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By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Feb 7, 2012) US Soccer Players -- The MetroStars/Red Bulls are
the most futile Major League Soccer club since the League's inception in 1996. There is little
argument to the contrary. Nevertheless, the franchise has had a staggering track record when it
comes to producing talented players who have gone on to succeed at other clubs and the US National
Team.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Jan 25, 2012) US Soccer Players -- The United States takes to
the road for the second game of 2012. The match at Panama City's Estadio Rommel Fernandez is aimed
at simulating the atmosphere players will experience during World Cup Qualifying. The dress
rehearsal serves the younger players called up by coach Jurgen Klinsmann for January camp as well
as the coach himself, giving them a firsthand look.
What Ever Happened To . . . is a new monthly feature on US Soccer Players that attempts to update
readers on what has happened to players. coaches and officials of the past who helped shape the
game in this country. In our first installment, we catch up with NASL legend and former National
Team goalkeeper Arnie Mausser.
By Clemente Lisi – MONTREAL, CA (Jan 4, 2012) US Soccer Players – There is nothing like the
start of a new year to fill one with hope and anticipation. For USA soccer fans, there's a lot to
look forward to from the National Teams and Major League Soccer. The senior side starts their road
to Brazil with World Cup Qualifying.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 30, 2011) US Soccer Players – If 2010 was considered a
great year for the National Team because of its performance at the World Cup, then 2011 will go
down as the year where American players shined individually. Just ask Jozy Altidore. The
22-year-old striker turned things around this fall after signing with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar,
proving that he can be a deadly offensive weapon following.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Dec 21, 2011) US Soccer Players – Arizona will be the
epicenter of American soccer over the next two months. The United States will play at University of
Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on January 21st against Venezuela to open their 2012 schedule. A month
later, on February 22nd, four MLS teams – the Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, New England
Revolution and Real Salt Lake –.
By Clemente Lisi - BROOKLYN, NY (Dec 14, 2011) US Soccer Players -- There have been very few
Christmas presents I received as a child that I can recall now as an adult. Growing up in the
1980's, I do remember the many Star Wars action figures and Atari videogame cartridges that were
stuffed into my stocking – the sort of toys that nowadays would be on display at the Smithsonian.
By Clemente Lisi - LOS ANGELES, CA (Dec 5, 2011) US Soccer Players -- The stench of beer filled the
air in the Los Angeles Galaxy's locker room after the players had spent a good chunk of its MLS Cup
postgame party spraying one another with bottles of Bud. After the game, the players left the Home
Depot Center and partied the night away at the Staples Center in downtown LA.
By Clemente Lisi – Carson, CA (Nov 20, 2011) US Soccer Players – The joke in the press box at
the Home Depot Center on Sunday night was that it had been the fault of the large contingent of
English journalists credentialed for MLS Cup (there to see David Beckham) who brought the rain with
them to Southern California.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Nov 2011) US Soccer Players -- In their last game of 2011, the
United States takes on Slovenia in Ljubljana on Tuesday in a rematch of the thrilling 2010 World
Cup opening-round contest that ended 2-2. The game comes at a time when Slovenia, failing to reach
the 2012 European Championship, is in the midst of rebuilding after the firing last month of coach
Matjaz Kek.
By Clemente Lisi – Harrison, NJ (Nov 10, 2011) US Soccer Players -- The USA gets their first game
with France since the Carter administration, Friday in the famed Stade de France in suburban Paris.
The contest, arguably the toughest game thus far for the USA under coach Jurgen Klinsmann, will
allow the Americans to put into practice all they have learned from their new coach since August.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Oct 31, 2011) US Soccer Players -- The journey of how Jay
DeMerit rose from a pub player to starting at the last World Cup is coming to a theater near you.
After spending the year successfully raising money to secure the rights to use footage of DeMerit
playing in England and at the World Cup, the documentary "Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story" will
be shown.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Oct 24, 2011) US Soccer Players – When it comes to national
television ratings, American soccer fans already know that Major League Soccer lags far behind this
country's established sports leagues. MLS has long talked about a broader footprint, but even with
19 teams next season there are areas of the USA and Canada where the League has no presence.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Oct 19, 2011) US Soccer Players -- What would soccer be like
today without the back-pass rule? Though we'll never really know, in all likelihood there would
feature fewer goals and a lot more goalkeeper possession. Since 1992, the back-pass rule forbids
goalkeepers from handling the ball when a teammate intentionally kicks it to him or puts it in his
direction from a throw-in.
By Clemente Lisi – Harrison, NJ (Oct 10, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Ecuador comes to the New York
area to play the United States on Tuesday night at Red Bull Arena four days after embarking on
their two-year quest to reach the 2014 World Cup finals. Ecuador defeated Venezuela 2-0 on Friday
in their opening game in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Oct 7, 2011) US Soccer Players -- The story of Saturday's USA -
Honduras friendly will be as much about who isn't there as who is. The absenteeism applies to both
teams, with regulars missing the trip to Miami. Honduras will be without several of their starters
as well as DC United striker Andy Najar, but will feature three other MLS-based players.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sept 12, 2011) US Soccer Players – The opening weekend of
Italy's Serie A brought with it the familiar sights and sounds. The sight of loud fans tossing
flares onto the field and the sound of coaches whining about referees. In the middle of it all was
one American among the nearly 500 players spread out across 20 clubs.
By Clemente Lisi – HEMPSTEAD, NY (Sept 9, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Ten years after nearly 3,000
people where killed at the World Trade Center and Pentagon in the worst terror attack on American
soil, Americans will spend Sunday commemorating the bravery of those who died on September 11th,
2001. Among those who will be remembered is Sergio Villanueva, a New York City firefighter who died
while rescuing people from the burning towers that.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Sept 1, 2011) US Soccer Players -- The USA takes on Costa Rica
at The Home Depot Center Friday in a test of what could await them over the next two years in World
Cup Qualifying. An opponent like Costa Rica provides the United States with a formidable challenge
as coach Jurgen Klinsmann gets a second look at the National Team and continues to test players and
tactics.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 23, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Goals are not all created
equal. Spanish-language TV announcers use the word golazo or bombazo to describe a great goal taken
from outside the penalty area. The Brits like to refer to one as a screamer or a cracker. Either
way, goals scored from outside the 18-yard box always get a rise in blood pressure from announcers.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Aug 15, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Chris Konopka has spent the
past year chasing his dream of playing in Major League Soccer. On Saturday night, Konopka got a
chance to live that dream when he started for the New York Red Bulls before a sellout crowd of
25,000. "All in all, for my League debut, I enjoyed it," said Konopka, who surrendered two goals as
New York.
By Clemente Lisi – PHILADELPHIA, PA (Aug 9, 2011) US Soccer Players -- A new era starts Wednesday
when Jurgen Klinsmann makes his debut as United States National Team coach against old rivals
Mexico at Lincoln Financial Field. The friendly in Philadelphia will be the first game for the USA
since losing to Mexico in the Gold Cup final in June.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (July 20, 2011) US Soccer Players – Soccer games aren't
typically hot tickets in this country. Taking the pulse of the secondary market to show tickets
selling for several times their original cost is usually reserved for the big events on the North
American pro sports calendar.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (July 15, 2011) US Soccer Players -- When Brian McBride steps
onto the field at Crew Stadium in Columbus this Saturday night, it will be in his relatively new
position of former player. McBride will be in Columbus so that he can be the first player inducted
into the Crew's Circle of Honor at halftime during their game against the San Jose Earthquakes.
By Clemente Lisi – PASADENA, CA (Jun 26, 2011) US Soccer Players -- History has an awful way of
repeating itself. With the USA up 2-0 in the Gold Cup final Saturday afternoon against Mexico at
the Rose Bowl, it looked as if the Americans were on their way to the title. It was not meant to
be. Like the 2009 Confederations Cup final against Brazil, the USA squandered a 2-0 lead.
By Clemente Lisi – PASADENA, CA (Jun 24, 2011) US Soccer Players – There is no real way not to
overhype Saturday's Gold Cup final at the Rose Bowl. Whenever the USA and Mexico meet – be it the
Gold Cup, a World Cup Qualifier or friendly – it is always a chance for these CONCACAF
heavyweights to add another page to the story of their long-simmering rivalry.
