FIFA Confederations Cup
Confederations Cup needs serious quality control
If you thought Tahiti was out of its depth against Nigeria, consider the fact its next game, on Thursday, is against Spain. The non-contest between the champions of Africa and Oceania did nothing to alter my view Tahiti should not be in Brazil.
FIFA Confederations Cup
European artistry on full display at Confederations Cup
Spain's modus operandi has not changed in years. It is entirely predictable yet virtually impossible to overcome. Don't make the mistake of confusing predictability with a certain threshold of boredom.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Brazil, Neymar kick off on the right foot
Whatever financial investment Barcelona has made in Neymar - he's probably worth every penny. In his nation's capital a young man, with the world at his feet, had the self-confidence to allow his natural talent to shine through.
FIFA Confederations Cup
FIFA Confederations Cup more than a dress rehearsal
Yes, it's a test event for the next year's World Cup, but the Confederations Cup can also be a litmus test for aspiring contenders and a proving ground for soccer's emerging stars.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Goal-line technology debuts at Confederations Cup
The FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil will be the first major
international competition to employ goal-line technology (GLT). If
successful, and it simply has to be, GLT will be part and parcel of the
game from here on, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Tiny Tahiti takes on soccer's giants
Not quite a fifth the size of Prince Edward Island, Tahiti is home to a
population of approximately 200,000. Twenty-three of them
are in Brazil to compete at the FIFA Confederations Cup against some of the world's most powerful soccer nations.
FIFA Confederations Cup
Brazil looking to recapture Samba beat
Legendary names like Pele, Zico and Ronaldo kept Brazil at the forefront of world soccer for generations, but
lately something is missing. Brazil has
not won a trophy for four years and its world ranking has slipped to an
all-time low as it prepares to host the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Soccer
U.S. 'rematch' not the end game for Canadian women
Sunday's women's soccer game at BMO Field in Toronto is a friendly international -- only without the
friendliness. And while Canada surely wants to beat the rival U.S. team, it must also start thinking about its future.
Soccer
German soccer strength on display in Champions League final
German soccer is no longer under the radar -- it is about to be
showcased in all its glory in Saturday's Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
Soccer
David Beckham: Soccer and Spice
His brand is global, his appeal universal. He sparked debate and
polarized opinion. But underneath the gloss, David Beckham was, first and foremost, a
very good footballer.
Soccer
Moyes aims to build on Sir Alex Ferguson's legacy
To become a champion is a huge feat. To lead a club to the level of consistency Sir Alex Ferguson attained during his dominant reign as the king of English soccer with Manchester United boggles the mind. His successor has impossible shoes to fill.David Moyes's has been ready for years, and his ascension is no accident.
Soccer
Soccer power shifting to German clubs
In Barcelona's vast soccer fortress, the Germans ran amok and advanced to the Champions League final with a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bayern Munich, so often the bridesmaid of Europe's elite, was not to be denied. And the trend is continuing going forward.
Soccer
Canadian championship offers exciting battles
Like the return of spring, the Amway Canadian Championship is becoming an annual staple, and soccer fans across the country are ready to renew the rivalry.
Soccer
World Cup qualifying sways from frenetic to frantic
Three games into CONCACAF's final qualifying round, the jockeying for position is becoming frenetic if not, at times, frantic.
Soccer
Impact finding a home away from home
The Montreal Impact will have to wait until mid-April to play their first game at Stade Saputo, but a 3-0 start has the franchise off to the best record in Major League Soccer.
Soccer
Controversial call clouds Madrid's win at Old Trafford
We know Real Madrid beat Manchester United to advance to the Champions League quarters. But we also know the course of the match in Old Trafford was definitively altered by the referee, writes Nigel Reed.
Canada
Small silver linings in Canada's U-20 defeat
Canada's failure to qualify for the U-20 World Cup in Turkey this summer sends a
worrying message about the development of young soccer players in this country, but some bright spots did emerge at the CONCACAF U-20 championship.
Soccer
Canada's kids can restore pride at U-20 World Cup
The Under-20 World Cup has long been a coming out party for an abundance of future stars, and Canada isn't prepared to take anything for granted.
Soccer
Canadian men's soccer team has time on its side
Canada's next generation is not exactly up and running, but in
recent days it has taken its first tentative steps towards comprehending
the requirements of senior international soccer. It will be a slow,
painful exercise where patience and tolerance must be placed before
expectation.
