ChampionsWorld Series

[Baggio]

For two weeks during the Summer of 2003, the eyes of the soccer world were focused on America, watching as team after team of superstars entertained legions of fans in the United States.

The inaugural ChampionsWorld Series brought some of the biggest names in soccer to America last summer for a two-week stretch of games that was viewed by more than 420,000 fans in seven cities. Manchester United, Celtic, Juventus, AC Milan, Barcelona, Boca Juniors, Club America. The roster of teams read like a Who's Who of world soccer powers. And the teams didn't disappoint, fielding their best players in matches that were filled with exciting goals, remarkable flair, and unbelievable atmosphere.

From the opening kick at Seattle's Seahawks Stadium on July 22, through the final whistle in Philadelphia, the 2003 ChampionsWorld Series was filled with memorable moments. Who can forget Ruud van Nistelrooy scoring in each of Manchester United's four games, or Ronaldinho's Barcelona debut against Italy's Serie A champions Juventus? What about the legion of dedicated Celtic supporters, who brought all the color and excitement the Scottish Premier League to the stands in Seattle and Cleveland? And were you among the record crowd of more than 79,000 to witness Tim Howard win the starting goalkeeper job at Man Utd?

Charlie Stillitano, the Chief Executive Officer of ChampionsWorld, planned and developed the ChampionsWorld Series in order to bring the best teams in the world to play in North America's greatest venues. And the vision that was brought to life in 2003 will again be realized in 2004, on an even grander scale. This year The ChampionsWorld Series will feature even more of the best teams and players, with more games in more cities.

So get ready. This summer ChampionsWorld will again deliver the best of the best - great teams with great tradition and exciting players with unbelievable skill - coming soon to a stadium near you!

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Match Schedule:

Saturday, July 24, 2004 Seahawks Stadium, Seattle, WA

Celtic vs. Chelsea

Sunday, July 25, 2004 Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich

Monday, July 26, 2004 Rentschler Field, E. Hartford, CT

Celtic vs. Liverpool

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

Manchester United vs. Celtic

Thursday, July 29, 2004 Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

Chelsea vs. AS Roma

Friday, July 30, 2004 SkyDome, Toronto, ON

FC Porto vs. Liverpool

Saturday, July 31, 2004 Giants Stadium, E. Rutherford, NJ

Manchester United vs. AC Milan

Saturday, July 31, 2004 SkyDome, Toronto, ON

Celtic vs. AS Roma

Sunday, August 01, 2004 Giants Stadium, E. Rutherford, NJ

FC Porto vs. Galatasaray

Monday, August 02, 2004 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

AC Milan vs. Chelsea

Tuesday, August 03, 2004 Giants Stadium, E. Rutherford, NJ

AS Roma vs. Liverpool

 

[Baggio]

Sunday, July 18, 2004

AS ROMA ANNOUNCE TRAVEL ROSTER FOR 2004 CHAMPIONSWORLD SERIES MATCHES AGAINST CELTIC, CHELSEA AND LIVERPOOL

New Head Coach Cesare Prandelli to Bring Full Team, Including Stars Totti, Cassano, Panucci and Greece Star Dellas

MOONACHIE – Monday, July 18 – AS Roma disclosed its travel roster for the 2004 ChampionsWorld Series on Monday, announcing that all healthy players would be making the trip to North America for the matches against Celtic, Chelsea and Liverpool.

The team is led by Italian National Team stars Francesco Totti, Cristian Panucci, and Antonio Cassano, who recently participated in the European Championships in Portugal.

Greece defender Traianos Dellas, who helped his team lift the Euro 2004 trophy with the game-winning goal against the Czech Republic in the semifinal round, has also been named to the team.

Another notable name included in the travel roster is 22-year-old defender Philippe Mexes, who joins the club after a £9.9million transfer from Auxerre in France. Mexes, one of the most highly sought-after young defenders in the world, turned down the chance to sign with Manchester United, and should make his Roma debut during their games in the United States and Canada.

