Washington Freedom’s Briana Scurry Represents WPS at U.S. Soccer Foundation Clinic in Washington D.C. by Rob Penner

Washington Freedom’s Briana Scurry Represents WPS at U.S. Soccer Foundation Clinic in Washington D.C.

The First Lady Shows Off Soccer Skills to Highlight Let's Move! Campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 5, 2010) – The First Lady, Michelle Obama, joined the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the major charitable arm of Soccer in the United States at its free youth soccer clinic in Washington, DC on Friday, March 5, 2010 to highlight the Soccer Foundation’s commitment to the national fight against childhood obesity and support for the First Lady’s Let’s Move! campaign that emphasizes the importance of children getting 60 minutes of active play each day.

Representing WPS was Washington Freedom goalkeeper Briana Scurry, the Freedom’s mascot “Glory” and Mark Washo, President & GM, Washington Freedom. As a league, WPS has pledged its commitment to the First Lady’s national campaign to fight childhood obesity through physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.

For information on the First Lady's Let's Move! campaign visit: http://www.letsmove.gov/

For the full story on today's U.S. Soccer Foundation clinic and photo gallery, visit:

http://www.womensprosoccer.com/news/press_releases/100304-white-house-scurry

For information on WPS's commitment to the campaign, visit http://www.womensprosoccer.com/news/press_releases/100209-white-house


Mrs. Michelle Obama with Brianna Scurry of the Washington Freedom.

About Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS)

Headquartered in San Francisco, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is the world’s premier soccer league for women with eight teams across the United States featuring the best players from around the world. WPS completed its inaugural season in August 2009 as Sky Blue FC of New Jersey became the first-ever WPS Champions. In 2010, eight teams will each play 24-game schedules from April 10-September 12 including six original WPS teams – Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride (Bay Area), Saint Louis Athletica, Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY) and Washington Freedom – and two expansion teams Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence. The top four finishers in the regular season will qualify for the 2010 WPS Playoffs scheduled for September 19-26. For more information, visit the WPS official website at www.womensprosoccer.com or follow all the news at www.twitter.com/womensprosoccer.

About the Author

Rob Penner is the Director of Communications for Women's Professional Soccer.

Rob Penner Archive

Zinedine Zidane: "I will never apologize to Materazzi. It would be dishonorable. I prefer to die."

In an exclusive interview with the Spanish daily, El Pais, from Madrid, Zinedine Zidane discussed his lingering strong feelings about his last professional appearance in Berlin. He would rather die than apologize to Marco Materazzi.

"Cada genio opera en un espacio irracional, inexplicable, y Zidane lo manifestó hasta el último gesto de su carrera. Sucedió cuando estaba a punto de conducir a Francia a la conquista de la segunda Copa del Mundo. En lo más áspero de la disputa de la final contra Italia, en un córner en el minuto 110, propinó un magnífico cabezazo al defensa italiano Materazzi."

Every genius works in an irrational space, inexplicable, and Zidane manifested this up until the last gesture of his career. It happened when he was close to leading France to their second World Cup triumph. In the most bitter moment of the final against Italy, from a corner in the 110th minute, he launched a magnificent head butt at the Italian defender, Materazzi.

Zidane fue expulsado. Francia perdió la Copa y Zidane nunca más volvió a ponerse unas botas. "Sí, claro que me lo reprocho a mí mismo", dice Zidane sin siquiera mencionar a su adversario; "pero, si yo digo 'perdón', también estaría admitiendo que lo que hizo él fue normal. Y para mí no fue normal. En el campo pasan cosas. Me ha pasado muchas veces. Pero ahí no pude aguantar. Porque además... No es una excusa. Pero mi madre estaba enferma. Estaba en el hospital. Esto la gente no lo sabía. Pero era un mal momento. Más de una vez insultaron a mi madre y nunca contesté. Pero ahí... Y pasó. Y pedirle perdón a éste... Si hubiese sido Kaká, un tío normal, un tío bueno, claro que le habría pedido perdón. ¡Pero a éste! Si le pido perdón, me falto el respeto a mí mismo y a todos los que quiero con toda el alma. Pido perdón al fútbol, a la afición, al equipo... Después del partido, entré al vestuario y les dije: 'Perdonadme. Esto no cambia nada. Pero perdón a todos'. Pero a él no puedo. Nunca, nunca... Sería deshonrarme... Prefiero morir".

Zidane was red carded. France lost the Cup and Zidane never again laced up his boots.