Soccer
Canadian men's soccer team has loads of fresh talent
Four months after a humiliating loss to Honduras in World Cup qualifying, and not a moment too soon, Canada is turning the page. There's a new man at the helm, albeit temporarily, and a plethora of fresh talent which is being thrown in at the deep end and expected to stay afloat.
MLS
Impact head coach Marco Schallibaum ticks Montreal boxes
Marco Schallibaum is passionate about soccer and an articulate European able to speak in a number of languages, making him the ideal head coach for the Montreal Impact.
Soccer
Red-faced FIFA's show must go on
"It is an easy draw," declared FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke.He
was right. A simple matter of placing eight teams into two groups of
four. What could be easier? The look of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
was about to take shape.
Soccer
Elite soccer nations give Confederations Cup credibility
The Confederations Cup is essentially a dress rehearsal for the World Cup itself. It has been a designated FIFA event for 15 years, yet many of us are just getting used to this competition as a regular warm-up to soccer's global showpiece, writes Nigel Reed.
Soccer
David Beckham is soccer's James Bond
David Beckham is in some respects soccer's equivalent of James Bond. He has the looks, the talent, the lifestyle, the career ups and downs and the longevity to have left his mark. Love him or loathe him Beckham has been a force for good in North American soccer.
MLS
Montreal's Hainault moving on with Dynamo
In a matter of weeks, Canadian defender Andre Hainault has gone from being humiliated in Honduras to the brink of a second consecutive MLS Cup final with the Houston Dynamo.
Soccer
Long road ahead for Whitecaps
The Vancouver Whitecaps, a second-year team with a first-year coach, stumbled into the playoffs looking a little lost and uncomfortable. They didn't stay long. Despite a valiant effort to prove they belonged, the host L.A. Galaxy eventually managed to put them in their place and persuaded them to leave.
MLS
Whitecaps enter soccer unknown
Not everyone agreed with the adjustment to Major League Soccer's playoff system, but one could argue the Vancouver Whitecaps timed their post-season run to perfection.
Soccer
No hex, just humiliation for Canada in World Cup qualifying
Soccer analyst Nigel Reed writes that Canada's men's soccer team may as well have been a victim of The Hex when they were routed by Honduras in their final game of World Cup qualifying. All the good that was done in the months beforehand was tossed away in the blink of an eye.
Canada
Canada, spelled with a CAN
Canada has the talent, the motivation and even the support to beat the Cubans on Friday night at BMO Field. Scoring goals, a perennial problem for Canada, remains an issue and, even without the talismanic Dwayne De Rosario, who's injured, the Canadians have enough quality to get the job done.
MLS
Whitecaps in dogfight for wild card
The Vancouver Whitecaps find themselves in a dogfight with Dallas FC as they inch slowly and unsteadily towards a potentially historic berth in the MLS playoffs.
MLS
Impact inaugural MLS season a success
They're not going to make the playoffs. They're not going to win more than they lose. They're not selling out as often as they'd like. Yet Major League Soccer's first season in Montreal has been a success.
Canada
Missed chances haunt Canadian women
Canada's loss to Norway four days earlier ultimately sealed its fate, even before the Canadians stepped onto the pitch against North Korea - one of the pre-tournament favourites in the women's Under-20 World Cup event.
Soccer
Canada's command performance
Canada opened with a command performance at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, a tournament in which momentum is key in the early stages.
Golf
Memories of Seve Ballesteros at Royal Lytham & St Annes
I always felt immensely privileged to be standing just a few feet away from the late Seve Ballesteros as he played that magical chip shot on the 72nd hole to seal his triumph over Nick Price in The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 1988.
Euro Cup
History beckons for Italy, Spain in Euro final
It is almost certainly too close to call. They know each other well - perhaps too well - for the final of Euro 2012 to be a classic, but both Spain and Italy are aware history beckons in Kiev Sunday afternoon (2:45 p.m. ET).
Soccer
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo silencing the critics
A man so supremely talented and yet so regularly chastised for failing
to show up for national service has, at last, quieted the cynics.
Cristiano Ronaldo has led his country into the final four and has fans believing he can propel Portugal into the Promised Land.
Euro Cup
Germans in gear as Dutch despair
The Group of Death is living up to its billing. Dutch heads are on the
chopping block following their second successive defeat - a sheer drop
from which no nation has survived in tournament history.
Euro Cup
Spain tested by rejuvenated Italy
Now we know. Spain's sharp edge is absent and being missed. Four years ago Fernando Torres' goal won it all. Two years ago David Villa led Spain to the top of the world. We have known for some time Villa would not be involved because of a broken leg. We've also known Torres is simply not the clinical goal poacher he once was.
