Recently in FIFA Women's World Cup Category

Despite taking the lead off a goal from Palos Verdes Estates' (and 100 Percent Soccer blogger) Kyle Nakazawa, the UCLA men could only tie 1-1 Wednesday with San Diego State in their last game of the regular season, leaving their NCAA tourney hopes hanging by a thread. The Bruins learn their fate Monday.

Ahead of Sunday's MLS Cup, Steven Goff over at The Washington Post profiles former Galaxy forward Nate Jaqua, reminding us he scored just one goal in 10 appearances in L.A., but a more respectable eight goals in 15 games since his trade to the Houston Dynamo.

The MLS MVP will be announced today at 1 p.m. live on ESPNews.

MLS reminds us that while Jaqua is not up for the award, these players are:

Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls) – The Colombian striker was a terror to defenses as he scored 19 goals in 24 games this season. The first-year player recorded five multi-goal games and helped lead the Red Bulls to the playoffs. He came to MLS from Aston Villa of the English Premier League as one of the League’s first crop of Designated Players.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Chicago Fire) – One of the most loved soccer players in Mexico came to the League as Chicago’s Designated Player and set the League ablaze with his play for the Fire. Blanco helped turn the season around for the Fire, leading them to the playoffs and Eastern Conference Championship game.

Luciano Emilio (D.C. United) – The Brazilian born Emilio was the 2007 Budweiser Golden Boot winner, as the League’s leading goal scorer. He tallied 20 goals in 28 games, tied Angel for the most multi-goal games and helped lead D.C. United to its second consecutive Supporters’ Shield trophy. Emilio is the first MLS player to reach the 20 goal mark in one season since 2002, when current FC Dallas forward Carlos Ruiz scored 24 goals for the Los Angeles Galaxy and Twellman scored 23 for New England.

Meanwhile, the latest American investors to eye an English team is reportedly Burbank-based Shamrock Holdings, founded by Walt Disney's nephew, Roy, which is supposedly chasing Derby County. And, yes, the "Mickey Mouse team" quips have started.

The CONCACAF suits met Monday to fiddle with the format of their largely irrelevant competitions and award Mexico the qualifying competition for women's Olympic soccer.

From CONCACAF:

Among the most important items under consideration was a detailed proposal from the CONCACAF Secretariat to end the existing club championship, the CONCACAF Champions Cup™, and introduce a new Champions League-style annual event. The proposed new competition, which will see 24 teams participating, received the approval of the Executive Committee and will commence in August 2008 with the first CONCACAF Champions League winner to be crowned in May of 2009. Therefore, the current CONCACAF Champions Cup™ will cease to exist after its next edition, taking place from February-May 2008, has concluded.

Finally, while the performance of the U.S. women at the World Cup was roundly criticized, at least they don't have to survive on less than $100 a day.

A week is a long time in soccer.

In the last week Chivas USA have gone from Western Conference champions to looking like a team unlikely to survive the opening round of the MLS playoffs.

And Galaxy Coach Frank Yallop has gone from "dead man walking" to looking like he will be around next season after all.

I took a look at both stories in this week's column.

Meanwhile to no-one's surprise, Brazil today was awarded the 2014 World Cup, while Germany snagged the women's version in 2011.

Finally, the basement-dwelling Loyola Marymount men, without a West Coast Conference win this season, lost yet again Monday, succumbing 2-0 at San Diego for their second loss to the same team in four days.

The 2-11-1, 0-7-0 WCC Lions travel to Oregon Thursday to meet Oregon State and on Sunday play at Santa Clara.

One of the best women's soccer coaches in the world, Brian Boswell of Women's Premier Soccer League team Ajax America Women, provided expert analysis for 100 percent Soccer throughout the Women's World Cup.

Does his take on the U.S. Women's National Team coaching debacle sound like 1998 all over again?


Greg Ryan needs to go.

He did a good job with the team in playing 51 games without a loss, but they are the U.S.

It’s expected.

The Scurry/Solo episode brought his job stability to the fore, but that's only a part of the story.

The World Cup showed that the U.S. style of soccer is no longer good enough to keep us on top of the world. The day has gone when we had the fittest, strongest, fastest athletes who, if they have good soccer ability, would beat everyone.

Anson Dorrance's philosophy of win every individual battle, get the ball up front and run harder and faster than the other team worked in the early years. Add that to the skill of the likes of Carin Gabarra et al and the U.S. were unbeatable.

Unfortunately, Ryan followed in that mode, coaching the women in a men's long ball style with a big target player and power soccer.

But, the Brazilians showed what individual talent, flair and the ability to keep the ball could do. Then Germany showed that discipline, good possession, teamwork and individual skill is even better.

Possession was key to both teams' success.

