What If We Were Nigerians?
by Brent Latham (Commentary | Yanks Abroad - February 17)
"The federation was sensitive to the demands of passionate Nigerians, both highly placed and not so highly placed," Fed President Sani Abudullahi said. Makes an American soccer fan think, doesn't it? Is it crazy to fire a coach so close to the big date? Or is it the best choice if a mediocre or worse performance is the best case scenario? more details | go to article

Africa Still Waiting For A World Cup Breakthrough
by Brent Latham (Analysis | New York Times - December 9)
In 1990, which seems like centuries ago in international soccer time, Roger Milla and an unforgettable band of Indomitable Lions from Cameroon reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Italy. more details | go to article

Preview: United States - Panama
by Brent Latham (Preview | Yanks Abroad - July 17)
A short-handed United States team takes on Panama in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup in Philadelphia on Saturday night, as the Yanks hope to advance towards their third straight continental title. more details | go to article

Preview: United States - Honduras
by Brent Latham (Preview | Yanks Abroad - July 7)
The US take on Honduras Wednesday night at RFK Stadium in Washington DC, in a match up of the Group B leaders at the Gold Cup. more details | go to article

Altidore Gets The Last Laugh On Spain
by Brent Latham (Profile/Interview | ESPN - June 24)
Jozy Altidore tried to warn the Spanish. After the U.S. team advanced to a semifinal date with the Spaniards, the American forward sent his Villarreal teammate, Joan Capdevila, a text message, advising of the danger the Americans would pose to the Spaniards' record unbeaten streak. more details | go to article

U.S. Team Undaunted At Facing Spain
by Brent Latham (Preview | ESPN - June 23)
f coach Bob Bradley and the U.S. national team think they beat the longest odds possible by overcoming two opening losses and booking a place in the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, they might need to reassess that perspective. more details | go to article

USA Takes On World's Best Team At Confederations Cup
by Brent Latham (Preview | Voice of America - June 23)
After earning a surprising ticket to the semifinals, the U.S. national soccer (football) team now takes on the world's number one ranked team Spain for the right to play the Confederations Cup final. more details | go to article

American Makes Waves On Italy's National Football Team
by Brent Latham (Profile/Interview | Voice of America - June 22)
New Jersey born football (soccer) player Giuseppe Rossi has catapulted into the limelight at the Confederations Cup tournament being played in South Africa. But the young star is not wearing the red, white, and blue flag of the United States. more details | go to article

Davies Provides A Huge Boost For The U.S. Attack
by Brent Latham (Profile/Interview | ESPN - June 21)
Under heavier fire than ever as coach of the U.S. national team, Bob Bradley stuck to his guns. That is, with one notable exception. more details | go to article

U.S. Team Tries To Draw Positives From Loss To Brazil
by Brent Latham (Analysis | ESPN - June 18)
What originally were considered slim hopes of advancing to the semifinal round at the Confederations Cup likely ended for the United States on Thursday after just two matches. more details | go to article

Jones' Arrival Will Upgrade U.S. Midfield
by Brent Latham (Profile/Interview | ESPN - June 16)
The next time he runs into Mohamed Raouraoua, U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati might want to invite the head of the Algerian Football Federation to lunch. more details | go to article

Clark's Controversial Ejection Alters The Balance
by Brent Latham (Analysis | ESPN - June 15)
After having fought a man down for most of the second half in that epic 2006 World Cup match, no one could have blamed the U.S. national team for thinking this was its chance to play world champion Italy on level terms. But Pablo Pozo had other ideas. more details | go to article

U.S. Not Reading Too Much Into Previous Encounter With Italy
by Brent Latham (Preview | ESPN - June 13)
The United States men's national team will open play in the 2009 Confederations Cup on Monday against defending World Cup champion Italy (2:25 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN360.com) in a game that would be a tough opening test for any team kicking off an international tournament. more details | go to article

FIFA Amends International Eligibility Rule
by Brent Latham (Article | Yanks Abroad - June 5)
A new rule change that is likely to have global implications as soon as next year's World Cup has been passed by the FIFA Congress in the Bahamas, FIFA has confirmed to YA. more details | go to article

Recap: USA 3 - 0 Trinidad & Tobago
by Brent Latham (Result | Yanks Abroad - April 1)
On the strength of a hat trick from 19-year old Josmer Altidore and three assists from Landon Donovan, the United States whitewashed uninspired Trinidad and Tobago in Nashville on Wednesday night. more details | go to article