Soccer
New TFC coach Paul Mariner ready to set new course
New Toronto FC coach Paul Mariner clearly wants this team to play to its strengths - whatever they are.
Mariner is not interested in discussing systems or formations, at least
not publicly.But, unlike the departed Aron Winter, he believes the players must dictate the tactics,
not vice versa, to give themselves the best chance of being successful.
Euro Cup
Euro 2012: Contenders and pretenders
If you are of Spanish, Dutch or German descent - congratulations! These three, from a field of 16, are surely the only nations which can entertain realistic hopes of Euro glory.
Soccer
Canadian pride sees Reds rise again
Toronto FC is Canadian champion for the fourth straight year but the best team in Canada? Hardly. Yet the Voyageurs Cup will get a regular polish at BMO Field until at least 2013.
Soccer
Manchester City begins quest to build dynasty
Winning the title is one thing. Building a dynasty is quite another.
Manchester City will begin next season in the unfamiliar position of championship
favourites. The pressure will be on from the get-go and they will be the
team everyone else wants to beat.
MLS
TFC's troubles coming to a head
In a results-oriented business the team owners would have no choice but to bite the bullet and relieve the TFC coach Aron Winters of his duties should the team's free fall continue.
Canada
Canadian quartet locks horns
The Canadian Championship may just be the smallest cup competition in the world. The soccer snobs can go ahead and ridicule a national championship with so few contestants. But, like the Canadian weather, you have to live here to get it.
Soccer
Soccer's hidden medical dangers
The subject of professional soccer players with undetected medical ailments losing their life on the pitch is back on the front burner in 2012, with the soccer industry having done little to prevent such tragedy.
Euro Cup
Ghost goals have got to go
It is coming and it will change the game. Until its arrival, goal-line technology, like hindsight and the IT guy at work, is never around when you need it.
MLS
Winless Toronto FC severely limited in options
Get out of the way before it hits you. The revolving door is about to start spinning again in an attempt to prevent Season 6 becoming Season Sucks.
Soccer
Soccer in Canada on right path
When the Montreal Impact take on Toronto FC on Saturday at Olympic Stadium, it will signify a major step in the right direction for Canadian soccer, writes CBC Sports soccer contributor Nigel Reed.
Soccer
Canada's soccer team can dare to dream
It was a weekend for winners. Tiger Woods dominated the field at Arnie's place to register his first proper PGA victory since his world went up in smoke. Thomas Mulcair outlasted his rivals to become Jack Layton's successor as leader of the NDP and Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition.
Soccer
Canadian MLS teams are a big draw
They will say it was a fluke and could never happen again. On a single day, Canada's three Major League Soccer franchises were watched by more than 100,000 fans.
MLS
Raising the bar for MLS referees
Admission of the problem is the first step to a cure. In the glass half
full world of Major League Soccer, there are never really problems -
only initiatives.
MLS, however, has a problem which needs fixing. Like anything
worthwhile, it cannot be done overnight but the League wants it known a
serious initiative is being launched to tackle the situation.
Soccer
Soccer's big night out with the stars
The sign reads: "It should be won or lost right here." The challenge is clear. Victory must be earned. Toronto FC and Los Angeles Galaxy will be fighting for just that - victory - when they face off against each other at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on Wednesday night.
Soccer
Credibility: the key for Canada
It is no big deal. It is not the kind of story to make global headlines.
But for anyone who follows Canadian soccer, it is deeply troubling and
indicative of the problems facing the sport and its chances of
international success.
Euro Cup
Racism: Soccer's new fashion?
It is abhorrent. It is degrading and demoralizing. Racial abuse has no place in modern society or any other society for that matter. It is not cool, clever or humorous. It is simply unacceptable. But is racism becoming soccer's latest fashion?
Soccer
Harry in no hurry for England
In the uncertain, unpredictable world of professional soccer, one thing is certain. One does not turn down, arguably, the job of English manager. Saying no to the Football Association guarantees the invitation will not come a second time. So what is Harry Redknapp to do?
Soccer
Gerrard must lead England at Euro 2012
They couldn't wait to swing the axe. The canvassing of board members was
swift and decisive. As a result England will need a new captain to lead
it into battle at Euro 2012. Capello will surely turn again to Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool veteran has been leading by example for years.