The U.S. could not possess the ball, meaning we had to do something wonderful with it when we had it and were always fighting to get it back.

Moreover, on listening to some of the U.S. players, Ryan was not an easy person to approach.

Players said if you had a question over some part of playing time, position etc., you did not go to the coach for an explanation.

That's perhaps acceptable in the men's game. But it does not work with the women.

They need answers - good or bad - they need to know where they stand and what they need to do.

That's why the head coaches in England's professional ranks are called a managers; it's all about player management. Keep the players happy and amazing things can happen.

Tactically Ryan followed his playing philosophy and emphasis on the long ball, which will work and did against most teams in the world. You don't need to be too tactically aware.

But in the semifinal, when under the biggest coaching pressure of his career, his subbing and tactics left some questions, especially when 2-0 down and replacing defenders when we needed to score twice to tie.

I also question the long residential camps.

Neither Brazil or Germany had extended camps.

Their players were playing in the European leagues during the spring and early summer.

This kept them game fit and had them playing in many instances against club teams who were as good as many national teams. They were able to play against different styles and systems and hone their individual talent.

Then as the men's national teams do, they were brought into camp for training, bonding and games. The players come in fresh and had something to prove. I've got to believe that constantly being in camp around the same players takes the edge off and can make you stale.

Who could do the job as Ryan's successor?

Tony DiCicco has been suggested as a get-us-through-the-Olympics coach. He's been there, knows the ropes and could do the job.

But, I think we need someone fresh whose first priority is the Olympics, but also the years beyond.

There's Jerry Smith (Brandi Chastain's husband) if you could pry him away from Santa Clara.

Ian Sawyers (Julie Foudy's husband) did a very good job with San Jose in the WUSA,.

Jim Gabarra (husband of the former Carin Jennings) did a good job with Washington in the WUSA and has continued to do it this year in the W-League.

From outside the U.S., Australian coach Tom Sermanni performed a good job with the Australian National Team and New York in the WUSA.

Galaxy Still Glowing

The suddenly resurgent Galaxy kept their playoff hopes alive by winning Sunday in Columbus.

A brief game summary is here.

The Crew perspective is here.
Improbably, the Galaxy are now just two wins away from catching Chicago for the eighth and final playoff spot. (Scroll down to see the league as one division, giving the clearest view of the playoff race).

Here's a playoff update from MLS that provides a little perspective:

With only three weeks left in the 2007 MLS regular season four teams have clinched playoff berths, while the remaining four spots are up for grabs in a tightly contested race to the finish. FC Dallas, Kansas City and New York can punch their tickets to the playoffs this week, while Real Salt Lake was eliminated and Toronto FC’s chances hang by a thread.

Heading into the last weekend of September, FC Dallas and New York had a chance to clinch a playoff berth, but could not overcome tough opponents as FC Dallas lost 3-0 to Western Conference-leading Houston Dynamo and the New York Red Bulls tied Real Salt Lake – a team eliminated from playoff contention, but trying to end the season on a strong note.

The Red Bulls travel to face Toronto FC on Thursday, Oct. 4 in the ESPN2 primetime match at 7 p.m. ET, and they could clinch a playoff berth with a win, or if Columbus and Los Angeles fail to win over the weekend.

FC Dallas will clinch a spot with a win or tie over Columbus on Saturday, as Columbus is the only team that could catch them in the overall standings with 40 points. The Crew sits in ninth place with 31 points, but can earn a maximum of 40 points if they win the remainder of their games. The Wizards are the only other team that can clinch a spot this weekend, but they need to win and hope that the Crew and the Los Angeles Galaxy both fail to win.

When the regular season ends Oct. 21, the team with the most points will win the Supporters’ Shield and will qualify for the 2008 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Ten MLS teams have three games remaining and three teams have four games left, including the Los Angeles Galaxy who are 3-0-1 in their last four games.

I'll have more on the Galaxy in Tuesday's weekly column in the Daily News and Daily Breeze.

World Cup Comment

Columnist Ramona Shelburne joins in the lambasting of U.S. Coach Greg Ryan and has words of praise (sort of) for goalkeeper Hope Solo.

College Roundup

Well, not so much given that my e-mail was down from Saturday evening through Sunday evening.

I'm feeling a little under the weather today, so to find out most of Sunday's scores click on the appropriate college link to the right.

But one e-mail that made it through observed that the Cal Sate Northridge women's team fell 3-1 to Pepperdine Sunday afternoon in Malibu. With the loss, Cal State Northridge fell to 2-6-1, while Pepperdine improved to 2-4-3.

Late and light post this morning, since some of the boys in the press box hung out at the bar at Alpine Village, a true kitschy South Bay institution, after the Chivas USA game and I got home at 2 a.m. just in time to watch the U.S.-Norway game.

