After Saturday tossed up a schedule of almost exclusively bad international matchups across the world, Wednesday's World Cup qualifiers actually feature more than a few matches folks might actually want to see. Let's start in of all places, Asia. North Korea v . South Korea in Shanghai - Now this is a politically [. Click to continue reading...

Husky-voiced Josh Wicks, the self-described Barry White of goalkeepers, who played just two halves in Hawaii, and another half in Shanghai in preseason before coming on after 45 minutes last weekend for injured starting goalkeeper Steve Cronin, talked to the assembled media today (well, OK, all two of us) about his expected start Saturday:

Q: How did coming in at half time in the New England team help before your first MLS start Saturday against Real Salt Lake?

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-Team Brazil warms up at a stadium in Beijing, China.- National football (soccer) teams Brazil and Belgium, will play for the Bronze medal during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The match will be held at the Shanghai Stadium @ 7pm August 22, 2008. Also, don't forget about the match between Argentina and [. Click to continue reading...

-Team Brazil warms up at a stadium in Beijing, China.- National football (soccer) teams Brazil and Belgium, will play for the Bronze medal during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. The match will be held at the Shanghai Stadium @ 7pm August 22, 2008. Also, don't forget about the match between Argentina and [. Click to continue reading...

Qualifying Teams : Group A : China Sweden Canada Group B : Brazil Germany Group C : USA Norway Japan USA 2-1 Canada ( Aug 15- Shanghai) ( Angela Hucles, Natasha Kai/ Christine Sinclair) Brazil 2-1 Norway ( Aug 15- Tianjin) ( Marta, Daniela/ Siri Nordby penalty) Sweden 0-2 Germany ( Aug 15- Shenyang) ( Kerstin Gerefrekes, Simone Laudehr) China 0-2 Japan ( Aug 15- Qinhuangdao) ( Homare Sawa, Yuki Nagasato) Click to continue reading...

It sounds like Lindsey Dolich likes the USWNT's chances - but is NOT taking Canada lightly (nor are we). There were major doubts that Swede Pia Sundhage would pull the strings for a team left reeling after the loss of superlative striker Abby Wambach. But, somehow, Sundhage delicately guided a vulnerable U. Click to continue reading...

Despite their poor start in game 1 the USA women won for the second straight match today and finished first in their group, after Norway were blown out by Japan.

The USA beat New Zealand 4-0 today, while Japan won 5-1 over Norway.

That means the group stage ended like this:

6 USA (GD +3)
6 Norway (GD -1)
4 Japan
1 New Zealand

The USA will now face Canada in the Quarterfinals on Fri Aug 15 in Shanghai. Click to continue reading...

From the US Soccer website:

U.S. WOMEN TO FACE NEW ZEALAND IN SHENYANG; WIN CLINCHES SPOT IN QUARTERS:
The U.S. Olympic Women's Soccer Team will face New Zealand on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium with a win guaranteeing a spot in the quarterfinals. The USA currently sits second in Group G with three points behind Norway (six points) and a win over the Kiwis will clinch the second spot in the group, earning a quarterfinal match against the winner of Group F.

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From the US Soccer website:

U.S. WOMEN TO FACE NEW ZEALAND IN SHENYANG; WIN CLINCHES SPOT IN QUARTERS:
The U.S. Olympic Women???s Soccer Team will face New Zealand on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium with a win guaranteeing a spot in the quarterfinals. The USA currently sits second in Group G with three points behind Norway (six points) and a win over the Kiwis will clinch the second spot in the group, earning a quarterfinal match against the winner of Group F.

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Argentina dominated a defensive Australian side but required a late strike from Ezequiel Lavezzi to ensure them of passage into the quarter finals of the Olympic Games.
Argentina 1 - 0 Australia


Nigeria 2 - 1 Japan

Goals from Anderson, Alexandre Pato, a double from Ronaldinho and substitute Rafael Sobis helped impressive Brazil smash unfancied New Zealand in Sunday's Olympic Games encounter. Click to continue reading...

Group A at the Beijing Olympics consists of Argentina, Ivory Coast, Serbia and Australia. Team Played Won Lost Drawn GF GA GD Points Argentina 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 3 Australia 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 Serbia 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 Ivory Coast 1 0 1 0 1 2 -1 0 Australia 1-1 Serbia ( Aug 7-Shanghai) (Ruben Zadkovich/ Slobodan Rajkovic) Argentina 2-1 Ivory Coast ( Aug 7- Shanghai) ( Lionel Messi, Lautaro Acosta/ Sekou Cisse) Group B consists of USA, Netherlands, Nigeria and Japan. Click to continue reading...

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Herald Sun (Australia) - Olyroos draw 1-1 in opener against Serbia
Tom Smithies in Shanghai | August 07, 2008 08:51pm

AUSTRALIA'S Olympic odyssey started in positive fashion last night, with the Olyroos grabbing a point against Serbia in Shanghahi to keep alive their dreams of qualifying for the knockout stages. Click to continue reading...

First the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Wednesday that clubs were not obliged to release players for the event.
Argentina's Olympic Team coach Sergio Batista defied the court order and said ....
"The player is here and will remain with the team. He will start Thursday's game (against Ivory Coast in Shanghai) from the beginning and I'm sure he can be with us for the rest of the competition.

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In Qinhuangdao - I did not have web access in Shanghai, hence no post from there. This one will be... Click to continue reading...

Cavalieri
Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Dossena
Kuyt Gerrard Plessis Benayoun
Torres Keane

Subs:
Agger for Skrtel 46'
Hyypia for Carragher 46'
Ngog for Torres 46'
Darby for Arbeloa 46'
Alonso for Plessis 46'
Nemeth for Keane 59'
Insua for Dossena 59'
Spearing for Gerrard 59'
Reina for Cavalieri
Pennant for Benayoun 72'

Goals:
Torres 23'
Ngog 56'
Benayoun 60'
Alonso 70' (pen)

I didn't end up seeing the whole game until late last evening, so once again this is a bit late. Click to continue reading...

Pete Vagenas to Chinese Super League side Shanghai?! We're sure quite a few Galaxy supporters often joked about how they wouldn't mind the Galaxy midfielder also known as "passback Pete" transferring somewhere far away like China. They may soon get their wish if this report from an MLSR reader in China is to be believed. Click to continue reading...

Another weekend gone and one more match closer to the 2010 World Cup. June is almost over and a place in the final round of world cup qualification is assured. It is time to take stock of a busy period that has raised a number of questions.
The main issue is how the Taeguk Warriors will fare against stronger opposition when the action resumes in September. Click to continue reading...

Shanghai - Roger Federer came down strongly on the side of a difficult line in the simmering lawn tennis match-fix controversy, with the human race figure 1 taking a tough base prior to beginning a statute title defense mechanism at the Edgar Lee Masters Cup. "To wager on lawn tennis as a participant is not right," said the 12-time Thousand Slam title-holder who will be command for a 4th year-end concluding from the last five editions at the eight-man event which begins on Sunday.

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