Soccer
Canada must face Olympic reality
The United States and Canada are going to the London Olympics. Canada
did exactly what was expected of it in Vancouver. No more, no less.The Canadians should be happy with their performance, but their work is just beginning, writes Nigel Reed.
Soccer
Americans earned right to rejoice
I think now I have heard it all. A coach criticized for celebrating her
team's success? Not only is it absolute nonsense, it misses the point
entirely.
Last time I checked, soccer was a competitive sport. The object of the
exercise is to beat your opponent by scoring as many goals as possible
in the time permitted. The margin of victory is only relevant in a
competition where goal difference or head-to-head comparison is used as a
tiebreaker.
Canada
Canada's women's soccer team has plenty to prove
It has taken a while but finally he gets to play at home. After nearly six months in charge, John Herdman is ready to showcase his winners. They had better keep winning.
Soccer
Rongen's the right choice for TFC
He might just be the single most important signing ever by Toronto FC.
If he could turn the world's worst team into winners, imagine what
Thomas Rongen could do with some of Canada's top young prospects. The
55-year-old Dutchman is the man handpicked by TFC head coach Aron Winter
to run the club's new Academy.
Soccer
Canada's MLS squads should temper expectations
Unless an MLS franchise makes the right choice for its head coach, the team
is consigned to meander through the regular season without ever making a
serious run at the playoffs. And that is where Canada's three MLS squads should be concerned.
Soccer
2011: A Canadian soccer snapshot
It has been a memorable year for Canadian soccer. A new Canadian franchise in Major League Soccer, the Women's World Cup
and a Canadian team reaching the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF
Champions League. Here are a few of soccer analyst Nigel Reed's favourite Canadian moments on the pitch from 2011.
Soccer
Barcelona's world crown proves costly
Tell us something new. We already knew Barcelona was the best club side
in the world. They didn't have to go traipsing off to Japan to prove it.
The locals loved it but few others shared their passion or interest for
a competition lacking in credibility or heritage.
Canada
Who is the next great Canadian?
Who is the next great Canadian? It is a fait accompli. There was no need for a vote. One player stood head and shoulders above the rest and is well on his way to become the greatest this country has ever seen. When Dwayne De Rosario is named 2011 Canadian Player of the Year later this week, he will have scooped the annual award four times in the space of seven seasons. His performances for club(s) and country were, by and large, professional, proficient and impactful.
Canada
Canada and the de Guzman dilemma
Canada needs Jonathan de Guzman. He, apparently, now needs Canada. He would be a valuable addition to the national team, perhaps even a game changer.
Soccer
Drawing the line with video technology
It is on the way. It is no longer a question of if but when. That merely
leads to another question, as yet unanswered, and potentially
unanswerable: where do you draw the line with video technology?
MLS
Beckham's legacy: Raising the bar
He came. He saw. He finally conquered.
It took five years and cost upwards of 30 million dollars. Along the way
he upset team-mates and fans, frustrated coaches and battled career
threatening injuries. But ultimately David Beckham emerged a winner and
Major League Soccer can count its blessings.
Soccer
Canada can be cautiously optimistic
And so the curtain falls on Act 1 of Canada's 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign. There will now be a seven-month intermission before Act 2 commences. Whether or not Act 3 ever materializes remains to be seen.
MLS
Beckham can put the 'Major' in MLS Cup
The stage is set. The pioneer is on the brink of achieving another
milestone. It could be his last in a colourful career which has spanned
nearly 20 years. If so it would be a fitting finale for the man and
provide a huge boost for the sport in a land where soccer has never been
king.
Canada
Opportunity knocks for Canada
It was always a means to an end. The finish line is now in sight and
Canada must sprint across it. This is not a time to jog the last few
metres. This is a time to complete the course with a swagger and
something to spare.
It is not about ifs, but when and how. Gaining the requisite point
against St. Kitts & Nevis to advance to the third stage of World Cup
qualifying will be achieved. It is about earning respect from future
opponents, much of which was lost at the abortive Gold Cup campaign back
in the summer.
MLS
Toronto FC - A fan's tale
He has been a season ticket holder since Day 1. He has already renewed for 2012. He has pricey seats halfway in the West stand at BMO Field. He is going to give it one more year.
MLS
Canada can be proud of Toronto FC
He didn't need much persuading. When it was over Ashtone Morgan sat in the visitors' dressing room, draped in a Maple Leaf flag he collected from a fan while leaving the field. The night belonged to Toronto FC. The victory belongs to Canada.