If you didn't stay up, you can catch up on the action here.

The U.S. found a measure of redemption with its win, but here's a memo for U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati: hire Germany Coach Neid Silvia.

Discipline beat flair in the World Cup final, with Germany showing the U.S. how to stifle Brazil.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy continue their improbable playoff slog today against former Coach Sigi Schmid's Columbus Crew.

The game is sold out (thanks to Beckham) and the Crew are asking fans to wear black in what the team is dubbing a "black out."

Galaxy beat writer Billy Witz has a preview of the game and its playoff implications. The game is delayed three hours until 5 p.m. on FSN.

The Crew have plenty to play for as well, sitting just two points behind Chicago for the last playoff spot.

Blanco en Fuego

It will be fascinating to see the reaction of Chivas USA's Legion 1908 to Blanco tonight when he walks out on the field at Home Depot Center with the rest of the Chicago Fire. Kick off is at 7:30 p.m., although if you're watching on TV FSN has delayed airing the game until 8 p.m.

It will be no where near as friendly as at LAX Thursday when Blanco was greeted by Club America fans.

I'll blog from the press box as usual.

Chivas USA beat writer Ivan Orozco filed this Blanco profile and game preview.

World Cup Final Preview

While the fallout from the U.S. loss continues before the 1:55 a.m. Sunday third place game on ESPN2, U.S. Coach Greg Ryan has confirmed goalkeeper Hope Solo has been banished.

Torrance's Shannon Boxx is suspended for the game after her red card that really wasn't in the loss to Brazil.

Meanwhile, Ajax America Coach Brian Boswell provides the pregame analysis of the enticing Brazil-Germany matchup in the final set for 4:55 a.m. Sunday on ESPN that's mandatory viewing for any soccer fan:

Current champions Germany, with four wins, a tie and most importantly, no goals conceded, are extremely well organized.

They play a 4-4-2 system with overlapping outside midfield players. Look out especially for the lightning quick surges from Kersten Garefrekes (two goals) on the right.

Their 19 goals have come from a variety of players with their world class forward Birgit Printz and playmaker Renate Linger getting four apiece

Veteran Kirsten Stegeman anchors the defense and is the calming influence on a young back line that includes 22-year-old Annike Krahn.

The Germans have struggled at times, especially in the first half of each game; they need to start better against a free scoring Brazil side that starts fast. They must play the ball quickly to avoid the Brazilian offensive pressure.

The defense must remain compact and keep its shape and not be pulled apart by the Brazil’s creativity.

Germany must make the most of its free kicks in the Brazilian half. Brazil does not defend well from dead ball situations and goalkeeper Andreia has not really been tested.

Brazil, fresh from a resounding 4-0 victory over the U.S., are a joy to watch. In team possession, individual creativity, solid defense and confidence, they’ve got it all. If you watched the game with the U.S., it’s hard to believe anyone can beat them.

Marta was superb, the fourth goal possibly the best you will see in women’s soccer. They boast attacking threats all over the field with Marta, Cristiane, Daniella and Formiga all capable of working their way inside the box or shooting from distance.

Defensively I was surprised how quick Brazil was to pressure the ball and how strong they were.

The Brazilians, as is their heritage, have great technical ability. Add that to a Brazil that is playing well as a team, and Germany have their work cut out for them.

Look for Brazil to get into their rhythm early and try to pull the organized Germans all over the field. Brazil will then attack quickly through a combination of passing, individual skill and shots from anywhere. If they get Germany on their heels as they did the U.S. they will score and score. Germany must start playing right from the whistle, keep compact and play down the outside. If they can stifle the Brazilian offense and possess the ball, the experience and goal scoring ability of Prinz and Linger will put goals on the board for Germany.

Expect goals.

Prediction: Brazil will win 2-1 or 3-2.

Friday's College Roundup

After missing all of last year with a knee injury, including the first seven matches of this season while at the Women’s World Cup in China, Canadian international striker Kara Lang returned to the college game in a big way Friday evening, scoring both UCLA goals in a 2-1 overtime upset of No. 2 Portland at Drake Stadium.

Lang, whose last game college game happened to be against Portland (7-2) in the 2005 NCAA Final, opened the scoring after just eight minutes with a 30-yard strike. Portland equalized eight minutes from time, but Lang scored her second seven minutes into overtime.

UCLA (5-1-2) extended their home winning streak to 31 matches.

Next: San Diego State Friday in San Diego.

Senior Jamie Bell continued her goal-scoring binge for the Lady Lions, finding the net for the third consecutive game as Loyola Marymount defeated 3-1 Friday afternoon at Sullivan Field. The Lions have won five straight to post the program's longest winning streak since 1998 and tie the school record.

