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Soccer

Zambia still have work to earn respect they deserve

When not twelve months ago Zambia came to Libreville to conquer Africa — or at least what was left to conquer after dispatching of Senegal, Libya, the hosts in the form of Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, and Ghana whilst in Bata—there was a sense that something was different. Chipolopolo Boys were not just playing with the weight of taking down Africa’s heirs-apparent on their shoulders: they had to carry nearly two decades of pain for the generation who perished into the Atlantic mere kilometers to the west.

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Soccer

Italy-Serbia Fiasco: UEFA punishes Slovenia, Estonia, N. Ireland, Faroe Islands

UEFA’s decision to award Italy with a 3-0 win is not fair no matter how you look at it, and I don’t care what Serbia think.

Serbian fans crossed the line; their actions were against the better interest of sport, and the punishment that Serbia received is just. Serbia deserves to forfeit the match and to have to play its next two home fixtures behind closed doors.

The actions of the supporters were disgusting.

Italy did not come away unscathed, as they were fined 100,000 euros for their security failing to contain the rowdy Serbian supporters.

But no matter what Serbia did, Italy does not deserve a 3-0 win, not so long as this competition is supposed to be fair for Slovenia, Estonia, Northern Ireland, and the Faroe Islands, the other four national teams in Group C.

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Other Soccer

“THE BEST SINCE HUGO SANCHEZ THEY’VE HAD…”

IN THAT COUNTRY.”- FA COMMUNITY SHIELD BROADCAST, AUGUST 08th 2010.

It’s no small boots to fill. After all, FIFA named Hugo Sanchez as the best Mexican player of all time, and included him in the FIFA 100, a list of the best 100 players in the game’s history. So, how did a young man who sits in the shadow of two generations of football players suddenly become the brightest star, the hope of a nation to show England and by extension the world that Mexico can be a competitive player in international soccer and bring about players who are just as good as any on an international level?

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Soccer

Middlesbrough’s Relegation Battle on Verge of Failure

It’s been more than half a year since Middlesbrough went to Anfield and almost secured the biggest shocker of the season. Sure, it was only the second match of the campaign, but Boro never wins the crucial match.

Manager Gareth Southgate predicted a trip to Europe before the season. After an opening victory at the Riverside against Tottenham Hotspur, fans of the northwest club sensed maybe this could be their year.

The first 85 minutes at Liverpool were nothing short of brilliant.

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Soccer

Beckham and the MLS: success or failure

Taking an in-depth look at the David Beckham and MLS partnership. Has this situation accomplished what it set out to do?

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Soccer

Red Rover- Red Rover Send Blackburn Right Over

by Trevor Freeman

With the San Francisco 49ers out of the playoff hunt in October for another season and college basketball still a couple weeks away, I figured it was time to talk about my newest sporting love.  The Blackburn Rovers.  That’s right, not only have I not written for our site for over a month, but when I do I am hopping in on the topic of English Premier League Football.  I have officially shifted gears to become the Vinnie Chase of our site.  I am only writing articles that satisfy my own creative/sports needs.

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Soccer

Is This The Start Of A True Summertime Competition?

By Trevor Freeman

Many have scoffed at the viability of Major League Soccer since its inception in 1994.  There has always been a dismissive “this won’t rate any higher on the sports spectrum than Arena Football” tone towards it.  Names like “Real” Salt Lake, “F.C.” Dallas and D.C. “United” were both comedic and a little bit sad.  However like George Foreman in his fight against Michael Moorer, this league just stuck around.  And then last night, it delivered its biggest punch as David Beckham grabbed the front page in a way that had to be joyful for America’s soccer fans.  The box score will say that he delivered two assists in a loss to the New York-New Jersey Red Bulls and that will not reflect the performance he had last night.  David Beckham delivered with the bright lights on.  And by doing so, he has given this league a chance at being relevant.

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Soccer

Beckham Experiment will fail

Soccer superstar David “Bend It Like” Beckham won’t revive soccer in the United States.

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Soccer

So- some guy called Beckham’s coming to the US- huh?

Soccer is viewed as the bastard son of sports in the USA. Despite being the biggest participant sport Stateside, the NASCAR lovin’ rednecks think of it with as much respect as they would if The Village People made a surprise appearance in one of their bars, and the football lovin’ wideboys can’t understand how or why a bunch of people kicking a ball possibly be called ‘football’. In other words, David Beckham’s arrival will be a Godsend for lovers of big, round, white balls. Here’s why…

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Soccer

"Becks" May Work Here in the States

David Beckham, international super-celebrity and washed up soccer player, has made his way onto the coast of the United States—the “West” coast, that is.  Beckham signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy for an astronomical $250 million dollars Thursday, making him the highest paid athlete in the history of, well, the galaxy. The MLS, who has struggled to gain respectability in its first ten years of existence, is banking on “Becks” to increase interest in the sport of soccer among a nation dominated by (American) football fanatics. This is a tall task for anyone, let alone a 31 year old has-been from a different continent.  There is a chance, however, that the former Premiere League superstar could do just that.