Canada's rare hat trick
It has been a while coming. Fifteen years to be precise. It was 1996 - a year in which football "came home" with England hosting, and failing to win, the European Championships, and the launch of a new venture in the United States christened Major League Soccer.
Soccer
The differing fortunes of Canada's clubs
That's that then. We can roll down the blinds and shut up shop for another year. A year best forgotten by Canadian soccer fans. Nothing much to be proud of in a season which promised so much.
Soccer
The Whitecaps: End of an Empire
The bright lights of downtown are beckoning. The multi-million dollar facelift is complete. Empire Field, the temporary home of the Vancouver Whitecaps, has been used for the last time. The players probably can't wait to see the back of it. They arranged a party with fireworks. Most Whitecaps fans declined the invitation. They were halfway home by the time Seattle's players danced on the turf holding aloft the Cascadia Cup in front of their jubilant travelling supporters following Saturday's 3-1 win.
Soccer
Canadian Hoilett nearing career crossroads
It is one of the most tantalizing stories in Canadian soccer. It has become a long running saga without a conclusion. Fans and media alike have been clamouring for an answer only to be left hanging. Theories abound but no one knows for sure how it will end. It seems we are inching closer to the outcome. Talks are ongoing which may well impact the decision making process. Then, for better or worse, we will know, once and for all, whether David 'Junior' Hoilett wants to play for Canada.
Soccer
Toronto's Trillium triumph has a hollow ring
The 2012 MLS Superdraft should be interesting. My advice - tune in early
or you'll miss all the Canadian teams picking their stars of the
future. At this rate Canada's franchises will be first, second and third
on the podium.
Montreal will get first go. As the expansion team, the Impact is invited
to select what it considers to be the best college prospect.
Thereafter, in the interests of parity, the next best players go to the
previous season's worst teams. Step forward Vancouver and Toronto.
Soccer
Herdman's hard work starts here
He describes it as a 'dream move'. No kidding. In his shoes I would be
waking up nightly and pinching myself just to be sure it is not, in
fact, a dream.
John Herdman has just won soccer's equivalent of the lottery. His
future, in the commercially fragile world of women's football, is
secure. His new reality will bring him to Canada to head a program which
has stable funding, decent players, and a mission to accomplish.
Soccer
Oscar celebration may not last
For some this is just the start. For others this will be as good as it gets. Life has a way of handing us opportunities. What we do with them is up to us. The decisions we take ultimately shape the people we become, for better or worse.
Soccer
Martin Rennie: the next Great Scot?
It is one of soccer's stranger anomalies.
In a country of five million inhabitants, where the national team has never progressed beyond the first round of the World Cup, how come Scotland has produced some of the finest managers the game has ever known?
Soccer
Soccer should follow rugby's lead
In a month's time the Rugby World Cup, played every four years, will kick off in New Zealand. Canada will be there, walking among the giants of the game. So will the United States, a.k.a. the Eagles, and as part of their preparations they squared off in Toronto at BMO Field for the first time in 12 years.
There is one marked difference between soccer and rugby, two sports historically defined as "association football" and "rugby football." The man in the middle. The neutral referee, Mark Lawrence from South Africa, is widely regarded as one of the Top 5 officials in the world.
One word amply described his relationship with the players: Respect.
Soccer
Canada must exploit its good fortune
If the old idiom is true, there are interesting times ahead. If, indeed 'you have to be good to be lucky', we are about to find out how good Canada is. There is no question Canada has certainly struck lucky in the preliminary draw for 2014 World Cup in Brazil. If progressing to the third round of CONCACAF qualifying proves to be anymore than a formality for Stephen Hart's team, the problems are far more severe than we feared.
Soccer
Last chance for Canadian glory
We got short-changed. We might even have got ripped off. We bought the dream but the delivery never showed up. We should have read the small print. This isn't a refrigerator or an automobile. This product doesn't come with a guarantee.
5 things we learned from the Women's World Cup
It is now part of history. The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup is over for winners, losers and spectators alike. There was incredible drama, great goals, embarrassing mistakes and some wonderful memories.
Germany's fabulous final four
Somehow they survived the big scare. Just when they thought they were out, Abby Wambach pulled them back in. The rest should be plain sailing for the United States.
Bigger isn't better for the Women's World Cup
When the camera is turned off I can relax and put my feet up. I can go get a coffee and a muffin, go back to my desk and watch the drama unfold. There's actually a little bit more to my job than that, but I will attempt not to bore you with the minutiae.
