CORNER KICKS
Five things happening around the world:
1) Zinedine Zidane led France to its 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship titles and retired after his infamous head-butt and red card at last summer’s World Cup final in Berlin, but he could be playing against the Galaxy in Australia in November.
Zidane, 35, has agreed in principle to play one game for Sydney FC of Australia’s A-League for a fee of more than $250,000, all of which would go to his charity, the Zidane Foundation.
The three-time FIFA world player of the year has requested that goalkeeper Fabian Barthez, his one-time France colleague, also be invited to play in the Nov. 27 game, which, if it is finalized, could pit Zidane against his former Real Madrid teammate David Beckham.
Promoters of the game, set for Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, were scheduled to meet with Zidane’s representatives in Paris today to iron out details.
2) Defending English Premier League champion Manchester United was stymied by U.S. national team goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann in a season-opening 0-0 tie with Reading.
“He made some fantastic saves,” said Alex Ferguson, Manchester United’s coach. “He’s experienced. He’s confident. It was just one of those days.”
Hahnemann’s reward? Reading plays two-time Premier League champion and F.A. Cup holder Chelsea today (noon PDT, FSC).
3) Hahnemann was among 19 players called up Tuesday by U.S. national team Coach Bob Bradley for an Aug. 22 friendly against host Sweden in Gothenburg.
The roster contains no surprises and includes only three MLS players: Galaxy forward Landon Donovan, Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein and Colorado Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni.
Sweden, meanwhile, has called upon all of its top players, including former Arsenal star Fredrik “Freddie” Ljungberg and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Italian champion Inter Milan.
4) Three U.S.-born players were on the winning side during the second weekend of the Mexican league season. Midfielder Jose Francisco Torres helped defending champion Pachuca defeat Morelia, 3-1; Edgar Castillo started for unbeaten Santos Laguna as it beat Toluca, 3-2, and defender Michael Orozco was instrumental in San Luis’ 3-1 win over Necaxa.
5) Hugo Sanchez, Mexico’s national team coach, already has two outstanding young players in striker Nery Castillo and winger AndresGuardado, and now another exciting attacking player is emerging.
Giovani dos Santos, an 18-year-old from Monterrey already with a FIFA Under-17 World Championship title to his credit, scored three goals for Barcelona during its three-game preseason tour of Asia, including the game-winner against Yokohama Marinos of Japan’s J-League.
On a team that features the likes of Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o, the teenager is unlikely to see much playing time in his rookie season in Spain, but the experience he will gain will be invaluable to Mexico down the road.
American fans might see him soon because Barcelona and Real Madrid are rumored to be returning to the U.S. next summer.
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YANKS ABROAD
Now that the European season has begun, here’s where to keep track of Americans playing in the English Premier League and the German Bundesliga:
*--* PREMIER American players Aston Villa Eric Lichaj Blackburn Rovers Brad Friedel Derby County Benny Feilhaber Everton Tim Howard Fulham Brian McBride, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey Reading
Marcus Hahnemann,
Bobby Convey West Ham United Jonathan Spector BUNDESLIGA American players Hamburg SV Preston Zimmerman Hannover 96 Steve Cherundolo, Sal Zizzo Hansa Rostock Heath Pearce VfL Wolfsburg Kamani Hill *--*
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MAKING THEIR PITCH
Cuauhtemoc Blanco, of the Chicago Fire, admits that unlike David Beckham he is no head-turner:
‘I didn’t come here to compete with Beckham. I’m not a photogenic guy. The TV doesn’t help me.’
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COMING UP
SUPERLIGA SEMIFINALS
Tonight
* D.C. United at Galaxy (7 p.m., TeleFutura)
MLS
Thursday
* New England at Colorado
Saturday
* Galaxy at New York (4:30 p.m., FSC, FSE)
* Chivas USA at Toronto FC (12:30 p.m.,
FSN Prime Ticket)
* D.C. United at Columbus (4:30 p.m., HDNet)
* Chicago at Real Salt Lake
Sunday
* FC Dallas at Houston (4 p.m., Galavision)
* New England at Kansas City
MEXICAN LEAGUE
Friday
* Atlante at UAG (4 p.m., FSE)
Saturday
* Monterrey at Chiapas (3 p.m., ESPN Deportes, Azteca America)
* Cruz Azul at San Luis (3 p.m., Galavision)
* Toluca at Tigres UANL (5 p.m., Galavision)
* Guadalajara at Morelia (5 p.m., Azteca Am.)
* Pachuca at Atlas (7 p.m., delay, TeleFutura)
Sunday
* Club America at UNAM (10 a.m., Univision)
* Veracruz at Santos (2 p.m., Azteca America)
* Puebla at Necaxa (2 p.m., Galavision)
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STAT OF THE WEEK
* Chelsea’s season-opening victory over Birmingham City at Stamford Bridge set a record, extending the Blues’ unbeaten streak at home to 64 league games, one better than Liverpool managed between 1978 and 1981. Jose Mourinho, above, has a better mark. He has gone 99 games without a loss at home while coaching FC Porto and Chelsea.