By Clemente Lisi – WASHINGTON, DC (Jun 21, 2011) US Soccer Players – The USA's collision course
with Mexico remains very much alive at this Gold Cup. That seemingly inevitable final match-up
between CONCACAF's two best teams is the likeliest outcome from Wednesday's semifinal doubleheader
at what's expected to be a full Reliant Stadium in Houston.
By Clemente Lisi – WASHINGTON, DC (Jun 17, 2011) US Soccer Players -- It often looks as if the
opening round of the Gold Cup is a formality aimed at setting up a USA-Mexico final. More often
than not, those are the two countries contending for the trophy. This year, Jamaica has something
to say about that.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (June 13, 2011) US Soccer Players – Mention the name Guadeloupe
in the context of the Gold Cup and the first thing that comes to mind is the word ‘upset.' In its
first-ever Gold Cup appearance in 2007, Guadeloupe reached the semifinals only to lose 1-0 to
Mexico.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (June 10, 2011) US Soccer Players -- After outclassing Canada in
its Gold Cup opener, the United States takes on Panama on Saturday in another delicate Group C
encounter. A win would earn the National Team a berth to the quarterfinals. A loss or draw would
set up a potential do-or-die match against Guadeloupe.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (June 6, 2011) US Soccer Players -- There is absolutely nothing
like when two teams hit the field and renew their rivalry. The USA will play Canada on Tuesday
night as the Americans open their Gold Cup campaign at Ford Field in Detroit. While Canada is no
Mexico, the National Team will not be underestimating its northern neighbor.
By Clemente Lisi – FOXBOROUGH, MA (Jun 3, 2011) US Soccer Players – The United States will take
on world champion Spain on Saturday afternoon in a marquee friendly ahead of next week's Gold Cup.
For Spain, the game at Gillette Stadium in suburban Boston represents its first-ever meeting with
the USA on American soil.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (May 23, 2011) US Soccer Players – After qualifying for the
1990 World Cup finals, the next big moment for United States soccer came the following year. The
National Team – once considered a CONCACAF doormat – did what at the time was considered the
unthinkable by knocking out Mexico in the semifinals and beating Honduras in the championship game
to win the 1991 Gold Cup.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (May 16, 2011) US Soccer Players – Rebuilding a team is no easy
task. Just ask Chivas USA coach Robin Fraser. A former National Team defender, Fraser is in his
first year as a head coach and learning the hard way that trying to turn a team around takes more
than just a few months.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (May 2, 2011) US Soccer Players -- It's been an interesting
season for Jonathan Spector. After spending the Summer with the United States National Team at the
World Cup, he returned to a West Ham United squad that needed a late season surge to avoid
relegation. Under new management, Spector spent the first part of the season seeing limited time in
the West Ham defense.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Apr 28, 2011) US Soccer Players – Tim Howard is used to
high-pressure situations. He suits up for Everton every weekend against some of the best clubs on
the planet and has played at the World Cup for the USA. Each time Howard puts on his gloves and
gets into position to guard the goal, he knows what he has to do.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Apr 20, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Your team is down a goal and
putting the pressure on its opponent as the minutes tick away. Just when the game seems lost, your
team is able to win a corner kick. With the exception of being awarded a penalty shot, getting a
late corner is a solid scoring opportunity.
By Clemente Lisi – HARRISON, NJ (Apr 18, 2011) US Soccer Players – When the New York Red Bulls
have players such as Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez in the lineup, there is always an expectation
of success. The same expectations heaped on the Red Bulls, however, have also been placed on the
San Jose Earthquakes after it knocked New York out of the playoffs last year, coming within a game
of reaching the MLS.
In an updated edition of his book "A History of the World Cup: 1930-2010" (Scarecrow Press),
Clemente Lisi details the 2010 tournament in South Africa and the US National Team's emotional run
to the Round of 16. From the USA's draw with England to Landon Donovan's last-gasp strike versus
Algeria to the elimination against Ghana, the book gives readers a chance to relive the emotional
ride that is the World Cup.
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Apr 8, 2011) US Soccer Players – When FC Dallas hosts the
Colorado Rapids on Friday night at Pizza Hut Park, the game won't just be a rematch of last year's
MLS Cup final. The meeting will also pit two of the best US-born goalkeepers in the League against
each other: FCD's Kevin Hartman and Colorado's Matt Pickens.
