Marta Vieira da Silva: "Playing over here, you have to work harder tactically and defensively."

Marta in action against Sky Blue FC earlier this season.
She was the first player to win the FIFA Women's
World Player of the Year on four occasions. She has
played professionally in Brazil, Sweden and the USA.
She has 53 caps and 54 goals for Brazil.

Marta Vieira da Silva of FC Gold Pride spoke to the media via teleconference ahead of her match on Saturday with Sky Blue FC at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University. The match will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel at 6 p.m. Eastern time and 3 p.m. Pacific time.



Gloria Averbuch, Director, PR/Marketing of Sky Blue FC, was kind enough to ask Marta a question from me during the discussion on Wednesday afternoon. My question and Marta's response were interpreted into Portuguese and subsequently translated into English.

(Steve Amoia, World Football Commentaries)

Brazil and the USA have had a strong rivalry in women's soccer. Now you play with and against the Americans. What have you learned about them that you didn't know before, and what can they learn from you and other Brazilian players in the league?

(Marta Vieira da Silva, FC Gold Pride)

"Playing over here you have to work harder tactically and defensively.

For them (Americans) to observe me and see me play—they mark me very tight. Brazilian way of play is a free, attacking style--taking people on, with confidence, being creative.

They see that kind of play and some of the other players (US) are doing that here."

(Gloria Averbuch, Sky Blue FC)

"She stressed in other answers that the skill of Americans is the strength, assertiveness and tough defense."

Yael Averbuch of the defending WPS Champion,
Sky Blue FC, in action against FC Gold Pride on
April 17th. She contributes to the New York Times Goal
blog. Here is her latest post: Knocked for a Loop on
the Road. To learn more about Sky Blue FC, please visit
www.SkyBlueFC.com, www.Facebook.com/SkyBlueFC
and www.Twitter.com/SkyBlueFC.

WPS is the Premier Women's League in the World


Image courtesy of Women's Professional Soccer.

Women's Professional Soccer has players from 19 countries, 29 American states and leading colleges such as North Carolina, Notre Dame, Santa Clara, Portland and UCLA, respectively. There are teams in the following metropolitan areas: Atlanta (which has the first soccer-specific-stadium), Bay Area (California), Boston, Chicago, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Saint Louis and Washington, D.C.

Fox Soccer Channel (FSC) broadcasts a WPS game of the week (usually on Sundays), and archived streaming videos can be found at the WPS website.


For more information about Women's Professional
Soccer, please visit www.womensprosoccer.com
or http://twitter.com/womensprosoccer.
WPS was the first professional sports league to
have players "Tweet" during live games.

Alessandro Del Piero Evaluating an Offer from the New York Red Bulls

Will Alex come to America?

According to the Milan sports daily, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Del Piero is weighing an offer.

"Ale Del Piero ci sta pensando seriamente: trasferirsi a New York a fine stagione. Al capitano della Juventus è giunta un' allettante offerta dai Red Bulls di New York e lui sta riflettendo sul da farsi e tra non molto darà una risposta. E' vero, Ale ha un altro anno di contratto con la società di cui è ormai la bandiera indiscussa. Ma i cambiamenti in corso e le lusinghe dell' ambiziosa franchigia del New York potrebbero indurlo ad accelerare i tempi di un progetto che il fuoriclasse di San Vendemiano aveva già messo nel conto per la stagione 2011-12. Ne aveva già parlato in famiglia, prendendo in considerazione tutte le problematiche legate al trasloco dei bambini."

Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, April 19, 2010.

"Alessandro Del Piero is seriously thinking to transfer to New York at the end of the season. The Juventus captain has received an alluring offer from the New York Red Bulls and he is reflecting what to do and will shortly give a decision...

It is true. Del Piero has another year left on his contract with the club where he is the undisputed flag bearer. But the upcoming changes and flattering offer from the ambitious New York franchise could force him to accelerate the time for a project that the superstar from San Vendemiano had already put into place for the 2011-12 season. He has already discussed the matter with his family. Taking into consideration all of the problems tied to relocating his children."

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

He Loves the NBA and Speaks English

He speaks very good English and is a huge NBA fan. He is also good friends with Steve Nash. When I saw the NY x Juve friendly announced yesterday, I thought something else was in the works. Del Piero has one year left on his current contract. After a very disappointing season for Juventus, and seemingly out of Marcello Lippi's plans, il Capitano may be lured to a new challenge. He has been rumored to go into the Juventus front office when his career ends. John Elkann, a native New Yorker, runs Juventus FC.