The 5-3-1 Lions can break that record 1 p.m. Sunday against UC Riverside at Sullivan Field.

No. 14-ranked USC (7-1-1) beat Long Beach State (6-4-0) 3-0 Friday before a record crowd of 954 for a women's soccer match at LBSU.

Evoking memories of the 1998 World Cup debacle that rightfully focused on then U.S. Men's National Team Coach Steve Sampson, pressure on U.S. Women's Coach Greg Ryan is intensifying in the wake of the humiliating 4-0 loss to Brazil.

Even though Hope Solo backtracked on any perceived criticism of backup Briana Scurry on her MySpace page (click on the "2007worldcup" link for her statement) after her angry words in the wake of the Brazil game, Solo pointedly did not express any regrets in regard to Ryan.

Fans have the knives out.

Over on BigSoccer.com they're discussing potential successors.

There's also a poll asking when (not if) Ryan will be fired.

And Nike's World Cup advertising campaign around its "the greatest team you've never heard of" slogan (am I the only one who found those ads incredibly annoying?) isn't immune either from general derision.

Meanwhile, former U.S. Women's National Team stars are also calling for Ryan's head.

As usual, the outspoken Brandi Chastain was particularly damning in her assessment:

“People say this is a step back, but I think Greg Ryan has put us three steps back – all the way to the starting gate," said Chastain, the 1999 World Cup hero who watched Thursday's loss from her home in Northern California. "He lacks the ability to communicate and is not in tune with his players, and he's obviously not a tactician or he wouldn't have made the decisions he did.”

For what it's worth, I e-mailed U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati for his view. No, I haven't heard back, but if I do, I'll post the response here.

Updated 4:45 p.m.: Sunil got back to me via e-mail, gave me a quote, then told me it wasn't for use. So, to ensure the president of U.S. Soccer does talk to me again I'll respect his request and won't use it for publication.

I'll say this though, Ryan is in trouble. (I can read between the lines).

Galaxy Find Yellow Brick Road and Win

The Galaxy won on the road for the first time this season beating nine-man Kansas City 1-0 Thursday to keep their slender playoff hopes alive.

Notable: The Galaxy took just one shot on goal and scored, meaning that former UCLA goalkeeper Kevin Hartman remains stuck on 999 career MLS saves.

Defender Ante Jazic, out of the lineup since sustaining an injury against New York Aug. 18, came on as a second half sub. Can fellow full back Chris Albright be far behind?

Here's the view from Kansas City.

Next for the Galaxy: A visit Sunday to former Coach Sigi Schmid's Columbus Crew that FSN will air on tape-delay at 5 p.m.

Weekend College Games

The Cal State Northridge men host tenth-ranked UCLA at Saturday in the first game between the two schools since 2005. The Matadors have never beaten UCLA.

The Loyola Marymount women (4-3-1), winners of four straight games, play at 4 p.m. today against Idaho (4-3-0) and 1 p.m. Sunday against UC Riverside (5-3-0). Both games are at Sullivan Field.

The Long Beach State women (6-3-0), winners of four in a row, host two games this weekend First up at 4 p.m. today is No. 14-ranked USC (6-1-1), while at 11 a.m. Sunday it's Wyoming (4-4-0) in town.

Etc.

If you only watch one game this weekend, make it Germany against Brazil in the FIFA Women's World Cup Final, a game between a team yet to concede a goal in the tournament against one that put four past the U.S. Kick off is at 4:55 a.m. The third place Norway-U.S. game is at 1:55 a.m. on the same channel.

Are the Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros big in Uzbekistan? The revamped Cal State Dominguez Hills Athletics’ Web site has surpassed 14,000 hits since it was launched one month ago with visitors coming from 42 different countries including South Korea, Kenya, Uzbekistan and Turkey.

Finally, former UCLA soccer player and avid supporter Jonathan Moore died at his Los Angeles home Wednesday, just days after his 60th birthday.

A member of the UCLA soccer team in 1968 and 1969, he led the team in scoring in his first season. After graduation, he was a fixture at UCLA soccer games.

U.S. Crashes Out of World Cup

A brilliant individual goal from Marta in the 80th minute sealed a historic 4-0 win for Brazil over the U.S. this morning and handed the South Americans a deserved World Cup final berth Sunday against Germany.

Bad luck, questionable coaching decisions and uninspired play all combined to work against the U.S. and gave Coach Greg Ryan his first and possibly last loss since his 2005 appointment, rendering a two-year undefeated streak meaningless.

It was the worst U.S. defeat ever and it could have been even worse: Brazil hit the post shortly before the end of the game.

Brazil's players celebrate the victory over the U.S. after their semifinal match

Game details here.

