.