Here is an English language link from The Guardian:

Juventus great Alessandro Del Piero weighing up a move to MLS side New York Red Bulls

Career Highlights for Del Piero

• 628 appearances for Juventus since 1993 which is the absolute record.
  
• 270 goals in all competitions for Juventus which is the absolute record.
  
• 91 caps with 27 goals for Italy. (Fourth best goal scoring record in Italian history.)
  
• World Cup champion in 2006.
• Euro 2000 runner-up.
  
• Serie B leading goal-scorer in 2006/07.
• Serie A leading goal-scorer in 2007/08. (He became the only player in Italian calcio history to lead both the Serie B and Serie A in goal scoring for consecutive seasons.)
  
• Champions League leading goal scorer in 1997/98.
• Only the second Italian (Paolo Maldini is the other) to feature at 7 international competitions (Euro 96, 2000, 2004 and 2008: World Cup 1998, 2002 and 2006.)
  

Statistics courtesy of Juventus.it and Wikipedia.

Juventus FC to Face New York Red Bulls on May 23

The heart and soul of Juventus FC, Alex Del Piero.
He has been with Juve since 1993, and won the
World Cup with Italy in 2006.

Juventus FC will travel to North America to face the New York Red Bulls of MLS in a friendly on Sunday, May 23 at the new Red Bull Arena in New Jersey. The last visit for "The Old Lady" was in 2003 when the Italian Super Cup was held at Giants Stadium.

Reduced Squad but with Several Stars

Juventus will be without many internationals ahead of the World Cup in South Africa; however, fans can expect to see a few big names. Notably, Alessandro Del Piero, Diego, and David Trezeguet.


Diego in action during his first Serie A campaign.

Erik Stover, Managing Director of Red Bull New York

“Since opening Red Bull Arena, we have been committed to bringing in elite clubs from around the world to play in what we consider to be the best soccer-specific stadium in North America,” said Red Bull New York Managing Director Erik Stover. “With its storied history and multiple championships, Juventus certainly fits in with this vision. They are a prestigious club with a tremendous following around the world and we are excited to host them at our brand new home.”

Source: Red Bulls to Face Juventus May 23.

Tickets


David Trezeguet in action against Fulham. The
French-Argentine has been with Juve for over 10 years.

According to the Red Bulls website, "Fans can purchase tickets, which start at $30 apiece, by calling 1.877.RBSOCCER or logging onto www.newyorkredbulls.com."


Carl Robinson of New York Red Bulls versus
Santos Futebol Clube during the inaugural friendly
at Red Bull Arena.

Other Friendlies During their North American Visit

According to CBC News, Fiorentina will face Juve in Toronto:

"Serie A outfits Juventus and Fiorentina will square off in an exhibition match on May 25 at Toronto's Rogers Centre, a message on Fiorentina's official website confirmed Tuesday.

Based in the Tuscan city of Florence, Fiorentina is going on a North American tour once the current Serie A campaign ends in mid-May.

Fiorentina will play two games in Montreal, meeting the Montreal Impact on May 23 at Stade Saputo and taking on fellow Italian club AC Milan on June 2 at Olympic Stadium."

Source: CBC News, April 20, 2010.

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World Football Commentaries Home Page

WPS Kick-Off Week 2010 Opens in Washington by Rob Penner

WPS Second Season Begins
WPS Kick-Off Week 2010 Opens in Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 10, 2010) - Following a six month off-season and one month of preseason, Women's Professional Soccer kicks-off its second season Saturday with the opening game of the 2010 WPS Season between the Washington Freedom and the Boston Breakers at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland at 7 pm ET.


Abby Wambach and Yael Averbuch.

The first Fox Soccer Channel television broadcast of the WPS Season begins at 6pm ET/3pm PT on Sunday, April 11 as WPS Champions Sky Blue FC face off against the Chicago Red Stars at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ. The game serves as the home debut for 2008 U.S. Soccer Player of the Year Carli Lloyd, who played collegiately at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers, and was with Chicago during the 2009 season.


Carli Lloyd in action with the US Women's National Team.

Below are media highlights heading into WPS Kick-Off Week 2010.