World Cup stars missing in action
The stars are beginning to emerge in Germany. It is always a team effort, of course, but every team has its leading lady. They are the game changers, who lead by example and inspire those around them.
Japan not such a dark horse in Germany
We know all about Germany. The powerful hosts are into the quarter-finals bidding for a hat trick of Women's World Cups.
Solid start for U.S. at World Cup
Abby Wambach doesn't need a reminder. The times they are a-changing and she knows it. The playing field of women's soccer is no longer as lopsided as it was when she won the first of her 150 plus international caps ten years ago.
Germany's field of dreams
Some have worked and waited a lifetime for this chance. A combination of sacrifice, dedication and determination has all led to this moment. There is one mission. Become World Champions.
Soccer
Canada a soft touch in CONCACAF
I didn't want to speak to him and I told him so. Canada head coach Stephen Hart was the last person I wanted to interview on my weekly radio show the day after Canada's final Gold Cup group game.
Morace given a free pass by Canada
At last we can all be friends again. The deal has been done with all obstacles removed. No more negative rumour and speculation. Now we can look forward, with glowing hearts, to seeing Canada rise to meet the challenges ahead in Germany. Carolina Morace is staying. The Italian head coach has shaken hands with the Canadian Soccer Association on a new deal which keeps her in the post until the 2012 London Olympics. Perhaps she'll still be around when Canada hosts the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015.
Soccer
Morace given a free pass by Canada
At last we can all be friends again. The deal has been done with all obstacles removed. No more negative rumour and speculation. Now we can look forward, with glowing hearts, to seeing Canada rise to meet the challenges ahead in Germany.
Soccer
Whitecaps must 'learn how to win'
Remember a couple of weeks back how Barcelona reduced Manchester United to tears? Try as they might, the English champions couldn't get the ball off their Spanish counterparts. When they did gain possession, United couldn't hold onto it.
Soccer
Canada's Gold Cup quest: Respect
It is a wonderful time for Canadian sports fans. A Canadian team is playing for the Stanley Cup for the first time in four years. A Canadian team is going to Germany, prepared and focused on success at the Women's World Cup.
Soccer
Canadian rivals set for classic finale
Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps are 90 minutes away from lifting the Voyageurs Cup - a trophy which has taken on Holy Grail proportions for BC's finest.
There is reason to believe Toronto will retain the trophy. Equally there is an argument to support the Whitecaps' dream of glory. Let's hope, for the sake of the game, it's a classic encounter.
Soccer
Manchester United joy casts a shadow over Liverpool
Michael Owen allowed himself a smile. Nothing more, at least not publicly. It was tinged with relief, satisfaction and restrained celebration. While his Manchester United teammates danced and sang to their travelling fans at Blackburn's Ewood Park, Owen's body language told a different story. An unused substitute, he was at the party but didn't really know anyone.
Soccer
MLS marquee match-ups are the way forward
It is about making an impact - the ability to effect change. A deft touch, a mazy run, a glancing header. Having the skill to execute and the confidence to pull it off.
Los Angeles and New York are both making an impact. It comes as no surprise the Galaxy and the Red Bulls lead their respective Major League Soccer conferences. Their first head to head of 2011 ended as it began with nothing resolved - a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Soccer
Missing fans must back Canadian Championship
The Nutrilite Canadian Championship is on the rise. In just three years
the competition has firmly established itself in the hearts and minds of
fans across the country. They have embraced it and made it relevant.I am an ardent fan of this competition. It has a uniquely Canadian
flavour and gives the winner a chance to represent the country across
the continent. But it cannot be allowed to become an endangered species
because of absent fans.
Soccer
The battle for Canada and beyond
Because we can, let's remove some hurdles. When Real Madrid faces Real Salt Lake at FIFA's Club World Cup in December it will all have been worthwhile. Major League Soccer will finally have come of age.
Soccer
Canadian rivals playing by the numbers
What is it about Roman numerals? Six hundred years after the fall of the Eastern Empire they are still in common use.
Soccer
Growing pains for Whitecaps
You only get one "Get Out of Jail Free" card. The Vancouver Whitecaps played theirs against Sporting Kansas City. Expecting another miracle in Houston's humidity was too much to ask. Fatigued by a hectic schedule and weakened by injuries and suspensions, salvation was beyond the Whitecaps. It is the nature of the business and Canada's newest MLS franchise needs to deal with it.
Soccer
Whitecaps' persistence pays off
I have heard it hundreds of times. I have taken part in such proceedings on many occasions. It is the archetypal post-game interview, which I have taken the liberty to decode.