"Yes, of course, I blame myself" said Zidane without mentioning his adversary. "But, if I say 'I'm sorry', it would also be admitting that what he did was normal. And for me, it was not normal. On the pitch, things happen. It happened to me many times. But I couldn't put up with it there (what Materazzi said). Because in addition... There is no excuse. Because my mother was ill. She was in hospital. People didn't know that. But it was a terrible moment. More than once they insulted my mother and I never responded. But there... And it happened. And to ask for forgiveness to that... If it had been Kaka', a regular bloke (he used the term 'uncle'), a good guy, clearly I would have apologized. But to him! If I apologize, I lose my self respect and all that I love with my soul. I apologize to football, to the fans, to the team... After the game, in the tunnel I said to them: 'Forgive me. This doesn't change anything. But apologies to everyone.' But to him (Materazzi) I can't. Never, never... It would be dishonorable to me... I prefer to die."

Zidane procura extraer una lección edificante de un episodio que le desagrada recordar. "A los jóvenes hay que decirles que se puede jugar de manera más noble", advierte; "que en el campo siempre pueden pasar cosas desagradables. Pero que el fútbol es un deporte y no tienen por qué haber humillaciones. Yo hablaba poco, pero a los rivales también les decía cosas. Todo depende de las personas. Hay rivales muy graciosos, que te dicen cosas y te hacen reír. Pero hay gente malvada. Y a esos tíos no los quieres ni oír hablar. '¿Qué me vas a contar tú?'. También me encontré rivales que me hicieron reír. Y árbitros muy graciosos. Y compañeros que me hacían reír todos los días, como Ronaldo, un crack en todos los sentidos".

Zidane looks to extract a teaching lesson from an episode that is unpleasant for him to recount.

"To young people, you have to tell them that you can play in a more noble manner." He adds, "On the pitch, unpleasant things can always happen. But football is a sport and there don't have to be humiliations. I spoke little, but to rivals, I would tell them things. Everything depends on the other persons. There are very gracious opponents that tell you things and make you laugh. But there are wicked people. And to these blokes you don't want to say or hear anything. 'What are you going to tell me about it?' I also encountered opponents that made me laugh. And very gracious referees. And teammates that made me laugh every day, such as Ronaldo, a great player in every sense."

Spanish language source courtesy of El Pais, March 1, 2010.

Spanish to English translation by Steve Amoia of World Football Commentaries.

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Italia 0 x Cameroon 0: Friendly from Montecarlo: "We will mask ourselves like at Carnival." --- Mr. Lippi

Tonight in Montecarlo, the Azzurri face the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

Mister Lippi's Comments Before the Match

"Perchè la novità? Per provare cose nuove. Perchè la differenza tra una retroguardia a tre o a quattro può diventare minima. Parecchie squadre cambiano modulo anche a gara in corso, possiamo farlo anche noi". E poi un attacco inedito, con Borriello centravanti, per la prima volta in assoluto con Lippi, e Di Natale e Cossu ai lati. Per il fantasista del Cagliari sarà il debutto in Nazionale. "Proviamo schemi e giocatori nuovi, è l’ultima occasione per farlo. E io questi nuovi inserimenti nel gruppo devo farli giocare, vederli all’opera, per valutarli. Per questo certi commenti sul fatto di risparmiare giocatori in vista di sabato (ci sono gli anticipi della 27a giornata di campionato ndr) mi sembrano assurdi".

"Il Camerun è forte, e potremmo ritrovarcelo di fronte negli ottavi di finale del Mondiale. Noi ci presentiamo però in maschera, come a Carnevale, perchè abbiamo tanti assenti, infortunati. Ma non mi preoccupo: lo farò tra un po’ semmai. Per adesso mi consolo e penso che chi sta fuori avrà più energie da spendere in Sudafrica".

Italian text courtesy of La Gazzetta dello Sport, March 3, 2010.

He was asked why he will go with a 3 man backline?

"Why the new formation? To try new things. Because the difference between a retrograde of 3 or 4 can be minimized. Very few teams change modules while the match is being played, we can also do it."

And then the unedited attack, with Borriello at center forward, for the first time under the Lippi reign, and Di Natale and Cossu on the wings. For the play maker from Cagliari, it will be his Azzurri debut.

"We are trying out new schemes and new players. It's the last time to do it. I need to let these new players who have inserted themselves into the group play, watch them at work, in order to evaluate them. On the certain remarks about resting players ahead of the matches on Saturday, they (the remarks) seem absurd to me."

On Cameroon

"Cameroon is very strong. We could see them again in the round of 16 in South Africa. But we will mask ourselves, like at Carnival, because we have so many unfortunate absences. But it doesn't worry me. I'll do that a little later. For now, I console myself and think that whomever is not here will have more energy to expend in South Africa."

Italian to English translation by Steve Amoia of World Football Commentaries.

Italy Lineup: 3-4-3

Marchetti

Chiellini, Cannavaro (capt.), Bonucci

De Rossi, Pirlo, Maggio, Criscito

Cossu, Borriello, Di Natale

Manager: Mr. Lippi

Cameroon Lineup: 4-3-2-1

Hamidou

Matip, Nkolou, Bassong, Ekotto

Mandjeck, A. Song, Eyong

Emana, Kouemaha, Eto'o (capt.)

Manager: Mr. Le Guen

Mr. Lippi After the Game

"E' stata una partita molto utile, perché abbiamo visto cose interessanti. L'ultima prima di cominciare a lavorare a maggio. Borriello già lo conoscevamo. Bonucci e Cossu hanno giocato con personalità. E poi vorrei ricordare che mancavano ben sette azzurri".

Lippi analizza la gara: "Nel primo tempo forse ci siamo dedicati troppo alla fase difensiva che è stata però positiva, ma eravamo troppo bassi. Nella ripresa abbiamo cambiato e lo faremo spesso nel futuro nel corso della stessa partita. Siamo andati vicini al gol più noi che loro. Forse abbiamo fatto poco a centrocampo; siamo arretrati troppo. Nella ripresa abbiamo abbiamo invece confermato una buona sicurezza difensiva. C'era più convinzione. Abbiamo tenuto bene il campo".

"It was a very useful match because we saw interesting things. The last one before getting to work in May. Borriello we already knew about. Bonucci and Cossu played with personality. And I would like to remember that we were without at least seven Azzurri."

Lippi analyzed the game:

"In the first half, perhaps we focused too much in the defensive phase, but it was however, positive. But we were too low. In the second half, we made changes, and I will do this frequently in the future during the course of the same game. We were closer to scoring than they were. Perhaps we did little in midfield. We stayed too far back. In the second half, we confirmed a good defensive wall. There was more conviction. We held the play well."

Italian text courtesy of La Gazzetta dello Sport, March 3, 2010.

Italian to English translation by Steve Amoia of World Football Commentaries.

Match Highlights

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Brasil 2 x Republic of Ireland 0: Robinho Leads the Way in London

Image courtesy of the
CONFEDERAÇÃO BRASILEIRA
DE FUTEBOL.

Carlos Dunga released his roster for the 02 March 2010 friendly with the Republic of Ireland at the second home of the Selecao, Emirates Stadium in London. Brasil has played many friendlies in London to very receptive audiences.

He did not select in form Ronaldinho Gaucho. This may be a subtle reminder that Dinho does not figure in Dunga's plans for South Africa. He did select several Brazilian based players such as Adriano, Gilberto, Kleberson and Robinho. Eight players feature in the Italian Serie A, and four from the Spanish La Liga.


Could Ronaldinho's World Cup
dream be over? According to
Dunga, yes.

Carlos Dunga on Ronaldinho Gaucho and Alexandre Pato

"Ronaldinho e Pato hanno avuto le loro chance di affermarsi nella Selecao durante le Olimpiadi, ma non è bastato. Ognuno ha avuto la possibilità di mostrare cosa aveva da dare, ho dato a tutti i giocatori cinque o sei opportunità per giocare. Adesso spetta a me decidere chi andrà in Sudafrica. Quello che importa è l'impegno e ciò che si mostra in campo. Il primo criterio per andare ai Mondiali è questo, poi vengono l'entusiasmo, la passione per la Selecao, l'emozione di vestire la questa maglia".

"Ronaldinho and Pato had their chances to affirm themselves with the Brazilian Selection during the 2008 Olympic Games but it wasn't enough. Everyone had the possibility to show what they had to give.

I gave all of the players five or six chances to play. Now it's up to me to decide who will go to South Africa. What is important is the work rate and how you show it on the pitch. The first criterion to go to the World Cup is this. Then comes enthusiasm, passion for the national team, and the emotion to wear this shirt."

Italian text courtesy of La Gazzetta dello Sport, March 3, 2010.

Italian to English translation by Steve Amoia of World Football Commentaries.

Goalkeepers

Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Doni (Roma).

Defenders

Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Gilberto (Cruzeiro),
Michel Bastos (Lyon), Juan (Roma), Lucio (Inter Milan), Luisao (Benfica), Thiago Silva (AC Milan).

Midfielders

Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Josue (Wolfsburg), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Lucas (Liverpool), Kaka (Real Madrid), Ramires (Benfica), Elano (Galatasaray), Julio Baptista (Roma), Kleberson (Flamengo).

Strikers

Robinho (Santos), Adriano (Flamengo), Nilmar (Villarreal), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla).

Roster courtesy of IMScouting.

Robinho's Wonder Goal on his Santos Debut



Shay Given of the Republic After the Match

“Robinho wasn't playing enough for Manchester City, to be honest, so he's gone back to Santos to play and prepare for the World Cup.

"But hopefully he will do well there and do well at the World Cup and he'll come back to us a better player.

"With us, I just think he was out a long time with injury and he wasn't able to get his match sharpness back properly.

"Playing out in Brazil will sharpen him up for the World Cup and in the long term it will be of benefit to Manchester City."

Source: The Telegraph, March 3, 2010.

Match Highlights: Brasil 2 x Republic of Ireland 0

Goals:

Andrews 44' (own goal)
Robinho 76'

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