The U.S. now turns its attention to the Olympics next year. But questions arise: has the rest of the world caught up to the U.S.? And will Ryan remain the coach?

Galaxy Preview

The Galaxy plays the Kansas City Wizards live at 5 p.m. today on ESPN2. There's a viewing party at the Underground Pub & Grill in Hermosa Beach.

David Beckham, by the way, took the first flight to London he could after learning late last night that his father had suffered a heart attack. Details here.

Beat writer Billy Witz has the game preview.

And just to catch up with Wednesday's stories: Cobi Jones said he may not retire.

And columnist Paul Oberjuerge has this take on the Galaxy's season.

Blanco Ball

Lots of fans are expected at the American Airlines terminal at LAX today to greet Cuauhtémoc Blanco as the Chicago Fire step off an airplane en route to Saturday's game against Chivas USA. American Airlines Flight 55 is scheduled to arrive at 5:30 p.m. if you want to take in the scene or just avoid the crowds.

From the Chivas USA press release:

There will be brief media availability with Blanco and Fire personnel upon arrival at the airport, where scores of fans are expected to greet the controversial Mexican National Team and ex-Club América icon ahead of his only scheduled appearance of 2007 in Southern California.

Blanco, reportedly Major League Soccer’s second-highest paid Designated Player after David Beckham, signed with the Chicago Fire in June and in just 10 games since his MLS debut has scored three goals and registered six assists, leading the Fire to a 4-2-4 record (W-L-T) and, for now, the eighth and final spot in the race to the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Mexican-owned Chivas USA (14-6-5, 47 pts) is currently in first place in MLS’s Western Conference with five regular season games remaining. Led by three-time Mexican World Cup star Claudio Suárez, Chivas USA will look to extend their unbeaten streak to nine games on Saturday against the Fire and Blanco, who for over a decade represented Club América, the Mexican archrival of Chivas USA’s parent club, Chivas de Guadalajara.

Chivas USA and the Chicago Fire face off this Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center in a preview of a potential first-round 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs matchup.

It's a first half disaster for the U.S.

A 20th minute own goal from a corner kick, a second Brazilian goal scored seven minutes later in a manner usually athletic goalkeeper Briana Scurry was brought in precisely to save and Torrance's Shannon Boxx sent off just before half time. That Boxx should not have been given a second yellow card - replays showed she was clipped by a Brazilian player and not vice versa - is no consolation for the U.S.

Down to 10 players, the U.S. has just 45 minutes left in the 2007 World Cup unless it scores at least two goals.

The game is on ESPN2, by the way.

Ajax America Women Coach Brian Boswell returns to provide 100 Percent Soccer with a match analysis of the U.S.-Brazil semifinal:

The U.S. have been preparing for this game since the end of the 2003 World Cup, whereas the Brazilian team disbanded that year and did not come together until early 2007 for the Pan American Games.

The U.S. is fresh off of a 3-0 victory over a good English side, despite starting slowly and allowing England to play at a comfortable pace, ceding most of the possession.

Upping the tempo of the game in the second half, the U.S. put the English on the back foot and scored three goals in 15 minutes. They played better possession soccer and looked like a team capable of winning the World Cup, with good goals from key players Abby Wambach, Shannon Boxx and Kristine Lilly.

Brazil beat a plucky, hard-working Australian team 3-2. Although out-shooting Australia 20-4 and leading 2-0, they found it very difficult to put the Aussies away.

The U.S. is getting better with every game.

It played the England game with Shannon Boxx and Leslie Osborne as the central midfielders. Although both have been used primarily as holding midfield players, they played well together. Boxxy was able to go forward more often and this resulted in a great left-footed goal. The U.S. played the ball wider than they have in previous games and cut out a lot of the ”Route 1” long balls, which allowed the midfield to support Abby Wambach and Kristine Lilly up front. This put a lot more pressure on the England defense.

Expect to see this on Thursday.

The U.S. will try to dictate the pace against Brazil, speed it up and put the Brazilians on their heels. Look for the U.S. to be dangerous on set pieces; the U.S. is the best women’s team in the air and Brazil does not mark well from set pieces.

The U.S. will play more down the lines to try to get around the back of Brazil and use Abby’s prowess in the air with Lilly, Lori Chalupny and Heather O’Reilly picking up the knock downs and Boxxy coming through.

When defending the U.S. must pressure the ball quickly as Brazil has great individual talent and loves to shoot from outside the penalty area.

The Brazilians are the most entertaining of the women’s teams.

Good team work and great individual skill make them fun to watch, plus they have in Marta the No. 1 player in the world.

They play like their men’s team.

They beat Australia 3-2 after dominating the first 30 minutes and leading 2-0. Australia didn’t quit, were able to narrow the field and congest the midfield and claw two goals back, which shows the Brazilian defense is not at the same standard as its attack.