WPS Kick-Off Week 2010 Newsstand

WPS Newspaper Previews

Atlanta Journal Constitution (Atlanta Beat)
http://www.ajc.com/sports/beat-make-wps-debut-450423.html?cxtype=rss_news_128746

Boston Globe (Boston Breakers)
http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2010/04/10/time_cant_tarnish_lilly/

Boston Herald (Boston Breakers)
http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/soccer/general/view/20100409lauren_cheney_breakers_afoot_wps_season_kicks_in/srvc=home&position=recent

Chicago Daily Herald (Chicago Red Stars)
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=371809&src=1255

Philadelphia Daily News (Philadelphia Independence)
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20100409_Independence_looking_for_chemistry_in_debut_vs__Atlanta_Beat.html

Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Independence)
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/90451439.html
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/90451344.html

San Jose Mercury News (FC Gold Pride)
http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_14856772?nclick_check=1

Star-Ledger (Sky Blue FC)
http://www.nj.com/soccer-news/index.ssf/2010/04/post_1.html

St. Louis Post Dispatch (Saint Louis Athletica)
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/143530144

Washington Post (Washington Freedom)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/09/AR2010040904731.html

Washington Examiner
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sports/Freedom-enter-year-two-in-better-shape-90317227.html

Wall Street Journal
A Pro League Fit for an Ochocinco
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303411604575168690335258162.html

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.

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World Football Commentaries Home Page

Why Italy Will Not Repeat in 2010 by Jim Riggio

by Jim Riggio for World Football Commentaries

Marcello Lippi wants to make history. The only other
manager to win two World Cups was Vittorio Pozzo
in 1934 and 1938. Pozzo also won Olympic Gold for
Italy in 1936.

With just a little more than two months before the first whistle blows to the start of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, if there is one thing appears certain, it is that we will have new world champions come July 11.

Current champion Italy, a four-time winner of the event, is looking its worst in years. Thus, there is little hope of a chance of a repeat. No team has repeated since Brazil won in 1958 and 1962.

Brazil was the last team to repeat in 1962.

One Team Nucleus

Last fall, things were looking much better for the Azzurri. It appeared that Juventus bought into the idea of putting together a nucleus from which Italy coach Marcello Lippi would build his team around.

While this may seem like a crazy thing to do, it isn’t the first time Italy has tried this format. It nearly worked to perfection in 1994 when then-coach Arrigo Sacchi went primarily with players from AC Milan and Parma, the two clubs he had coached, and came up short just on penalty kicks in the final at the Rose Bowl to Brazil.

Lippi has also experimented with the idea of not bringing Italy’s best players, but rather the players he feels best with. That explains why players such as Antonio Cassano, Fabrizio Miccoli and Massimo Ambrosini aren’t even being considered for spots in South Africa.

But since unofficially launching this plan in the fall when Lippi began to call a large number of Juventus players into the national side, things have changed. Many star players from Juventus and other top clubs have faced injury problems.

Fall of Juventus

Juve's misery raises red flags for the Azzurri.

Juventus has had a very difficult season, one that has seen the firing of Ciro Ferrara as coach. The appointment of Alberto Zaccheroni, who had relatively fallen off the radar as a top Italian coach. He was selected to replace Ferrara because all of the other top coaches had already found employment.

Juve’s defense was supposed to be the core for Lippi with young Giorgio Chiellini, returning World Champions Fabio Cannavaro and Fabio Grosso, who are no longer reliable and Nicola LeGrottaglie, another veteran who at times has been shaky.

Injuries to the Old Guard

The Bianconeri defense has not recorded a shutout in 18 straight Serie A matches. Goalkeeping sensation Gianluigi Buffon, who has also battled injuries, has played in just eight of the 18 matches during the run. But it is still no excuse for a club is generally considered one of the best in the world.

Two other Juventus players believed to be on Lippi’s pre-selected list were midfielder Mauro Camoranesi and forward Vincenzo Iaquinta, both of whom have missed most of the season due to injury.

AC Milan defender Gianluca Zambrotta, a longtime Juventus player and also believed to be a favorite of Lippi, has also faced lots of time on the sidelines. Aside from Buffon, just a handful of field players should be considered locks for spots in the final roster for South Africa.

Midfielders Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan) and Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma) are certainly deserving of a spot. But even they have played many matches this season since they are heavily relied on by their respective clubs. It will be interesting to see how much they have left in their legs in South Africa.

Forwards Antonio Di Natale (Udinese) and Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina) are the only others that would appear to be locks. It is also hard to predict for success for Italy when its top two field players at any position – forward Francesco Totti and defender Alessandro Nesta – are hurt and retired from the national team.

