press-news

RIO DE JANEIRO >> With her arms raised in victory, coach Silvia Neid ran onto the field to join the celebration of Germany’s first Olympic gold medal — even jumping onto the players’ dogpile. What a way to go out. Dzsenifer Marozsan scored early in the second half Friday and Germany went on to give Neid a 2-1 victory over Sweden for the nation’s first Olympic title in women’s soccer. Neid, a two-time FIFA Women’s Coach of the Year, is stepping down following the Olympics. The win at the iconic Maracana Stadium gave her one more championship to cap her 11-year career as Germany’s coach. “What I felt was pure joy, because I know that was what we had eaed and what we have worked so hard ...

BRASILIA, Brazil >> The three-time defending champion U.S. women’s national team will miss the Olympic final for the first time after being ousted by Sweden on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the quarterfinals on Friday. Tied after three rounds in the shootout, Sweden captain Caroline Seger beat Hope Solo and Christen Press’ attempt against Hedvig Lindhal went over the net. With the next kick, Lisa Dahlkvist beat an outstretched Solo for the win. As Sweden celebrated, U.S. captain Carli Lloyd crouched on the field at Mane Garrincha Stadium. It was the first time that an Olympic women’s match had gone to penalties. It was the earliest the United States had ever been eliminated from t...

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil >> Love her or hate her, Hope Solo’s dominance as a goalkeeper is undeniable. Solo came up big in her historic 200th inteational appearance as the United States fought off France 1-0 on Saturday in an Olympic group match at Mineirao Stadium. And she did it while facing boos from Brazilian fans still riled up about her social media posts about the Zika virus. “What’s important to me is that I played the best quality of football that I can play, and that hopefully our team makes it to the final,” Solo said. “If they (the fans) are having fun, great. I like a loud stadium. But it really doesn’t mean anything to me.” Solo became the first goalkeeper, male or female,...

The third, final and most lightly regarded of this summer’s big three inteational soccer events kicks off Thursday when the men’s Olympic soccer touament begins in Brazil, the day after the women began play and the day before the opening ceremonies in Rio. In all, that means 16 nations competing in 32 men’s games and 12 countries playing 26 women’s games through Aug. 20. There are so many in fact that NBC has games on a variety of chaels it owns and has set up a specialty soccer chael dedicated to the touament. The U.S. men, by the way, failed to qualify for the touament for the second successive Olympic Games. Brazil seeks redemption The age-restricted men’s touament (only three players ov...

While a labor dispute simmers at home, the U.S. women’s national soccer team is set to travel across Brazil as the favorite to win its fourth straight Olympic gold medal. The Rio Games are happening as a U.S. federal agency looks at a wage discrimination complaint filed by a group of national team players who claim they make less money than their male counterparts. The team’s union also is looking for a new contract with U.S. Soccer. Intrigue is nothing new for the top-ranked Americans. Unlike the men’s touament, which requires teams to field under-23 squads, women’s Olympic soccer brings together the best players in the world. Seeking to clinch its fifth gold medal since women’s soccer bec...

Megan Rapinoe, who is coming off December knee surgery, has been named to the national team roster for the Rio Games along with Carli Lloyd, who has scored in the gold-medal wiing final for the United States in the last two Olympics. Lloyd, who also scored three goals in 16 minutes to lead the United States to victory over Japan in the final at last summer’s Women’s World Cup, joins fellow three-time Olympians midfielder Tobin Heath and goalkeeper Hope Solo on the roster aounced Tuesday. Solo was also an alteate in 2004. The United States has won the last three Olympic gold medals. The team opens the touament in Brazil against New Zealand on Aug. 3 at Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte. “Th...

Viewing parties will be held at six locations in Southe Califoia for today’s telecasts of the U.S.-Colombia Copa America Centenario third-place game. The men’s soccer game from University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona will begin at 5 p.m. and be televised in English by cable’s FX and in Spanish by Univision and cable’s Univision Deportes Network. The viewing parties will be held at: -- The Auld Dubliner, 2497 E Ave., Tustin; -- The Brew & Meatball Co., 325 N. Citrus Ave., Covina; -- Q’s Billiard Club, 11835 Wilshire Blvd., Brentwood; -- 1739 Public House, 1739 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; -- Shaon’s On Pine, 209 Pine Ave., Long Beach; and -- Underground Pub & Grill, 1332 He...

Hundreds of (mainly) German soccer fans gathered to watch their nation play this week in Euro 2016 at Alpine Village, a restaurant/faux Bavarian beer hall near Torrance. Long owned by a group of German expats, the restaurant, bar and modest shopping center have for decades welcomed the Southe Califoia German and European communities, becoming something of a local landmark in the process. Not so coincidentally, soccer is the preeminent sport of choice here, rather than the alphabet soup of NFL, NBA, MLB, etc., that dominates television screens in most American watering holes. By extension, Alpine Village has become a welcoming communal gathering spot for soccer fans of all nationalities and ...