Soccer
The darker side of Eric Hassli
Eric Hassli knows better. Yes, there was provocation but he needs to be smarter. Getting himself sent off in a 1-0 loss in Philadelphia on Saturday not only cost the Vancouver Whitecaps at least a point on their first Major League Soccer road trip, but his lack of discipline will have wider implications.
Soccer
MLS newcomers eye Golden Boot
Remember Chris Wondolowski? He was the MLS journeyman who came from nowhere to grab the Golden Boot last season. The San Jose striker has no chance of defending his title if early signs are anything to go by. It's been a while since any player topped 20 goals in the regular season. Landon Donovan hit 20 in 2008 but the mark has only been achieved twice in the last eight years. An additional four games per club should make the goal that much more attainable in 2011. The opening weekend of the new campaign offered some clues as to Wondo's successor. There were plenty of goals - some classy, some comical - to whet the appetite for the league's 16th season. And several newcomers have already made their mark.
Soccer
Journey's end for Canada's World Cup cricketers
When the end came, it wasn't pretty - just pretty predictable. Canada's
fourth campaign at the Cricket World Cup was no more successful than the
previous three. It concluded with a one-sided loss to Australia and
featured just a single victory to demonstrate their collective effort.
Unloved and largely unnoticed by the majority of the Canadian public and
its media, Canada's players will return home to embrace a fleeting
summer in which to work on their game. Anonymity is assured on a
continent which has chosen to disregard the sport.
Soccer
2011 MLS Eastern Conference preview
Here are my thoughts on how the Eastern Conference will shape up this year:
Soccer
Sir Alex must give the media its due
He is the Godfather of modern day soccer. His achievements are unparalleled. His longevity is extraordinary in an industry where insecurity is the norm.
Soccer
Canadian kids have a bright future
It has been a long time coming, but will it be worth the wait? Canada is on its way back to the Under 17 World Cup for the first time in 16 years. It is welcome news and may be the first sign that Canadian player development is paying a tangible dividend.
Soccer
2015: The case for Canada
The bid is in. The wait will not be long. Early next month FIFA's top brass will make a decision, which will directly affect the growth of Canadian soccer. For the good of the game it is imperative the Women's World Cup comes to Canada in 2015. It is a no brainer. It is a two horse race in theory alone. Canada takes women's soccer seriously and has a successful history of hosting FIFA events. It has government support to the tune of $15 million and an infrastructure in place to support the bid.
Soccer
Rooney: A goal to rival the greatest
Don't worry if you missed it. You'll be seeing it again, and again, and again for decades to come. Sceptics sometimes wonder why fans refer to the sport as The Beautiful Game. Wayne Rooney's wonder goal in the Manchester derby is all the explanation they will ever need.
Soccer
Morace's departure was inevitable
Rarely is there smoke without fire. The rumours had been doing the rounds for months. Despite on field success, disharmony was festering away from the pitch. Patience, on both sides, had worn paper thin until, finally, it was torn apart. Carolina Morace is renowned for her coaching ability. Her knowledge of the game, her connections, and her international reputation is impeccable. To her players she is simply an inspiration. Morace doesn't hope for the best - she demands success.
Soccer
MLS and the great Canadian compromise
It's about time.
The Canadian Soccer Association and Major League Soccer have talked. They will continue to talk. A long-term dialogue between the governing body and the top professional league in North America can only be good for the game.
Soccer
Canadian women must not dwell on defeat
It had to happen sooner or later. There is no surprise it occurred when it did. Canada's impressive unbeaten run came to a predictable end against the old enemy in China. Let's face facts here. Canada hasn't beaten the United States for over ten years. The Americans have virtually dominated top spot in FIFA's Women's World rankings since their inception in 2003. In the women's game their genuine challengers are few and far between.
Soccer
Canada must put its house in order
My wife was right. She usually is. I should have done it in
the fall. Had I taken her advice I wouldn't be in the mess I am now. I am
fighting a daily battle - a battle I cannot win. Only Mother Nature can save
me. But she won't - at least not for a couple of months.
Soccer
Rooney could be heading for Canada
When it comes to mildly misleading headlines, I take responsibility for this one. I'm not lying you understand. There is a possibility the caption may become reality following Thursday's MLS SuperDraft. It all depends on whom the Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC select. John Rooney has a famous surname. It is one he shares with Manchester United and England superstar Wayne. Sadly he doesn't share the talent of his world famous older brother. Rooney junior is hoping his skill, not his name, will help him launch a new career in North America.