When Brazil are allowed to play they attack quickly, push their outside backs up and into your penalty area. They will then shoot from anywhere looking for goals, deflections, balls knocked down, anything that gives them a chance of scoring. They play well as a team, but rely on individual skill to win games.

Brazil play a 4-4-2 with forwards Marta and Christiane and attacking midfielders Formiga and Daniella interchanging positions, making them very difficult to mark. Marta is very dangerous from free kicks in scoring positions.

They are not as well organized when defending, which comes from lack of preparation time as a team. Defending is more about organization than individual ability and they've missed some of the finer points. Vulnerable at set pieces, Brazil has had the easier games to the semifinal, so the defense has not been tested in the way it will be against the U.S.

Expect the U.S. to start quickly and prevent Brazil from developing a rhythm.

To do this they will need to pressure quickly when Brazil have possession and then attack quickly on the flanks, getting midfield support to the forwards. Even though they need to attack quickly they will need to show patience and avoid the long ball that has stretched the U.S. team in previous games.

I think this will be a fun game to watch, a game of goals, Brazil loves to attack and with their individual talent they should score. The U.S., with talent, strength and organization, should score more.

Prediction: U.S. 3 Brazil 1.

Updated: Ryan has taken the unusual step of dropping goalkeeper Hope Solo for the game in favor of veteran backup Brianna Scurry.

Solo has looked shaky on a couple of occasions in group play, but the torrential rain obviously played a huge factor.

Still, it's another sign from a coach who has been with most of this squad for two years, that no one is sure of their place.

Even Shannon Boxx sat out the opening 45 minutes of the second group game against Sweden.

Was this a bold move on Ryan's part, a harsh one or simply indicative of indecision?

We'll find out within hours.

If the U.S. wins, it faces Germany in the final. Germany have yet to concede a goal in the tournament and beat Norway 3-0 earlier today.

Updated: The star of the Brazilian team, Marta, is a widely considered the best female soccer player in the world. What's the U.S. up against? Check out her skills.

World Cup Semifinals Begin Wednesday

Germany play Norway at 4:55 a.m. Wednesday on ESPN2 in the first of the semifinals, while the U.S. faces Brazil Thursday morning. We'll have a complete pregame analysis from Ajax America Women Coach Brian Boswell up Wednesday. But for now, here's the story that ran in the Daily Breeze today.

K.C. Compensates Fans For Beckham No Show

The Kansas City Wizards belatedly discovered today (I kid you not) that David Beckham won't play Thursday (are they still using pony express there?) in the game on ESPN2. Still, the club announced a slew of special offers for fans to make up for his absence (are you paying attention, Galaxy?):

Parking is free.

Buy one playoff ticket, get one free playoff ticket for the first home playoff game (for fans with) the ticket stub from the Wizards versus Galaxy game

A drawing for three kids to have a Wizards starting player (as chosen by the Wizards staff) visit their school.

The Wizards have already arranged for numerous attractions surrounding the match, including an expanded soccer celebration east of the stadium (which includes 40 booths), NASCAR driver David Ragan signing autographs before the game, a performance by the band Liverpool: A Tribute to the Beatles, a special pre-game tribute to Galaxy midfielder Cobi Jones and much more. The first 10,000 fans into the stadium will receive blue and white thundersticks courtesy of game-sponsor M&I Bank, and the game ball will be delivered to mid-field by jet pack. After the game there will be a fireworks show and then Wizards players signing autographs.

By comparison, Galaxy season ticket holders got a "hey, we won't jack up the prices for next season if you renew by such and such a date."

Beck's on Best World XI List

The MLS Players Union was bursting with pride today that it had a player - David Beckham - included among the 55 finalists for the third annual World Best XI Player Awards. Too bad the press release from FIFPro, which represents 45,000 professional players worldwide, noted that Beckham plays for Real Madrid.

Here are the nominees, as voted on by players, with the winners announced in October:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/ Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain/ Real Madrid), Petr Cech (Czech Republic/ Chelsea), Nelson de Jesus Silva ‘Dida’ (Brazil/ AC Milan), Edwin van der Sar (Holland/ Manchester United)

Defenders: Éric Abidal (France/ Olympique Lyon), Daniel Alves (Brazil/ Sevilla), Roberto Ayala (Argentina/ Valencia), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy/ Real Madrid), Roberto Carlos da Silva (Brazil/ Real Madrid), Jamie Carragher (England/ Liverpool), Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal/ Chelsea), Cristian Chivu (Romania/ AS Roma), Ashley Cole (England/ Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (England/ Manchester United), Philipp Lahm (Germany/ Bayern Munich), Ferreira Lucio (Brazil/Bayern Munich), Paolo Maldini (Italy/ AC Milan), Marco Materazzi (Italy/ Inter), Alessandro Nesta (Italy/ AC Milan), Carles Puyol (Spain/ Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain/ Real Madrid), John Terry (England/ Chelsea), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia/ Manchester United), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy/ Juventus).