Return of Totti?

Will Lippi ask him to return?

Totti, who has been sidelined more than Nesta this season, has said he would accept a return if Lippi wants him. Nesta, who has re-established himself as one the world’s best defenders, has reportedly rejected the possibility of a return even though many have supported this idea. The AS Roma captain returned this past week from injury and if he can remain healthy, there is a strong chance he will go to South Africa. Nesta is expected to return from injury in early May, which allows him to have a few matches under his belt should he decide to make a return and opt for a fourth trip to the World Cup, the first three ending early due to injuries

Weak World Cup Draw

If Italy has anything going its way, it would be a relatively weak draw in Group F with Paraguay, Slovakia and New Zealand. But past history has shown that Italy plays poorly against competition that is inferior, as the general Italian mentality has been to give 100 percent only when necessary. That would mean that Italy probably won’t be clicking on all cylinders in the group stage. If it can pass a second-round date with either Cameroon or Denmark, it would more-than-likely run into Spain in the quarterfinals and see the end of its 2010 run.

About the Author

Jim Riggio has written about Italian and international soccer for ESPN/Soccernet, and was an interviewee for my column at AC Cugini Scuola Calcio. After the 2006 World Cup, he contributed an interview with Gianluca Zambrotta of FC Barcelona and the Italian National team for my World Football site.

On 21 February 2008, Mr. Riggio was interviewed by Diane Scalia, also known as Chef Di, for the SportsBites segment about the Champions League on GrandSlamGourmet.com.

Jim Riggio Article Archive

Salvador Cabanas: "Knowing the support of the fans and players was the most important thing."

In his first interview with Televisa in Mexico, after the tragic gunshot wound to his head on Jan. 25, Salvador Cabanas of Club America and the Paraguayan national team maintained his belief that he would play again.


"Heaven can wait."

I will interpret a few of his responses.

Did you know that people were supporting you?

"Yes, they told me. The truth is, knowing this, was the most important thing."


A message of support from Club America.

What do you do at the clinic? Do you do exercises?

"I'm working on my rehabilitation. Yes, I do exercises."

Do you want to play again?

"Yes, I still want to play."

Have many visited you?

"Yes, many footballers have visited me. It was strange to receive such support from them and all the fans."


Opposing players saluted him.

Are you content?

"Yes, I'm very content. I am getting close to being fully recovered so that I can return to the pitch."

Are you ready to score goals again?

"I want to give joy to people. It's what I'm hoping for. It is what gives me hope. Especially with my father and family that came here to be with me."

Do you want to score goals at the Azteca Stadium?

"Yes, when I play the first game there, I'll do it again for the fans."

Do you want to send a greeting to the Paraguayan people who are watching tonight?

"A great greeting to all of Paraguay and the Paraguayan fans. I'll be back on the field soon. And to the Mexican fans, a great salute to all of you from me...

"Football gives you many things. This is why I have to return."

Those were the words of a true champion.

Salvador "Chava" Cabanas has a long journey back to professional football. But one senses that he will return to give joy to his fans. It will remind us that the most important battles occur off of the field of play.

Fuerza, Salvador.


The eagle is the symbol of Club America.

Update: April, 2, 2010



Salvador traveled to Argentina for further rehabilitation. According to Lisandro Olmos, the director of Fleni de Escobar treatment center:

“Il giocatore si dovrà sottoporre a un trattamento intensivo di 6-8 settimane per il recupero della memoria e delle funzioni cognitive", ha informato Lisandro Olmos. “Cabañas presenta un problema cognitivo. L'obiettivo adesso è migliorare le capacità di orientamento, memoria e attenzione, che risultano ancora deficitarie”. “Fino all’altro giorno la moglie ha cercato di convincerlo che si è trattato di una pallottola nella testa, ma lui si rifiuta di crederlo. E’ convinto di aver sofferto un incidente automobilistico. Non ricorda ancora nulla”.

"The player will have to undergo an intensive treatment from 6 to 8 weeks to recover his memory and cognitive functions... Cabanas has a cognitive problem. The objective now is to strengthen his capacity for orientation, memory and attention that still remain deficient...

Up until the other day, his wife tried to convince him that a bullet was still in his head, but he refused to believe it. He is convinced that he had a car accident. He still does not remember anything."

Italian Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, April 2, 2010.

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