Soccer
4 reasons to love Canadian soccer in 2011
I have finally learned my lesson. Predictions can go horribly wrong.
In the late summer of 2010 I was told, in complete confidence and with absolute certainty, the United States would host the 2022 World Cup. The 'authoritative' source shall remain nameless to save him from any embarrassment. Here's what we actually know. Barring a cataclysmic meteor strike, the sun will rise and set for the remainder of the year. I'm a journalist not a clairvoyant. 2011, however, has the potential to be a landmark year for soccer in Canada.
Soccer
2010's winners and losers
Doubtless, anticipating a backlash, Sepp Blatter got his excuses in first. I'm sure I wasn't the only one to notice the lecture he delivered about being good winners and losers before announcing the successful bids for the World Cups of 2018 and 2022. As a matter of fact he's right. In football, as in life, for every winner there is a loser. For every tale of victory there must also be a story of the vanquished. For every smiling Muscovite, there is an angry Englishman; for every fist pumping Qatari, a frustrated American. Taking my cue from the self styled Godfather of world soccer, without fear or favour, I offer my own personal list of 2010's winners and losers. Please feel free to add yours to the debate below.
Soccer
Canadian rivals set for grand opening
In less than 90 days the Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC had better be ready. Canadian soccer history will be made when the two go head to head on the opening weekend of Major League Soccer's 2011 season.
Soccer
Keep the jokes to yourself, Mr. Blatter
Billy Connolly, Jackie Mason and Rick Mercer are among a group of comedians I would pay to see perform. Sepp Blatter is not on my list of the world's great comics. So why does the most powerful man in world football think he's funny?
Soccer
Keane should be keen on Whitecaps
He's opinionated, arrogant and, at times, petulant. He wears his heart on his sleeve and has passion to spare. He could be just what the Vancouver Whitecaps need to make a splash in Major League Soccer.
Soccer
Canada can make progress in Germany
Canada will face the ultimate test in the host Germans at next year's FIFA Women's World Cup and will have to hit the ground running.
Soccer
What price another North American World Cup?
If MLS commissioner Don Garber is attempting to curry favour with FIFA's top brass, he can be sure they got the message.
Soccer
Rapids may have to jump through Hoops in Toronto
It doesn't exactly set the pulses racing. It can hardly be described as a must-see event. Yet MLS Cup 2010 might just be a cracking game of football.
In the red corner, FC Dallas, the sole remaining MLS original franchise never to have appeared in the end of season showpiece. In the burgundy corner, the Colorado Rapids, who made it to the big dance in 1997 only to play second fiddle to the then-indomitable DC United.
Soccer
Canada, the True Strong North
Go ahead - celebrate! The mission has been accomplished with panache.
Canada is going to the 2011 Women's World Cup and, on recent evidence,
not just to make up the numbers.
Canada's qualification is not a surprise. Indeed, it would have been
more of a shock had this team failed to secure one of the two automatic
berths on offer from the CONCACAF tournament in Mexico. After all,
Canada has been to each of the last four World Cups.
Soccer
Galaxy, Bulls charging towards Toronto
Edson Buddle insists he meant it. He would, wouldn't he? It doesn't matter a jot whether he did or didn't. What does matter is Los Angeles have done the hard part as a result of Buddle's speculative/intentional long-range winner in Seattle.
Soccer
MLS playoffs are a farce
I must be going soft in the head.Maybe it's an age thing, or perhaps I have been in North America too long. Whatever the reason, and against my better judgment, I am prepared to admit I have become a fan of Major League Soccer's end-of-season playoffs. Just not the way they are currently constructed. It is plain wrong and needs fixing.
Soccer
Hesmer's heroics will live long in the memory
It's soccer's equivalent of a blue moon. It's totally unexpected, it's instant headline news, and it's a moment you'll remember as long as you live.
Nigel Reed
Nigel brings his extensive experience, passion and knowledge of the game of soccer to his role as play-by-play announcer and soccer analyst on CBC. Reed has spent more than 20 years covering the game, most notably a five-year stint from 1999 to 2004 where he was a host and producer for the English Premier League for BBC.
Since moving to Canada, Reed has become the voice of Major League Soccer on CBC. He was part of the CBC broadcast team for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, covering weightlifting, taekwondo, and equestrian in addition to soccer. He was a member of the CBC 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa panel. During the tournament he proudly became a Canadian citizen.