Midfielders: David Beckham (England/ Real Madrid), Anderson Deco (Portugal/ Barcelona), Mickaël Essien (Ghana/ Chelsea), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy/ AC Milan), Steven Gerrard (England/ Liverpool), Andrès Iniesta (Spain/ Barcelona), Ricardo Kaká (Brazil/ AC Milan), Frank Lampard (England/ Chelsea), Claude Makélélé (France/ Chelsea), Andrea Pirlo (Italy/ AC Milan), Juan Roman Riquelme (Argentina/ Villareal/Boca Juniors), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/ Manchester United), Paul Scholes (England/ Manchester United), Clarence Seedorf (Holland/ AC Milan), Xavi (Spain/ Barcelona).

Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria/ Tottenham Hotspur), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast/ Chelsea), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon/ Barcelona), Thierry Henry (France/ Arsenal), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/ Inter), Filippo Inzaghi (Italy/ AC Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina/ Barcelona), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Holland/ Real Madrid), Ronaldinho (Brazil/ Barcelona), Ronaldo (Brazil/ Real Madrid/ AC Milan), Wayne Rooney (England/ Manchester United), Carlos Tévez (Argentina/ West Ham United), Luca Toni (Italy/ Fiorentina), Francesco Totti (Italy/ AS Roma), David Villa (Spain/ Valencia).

Hail Haley

The Under-14 Girl’s National Developmental Program competed for the first time as a team at the 2007 Women’s Nike Friendlies at Home Depot Center last weekend, picking up two wins and a draw against the nation’s top Under-16 club teams. Haley Rosen of Palos Verdes scored twice.

Toros Triumph

Freshman Tiburcio Casillas (Gardena/Animo Leadership High) scored twice as the Cal State Dominguez Hills men slammed visiting Cal State San Marcos 6-1 Monday at Toro Stadium.

CSUDH, now 8-2 overall, concludes its six-game homestand at 7 p.m. Saturday against nationally-ranked Seattle Pacific.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills women, meanwhile, beat Cal State San Marcos 3-0 Monday with Melissa Livergood (North Torrance High) and Kristen Boskovich (Peninsula High) combining for the three goals.

The 7-1-3 Toros concludes its six-game homestand 7 p.m. Tuesday against Western Washington.

On Donovan and Denilson

The Galaxy plays F.C. Dallas today at 5 p.m. at Home Depot Center, but with the likelihood of Beckham Inc. making the playoffs receding with every game journalists must find other talking points.

To that end, Galaxy beat writer Billy Witz breaks down the importance of Landon Donovan to the team.

The none too surprising conclusion: he's important.

Still, since Galaxy fans often fall into two camps - those who think he's the greatest American player ever and those who think "Landycakes" is an over-rated, often-invisible and sometimes lazy playmaker - that's sure to spark a discussion or two.

The biggest point of interest at today's game for the visitors is not ex-Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz, but the first appearance in L.A. of Denilson, the Brazilian who was once the world's most expensive player, but never lived up to his potential. Which is why he's in MLS, of course, but still this is a player you expect to tear the league apart, dominating opponents on the level of a Juan Pablo Angel.

Here's the Denilson details.

By the way, fans who do decide to go to the game have three reasons to go early (in no particular order):
* The first 5,000 fans through the gates get a Galaxy soccer ball.
* The 10 Miss Galaxy candidates are introduced at 3:30 p.m. on the main concourse.
* And you can record a personal video tribute to retiring Galaxy great Cobi Jones from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Cobi's Corner at the plaza below the Stadium Club. All the different Galaxy jerseys he has worn are on display, too, just to remind you how bad the designs were in MLS' early years.

Or you can just stay home and watch on FSN.

Here's a brief summary of Saturday's World Cup and MLS action.

College Roundup

UCLA lost 2-1 in overtime to No. 8-ranked Santa Clara Saturday evening. The Bruins, down to 10 men after a red card to forward Richard Flores, almost won in in the final minute of regulation, but a shot by Palos Verdes Estates' Kyle Nakazawa was saved by Santa Clara goalkeeper Kevin Klasila.

I'm sure Kyle will agonize over that one in his on-going blog for 100 Percent Soccer later this week.

Meanwhile, this came in from Loyola Marymount regarding today's games:

“The Harvard-UC Santa Barbara match in the LMU Invitational scheduled for Sunday, September 23 at 1:30 p.m. at Sullivan Field has ben moved to Santa Barbara. The two LMU games on Sunday will go ahead as scheduled. The women's game against Fresno State will be at 11 a.m. with the men facing Columbia at 4 p.m.”

World Cup Final Four Set

The U.S. remains on course for a World Cup final showdown with Germany and found out their semifinal opponents today: Brazil, which beat Australia 3-2 and lost to the Americans in the gold medal game at the last Olympics.

Norway beat hosts China to meet the Germans in the semifinals.

Here's a breakdown of the action from FIFA.

Boxx Goal Clinches U.S. Win Over England

With a goal that typifies her game, Torrance's Shannon Boxx won the ball outside England's 18-yard box and grabbed the second of three U.S. goals scored within a 15-minute second half span today to send the Americans through to the World Cup semifinals.

Abby Wambach (her fourth in four World Cup games) and Kristine Lilly also contributed goals in the 3-0 victory.

"Cat actually got the tackle in," said Boxx of her decisive left-footed shot for the second goal. "It popped right in front of me and my thought was just to take a quick shot. I hit it low ,which is what the midfielders have been working on, and the field, I think, helped. It skipped in. It was nice and quick.”

Boxx and Leslie Osborne combined well in midfield and England threat Kelly Smith was largely shut down.

“Something just clicks with us, our communication," Osborne said of the partnership. "We feel comfortable with each other out there. We read off each other really well, and we played offense and defense tonight. We’re not just two defensive midfielders. We can keep the ball for us, possess, and we’re not going to let anything past us. It’s just fun out there, and we enjoy being out there together.”

All three U.S. goals aptly exemplified the style of the player who scored: Wambach crashed in for her goal off a corner, Boxx won the ball and then quickly attacked for her 16th international goal while Lilly poached her's.

Nice to see ESPN belatedly get commentators J.P. Dellacamera and Julie Foudy to China, too.

In the day's other game, Germany disposed of North Korea.

Saturday Sorcery

Chivas USA Coach Preki pits his tactical tricks against former team the Kansas City Wizards today at Home Deport Center with a playoff place on the line.

Here's a preview.

And even if Chivas USA takes a lead against the Wizards, the team shouldn't automatically assume K.C. can't come back, The Kansas City Star suggests. Chivas USA are unbeaten at home this season, but at times have looked (more than one critic has suggested) brittle at the back.

Meanwhile, Chivas USA opens its first American retail store Sunday in Huntington Park.

From the press release:

“The ChivasPop store, the first of its kind in the U.S., will carry official adidas Chivas USA merchandise, as well as official Reebok merchandise from Chivas USA’s Mexican parent club Chivas de Guadalajara, including jerseys, posters, soccer gear and a whole lot more.

ChivasPop stores, which in recent years have opened across Mexico’s largest cities, derive their name from ‘Chivas Popular’, a tribute to Mexico’s most beloved soccer brand. The ChivasPop store, the first of its kind for a professional soccer team in Los Angeles County, bears the same layout and feel of all existing ChivasPop stores in Mexico.

Chivas USA captain Claudio ‘El Emperador’ Suárez, as well as midfielder Francisco Mendoza and forward Maykel Galindo, will be on hand at Sunday’s Grand Opening, where Chivas fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet all three players, plus the ChivaGirls and Chivas USA officials.”

College Roundup

Friday's college games are here (South Bay-oriented) and here (Valley-centric)

I asked Torrance's Shannon Boxx to blog while she was in China at the World Cup representing the U.S. Women's National Team.

She had trouble connecting to the Internet in China Friday , but persevered and kindly took the time to blog these thoughts that landed in my in box at 11:50 p.m. Friday PT mere hours before the 4:55 a.m. US-England game that's live on ESPN2.

Here's what Boxxy had to say:

Ni Hao from China: It’s game day here in Tianjin.

We are now in the playoff rounds of the tournament and it’s either win or go home.

After coming in first in our group we now face a good England team at 8 p.m. local time.

We have had three good days to rest our legs after playing in our third group game against Nigeria in Shanghai. The team is now itching to get back on the field.

My game day routine is not much different over here than it is back in the States. The hotels we have been staying in have been great about cooking us the food that we like to eat.

This morning I woke up and had my banana pancakes and coffee, a game day ritual for me.

I have taken a walk by the river that runs next to our hotel and have visited with my mom and sister who have come over to watch. Now it’s just about staying relaxed and getting hydrated.

Our pre-game meal is in about an hour and I'm thinking about watching a couple “Rescue Me” episodes, which I have become hooked on while being here.

Even though I am counting down the days till I can have my first El Burrito Jr. meal I hope tonight will be successful and we will continue on the road to bringing home the World Cup trophy.

-Shannon