English Have A Good Feeling About Chances In World Cup
by Kevin Baxter (Profile/Interview | Los Angeles Times - May 24)
England plays the U.S. in World Cup opener June 12, and Coach Fabio Capello's confidence is fanning excitement. Betting parlors have England favored to reach semifinals, which it has done only once in last 44 years. more details | go to article

England's Soccer Team Shuts Out Distractions In Training Camp
by Kevin Baxter (Article | Los Angeles Times - May 23)
If oversized striker Peter Crouch was beginning to feel comfortable with his place on England's national soccer squad, it didn't take long for him to learn that comfort would have no place in the team's World Cup training camp. more details | go to article

12 On The Bubble For U.S.
by Grahame L. Jones (Analysis | Los Angeles Times - May 20)
Times reporter Grahame L. Jones gives one-line snippets on the 12 players vying for the final seven spots on the World Cup roster. more details | go to article

Shaping World Cup Squad: Difficult Trims Lie Ahead
by Grahame L. Jones (Analysis | Los Angeles Times - May 20)
Without question, the most interesting part of the U.S. World Cup training camp in New Jersey is also the most private. It comes long after the players have left the field, when Coach Bob Bradley and assistants Mike Sorber, Zak Abdel, Pierre Barrieu and Lubos Kubik get together to compare notes. more details | go to article

Fans Of Mexico's World Cup Team Are Cautiously Optimistic
by Kevin Baxter (Result | Los Angeles Times - May 16)
They don't seem prepared to set their hopes high because of the team's disappointing showings in previous tournaments. more details | go to article

Mexico's Goalkeepers Vie To Start In World Cup
by Kevin Baxter (Result | Los Angeles Times - May 13)
The national team has three 'best' goalkeepers, and Coach Javier Aguirre has not named a starter. Memo Ochoa started in Mexico's 1-0 victory against Angola on Thursday night in Houston. more details | go to article

Charlie Davies Is Out, Galaxy's Edson Buddle And Others Could Be In For U.S. At World Cup
by Grahame L. Jones (Profile/Interview | Los Angeles Times - May 12)
Davies, a striker who hasn't fully recovered from injuries suffered in an October car accident, is left off preliminary roster by U.S. Coach Bob Bradley. Buddle makes the 30-player list, as do Mexican League standout Herculez Gomez and Eddie Johnson, who is playing in Greece. more details | go to article

England Loads Up For The World Cup
by Grahame L. Jones (Article | Los Angeles Times - May 12)
The first opponent for the U.S. has five forwards on its preliminary roster who combined for 79 goals in the English Premier League. more details | go to article

Mexico Coach Says Soccer Team 'On The Right Path'
by Kevin Baxter (Preview | Los Angeles Times - May 12)
Javier Aguirre's squad plays Angola on Thursday in a World Cup tuneup. He admits, 'We're missing some details.' more details | go to article

Guus Hiddink Is In High Demand
by Grahame L. Jones (Article | Los Angeles Times - March 3)
Veteran coach has been asked to take over the Ivory Coast team for this year's World Cup. Also: Chaos for U.S. foes-All it will take for U.S. World Cup hopes to soar even higher is for some sort of scandal or controversy to hit Slovenia. more details | go to article

Mexico Has High Hopes For World Cup
by Kevin Baxter (Analysis | Los Angeles Times - March 3)
Team could be the country's best ever, but coach says it's not going to be easy in South Africa. more details | go to article

Landon Donovan Flat, But Damarcus Beasley Shines As U.S. Loses, 2-1, To The Netherlands
by Grahame L. Jones (Blog Entry | Los Angeles Times - March 3)
Landon Donovan was an anonymous figure but his longtime teammate and sidekick DaMarcus Beasley played himself back into World Cup contention on Wednesday night when the U.S. was beaten, 2-1, by the Netherlands in Amsterdam. more details | go to article

Winner Of 2010 World Cup Could Emerge At Any Moment
by Grahame L. Jones (Preview | Los Angeles Times - March 2)
Thirty-one of the 32 World Cup-bound teams are playing this week. The U.S. plays the Netherlands, ranked third in the world, Wednesday in Amsterdam. more details | go to article

U.S. Soccer Coach To Field Surprising Lineup Against Netherlands
by Grahame L. Jones (Article | Los Angeles Times - February 26)
With several of the team's stars injured, Bob Bradley will experiment with some lesser-known players when the Americans take on the Dutch in an international match in Amsterdam. more details | go to article

An MLS Strike Helps No One
by Grahame L. Jones (Article | Los Angeles Times - February 26)
Fans have too many other options, particularly in a World Cup year. Players say free agency is the key. more details | go to article