Also making his Roma debut will be head coach Cesare Prandelli, who joins the club after a successful run at Parma.

Other notable names on the Roma roster include Italy’s Damiano Tommasi and Vincenzo Montella, and French National Team midfielder Olivier Dacourt.

Roma will open their three-game tour of North America in Pittsburgh, where they will take on English Premier League title contenders Chelsea on July 29. After an encounter against Scottish champions Celtic at SkyDome in Toronto on July 31, Roma will play its final ChampionsWord Series match against the most succesful club in English football, Liverpool, at Giants Stadium on August 3.

Tickets for all of Roma’s matches in North America are now available through TicketMaster.com (TicketMaster.ca in Canada), TicketMaster outlets, and via phone at TicketMaster Charge-by-Phone. More information about Roma’s matches and the 2004 ChampionsWorld Series is available at ChampionsWorld.com.

AS ROMA TRAVEL ROSTER
AQUILANI, Alberto
CANDELA, Vincent
CASSANO, Antonio
CORVIA, Daniele
CUFRE, Leandro
CURCI, Gianluca
DACOURT, Olivier
D'AGOSTINO, Gaetano
DEL VECCHIO, Marco
DELLAS, Traianos
FERRONETTI, Damiano
GRILLO, Fabrizio
LANZARO, Maurizio
MEXES, Philippe
MONTELLA, Vincenzo
PANUCCI, Cristian
PERROTTA, Simone
PIPOLO, Pietro
SARTOR, Luigi
SIMONETTA, Alessandro
TOMMASI, Damiano
TOTTI, Francesco
VIRGA, Valerio
ZOTTI, Carlo

PRANDELLI, Cesare Manager

 

[Pravesh]

I hope that we will be playing in that tournament next season, after winning Scudetto Title and Champions League Trophy.

The reason being that the tv channels here in Beijing shows that tournament (LIVE, if I am not wrong). And not to mention that the quality of the opponents there are also very good ones.

 

[Handoyo]

1) Emerson is as mercenary as he can be. A disgrace.
2) I'm surprised I didn't see De Rossi's name there. But I'm quite sure that it's because he's called up to the Olympic squad.
3) I'll support Roma. But, anyone but Milan will do. :stuckup:


Handyo

 

[Marco The Butcher]

Utd had a good display against Bayern last night. Many youth players. Watch out for Spector the American defender.

 

[Pani]

Bayern can't beat Man Utd C!I predict another disappointing season
for Bayern!!

 

[Handoyo]

You should go and find the highlight of the Liverpool - Celtic game. Riise, Owen and Cisse (1st goal) scored some great goals.


Handyo

 

[Jesse]

Ay, United goes from winning it all last year in the states to winning nothing this year... I hope for a competitive EPL this season.

 

[Handoyo]

I watched the goals from Milan - Chelsea. Cafu's goal is absolutely superb. He did a 'Van Basten' but this time, the keeper was off his line and the angle wasn't too tight. Great goal! Sh!tva's winning goal was another good one. It was a free-kick from the right-hand side of the penalty box. Cudicini expected Sh!tva, who's right-footed, to curl the ball to his right. But Sheva hit it low to Cudicini's bottom left-hand corner. Like an arrow.

Judging from the friendlies, I would say that Milan and Inter are the strongest teams. But we should never ever count Juve or even Roma out.


Handyo

 

[Marco The Butcher]

Judging from the friendlies, I would say that Milan and Inter are the strongest teams.

Milan sucked in front of Utd. They had a very strong lineup and Utd outplayed them with the kids on the pitch. Defense looked disastrous. And the goal they scored at the end was scored by the worst player on the pitch "Sheeva". Not to mention the dive Crespo did to win the foul.

 

[Pravesh]

Not to mention the dive Crespo did to win the foul.

yeah ... that was a clear dive, which gave them the free-kick from which they scored. :fero: ..... crespo :yuck: