Soccer Insider: December 19, 2010 - December 25, 2010

Video: Scoring efforts are a Greek tragedy

From the fabulous 101greatgoals.com Web site, miss after miss after miss by Veria FC in a Greek second-division league match against Levadeiakos last week:...

By Steve Goff  | December 24, 2010; 10:04 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (89)
Categories:  Greece  | Tags:  Greece  
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FedEx Field to Host Barcelona-Manchester United in July

An agreement has been reached in principle that will bring two of the world's most popular and successful soccer clubs to the Washington area this summer, according to sources. Spanish league champion FC Barcelona announced on its website Thursday that it will face English power Manchester United in Washington D.C....

By Paul Tenorio and Steve Goff  | December 23, 2010; 1:24 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (16)
Categories:  Argentina, Barcelona, England, Mexico, Real Madrid, Spain, World  
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Happy holidays from the Soccer Insider

When 2010 began, Waka Waka could've been a suburb of Walla Walla, Howzit was a skin condition and Koman Coulibaly was an anonymous referee from Mali. The Brazilians were unbeatable, the Uruguayans unlovable and the Spaniards unable. The Americans were an afterthought. The Dutch played elegant soccer under any circumstance,...

By Steve Goff  | December 22, 2010; 11:53 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (60)
Categories:  2010 World Cup, D.C. United, MLS  | Tags:  MLS, World Cup  
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Chivas USA's Michael Lahoud weighs Sierra Leone option after being overlooked for U.S. training camp

Should Chivas USA's Michael Lahoud have been among the 24 young players invited to the upcoming U.S. national team training camp? Maybe, maybe not. But his omission might prompt him to consider playing for another country: Sierra Leone. "I was born in Sierra Leone and it brings me great pride,...

By Steve Goff  | December 21, 2010; 11:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (19)
Categories:  MLS, U.S. men's national team  | Tags:  U.S. national team  
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Poll: Landon Donovan won't return to Everton

Los Angeles Galaxy captain Landon Donovan will not return to Everton this winter on short-term loan, as he did with much success last year, because of concerns about fatigue. Donovan has played 50 meaningful games in each of the past two years. In early 2009, he was with Bayern Munich...

By Steve Goff  | December 21, 2010; 6:37 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (15)
Categories:  England, MLS, Poll, U.S. men's national team  | Tags:  Everton, Landon Donovan, MLS  
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D.C. United signs Andy Najar to new contract, adds Pat Onstad to coaching staff

D.C. United midfielder Andy Najar, the MLS rookie of the year, has signed a new contract with the club. Neither United nor Najar's representative would disclose terms of the deal. He was already under a long-term contract but earned just $60,000 before bonuses this year. The sides had been discussing...

By Steve Goff  | December 21, 2010; 4:05 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (21)
Categories:  D.C. United, MLS  | Tags:  D.C. United  
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Pat Onstad and D.C. United, Baltimore and a stadium, MLS and the draft, USA and Argentina, Charlie Davies and Sochaux

With the holiday break approaching, we're keeping a close eye on several possible developments in the coming days: *We told you two weeks ago that Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad, the oldest player in MLS history, was considering retirement to accept a position on D.C. United's coaching staff. There's still...

By Steve Goff  | December 21, 2010; 2:38 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (32)
Categories:  Americans Abroad, Argentina, College Soccer, D.C. United, MLS, U.S. men's national team  | Tags:  D.C. United, MLS, U.S. national team  
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Bob Bradley sets U.S. national team roster for January training camp at Home Depot Center

The U.S. national team's annual winter gathering in Southern California allows Coach Bob Bradley to take a closer look at MLS players and international-based personnel on extended winter break. (Most players with European clubs are not available.) Camp opens Jan. 4 at Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and will...

By Steve Goff  | December 21, 2010; 1:02 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (22)
Categories:  Americans Abroad, MLS, U.S. men's national team  | Tags:  Bob Bradley, U.S. national team  
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D.C. United will open 2011 MLS season vs. the Columbus Crew on March 19 at RFK Stadium

D.C. United will begin the 2011 MLS regular season March 19 against the Columbus Crew at RFK Stadium, the league announced Monday. The Crew finished second in the Eastern Conference this year, one point behind the New York Red Bulls, and was upset by the eventual champion Colorado Rapids in...

By Steve Goff  | December 20, 2010; 3:45 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (47)
Categories:  D.C. United, MLS  | Tags:  D.C. United, MLS  
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American soccer players abroad: Charlie Davies returns to game-day roster for Sochaux

While many matches involving Americans were postponed by weather issues and other players were on winter break, Charlie Davies returned to first-team status for French club Sochaux, his first selection since an auto accident near Washington more than 14 months ago left him with severe injuries. Davies, 24, was on...

By Steve Goff  | December 19, 2010; 12:53 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (34)
Categories:  Americans Abroad  | Tags:  Americans abroad, Charlie Davies  
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