With the final round of World Cup Qualifying less than a month away, it’s looking like the U.S. may have to field an amateur squad for their first match in Trinidad. On Monday, the players’ union rejected the U.S. Soccer Federation’s offer to send their labor dispute to arbitration and instead proposed mediation in an effort to get the regulars on the field. At press time, both sides are standing firm. Idiots.
European soccer is coming back to life after the winter break. Here’s where things stand in the top leagues: England – the only country to play over the Christmas break – had four games in 10 days. Chelsea widened its lead with four straight wins; this could be the year their big-money transfers pay off. Italy got back underway on Epiphany Day, Jan. 6. It’s looking like a two-team race at the top, between northern rivals Juventus Torino and AC Milan. Spain came back Jan. 8, to see Barcelona lose just their second game of the season, 0-3 to midtable Villareal; Real Madrid and Valencia both won to close the gap on the leaders a bit. France is back underway as we go to press, with defending champ Lyon still undefeated on the year. Germany, Holland, and other northern European leagues stay in hibernation for another few weeks.
Turnabout, fair play: Spanish international striker Fernando Morientes moved from Real Madrid to Liverpool on Wednesday. Real, of course, had pinched English striker Michael Owen from Liverpool just before this season started, which had contributed to Morientes’ unhappiness in Madrid after eight years there. So he’ll be anxious to prove his worth in England.
This article appears in January 14 • 2005.