L.E. Eisenmenger | Football Reloaded

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MLS referees don’t cut it for World Cup

February 15th, 2010

L.E. Eisenmenger

FIFA released the list of 30 referees from 20 countries who will officiate at the World Cup and the United States is not represented on that list, even as an AR. Putting aside politics and questionable selections such as Martin Hansson, the Swedish referee who missed Thierry Henri’s handball, the decision is a sharp indictment of MLS itself.

MLS brands itself on speed and physicality, which sometimes interprets as limited technical ability and reckless tackling. In the 14 year-old League, referees struggle to enforce rules without reducing matches to 9v10 and enraging fans. Players and coaches complain of inconsistency in officiating, but complain louder when on the receiving end of sending-offs.

Technical areas became so fractious in 2008 that MLS established a zero tolerance policy and directed fourth officials to quickly remove any coaches not in full compliance. Yet in 2009, the infractions persisted and coaches still were ejected and suspended.

In short, MLS referees are fully challenged.

“While disappointed we don’t have a referee that will be part of the 2010 World Cup,” said US Soccer Federation spokesperson Neil Buethe, “we are fully committed to our bigger challenge of continuing to improve and develop the large number of referees in the United States.” The Federation is working with MLS referees (around 23 in 2009) to improve the level of the League, partly by allowing skilled players to perform without being battered.

Angelo Bratsis, a former FIFA referee and now a US referee inspector, defined the situation for US Soccer Players. “We need the Beckhams, the Donovans, the Shalrie Josephs in the game,” said Bratsis. “We cannot see those players being injured. It goes back to the mentality. We need to promote the game, lay off. We need these players to play 90 minutes every single game, we don’t need them in the hospital. We don’t need them with a broken leg or a broken arm. Lay off. And that goes to the owners and to the general managers and to the coaches. If the coach has a player acting like a jerk, take him out.”

This year the Federation added new initiatives to their existing program for improving and evaluating referees.

Typically, the week before the match, the designated officiating squad of referee, two ARS, and the fourth official research the players and game background under the supervision of an inspector. The officiating team meets at the stadium the day before to discuss the skilled players, the problem players, the match-ups, the coaching philosophies, the consequences of the game, and then they map out a strategy. The inspector evaluates the officials during the game, and after the officiating team reviews the match on DVD they critique their decisions with the inspector. The inspector writes up a report for each official and sends it on to the inspector of their next match, as well as to MLS and the Federation.

For 2010, the Federation has increased the fitness requirements of MLS referees to FIFA standards and is requiring inspectors to retest annually.

To improve communication, the Federation offers to send a representative to each team for a preseason meeting to explain old and new directives face-to-face with the players and coaches. In 2009, five teams engaged in that meeting.

Directives are established to remedy the most common and egregious fouls of the previous season. The number of red cards increased in 2009 because of directives regarding contact above the shoulder and illegal use of arm and elbow in the head or neck. Another directive addressed mass confrontations by issuing a yellow card to the third man in. In 2010, players will be increasingly cautioned for time-wasting and unsporting behavior when teams kill the clock by delaying restarts and putting the ball into play.

Although directives are emailed to general managers and coaches, they don’t seem to reach the players.

“I felt it wasn’t passed on to the rank and file, to the players,” said Bratsis, “because if they did, they wouldn’t be doing the things that they’re doing. When they get fined, when they get sent off, there’s all kind of problems and we say, ‘Take a look at this clip, isn’t this you?’”

“We have a player that was sent off because he got a second yellow after scoring a winning goal because he was so happy he took his shirt off,” said Bratsis. “This has been a directive for the last two years! You take your shirt off, it’s a yellow card. What are you taking it off for? And he’s bitching and moaning and saying, you’ve got to be kidding! ‘No, I’m not kidding, you’re going off. I don’t want to send you off, but I have to send you off. I know you’re happy and want to impress your girlfriend, but you can’t take your shirt off and I have to send you off.’”

“’Well, you’re an @#$%, referee,’ says the player.”

“’Well, thank you very much and for retaliating you’ll get another suspension.’ That’s discipline. If there are flames you don’t put more gas on the fire. ‘You’re going to be sent off and now you’re going to call me names and curse my mother, my sister, and my kids and everybody else and make all kinds of gestures? Well, I’m going to have to write you up. And you persist in this conduct after you’re sent off, so now that means that not only do you get a red card for taking your shirt off, but now you’ve got an additional game or two and possibly a $500 fine for being a @#$%.’ And they still do it! And this brings me back full circle to coaching and discipline.”

A couple years ago, that lack of discipline was the main topic of a successful panel discussion between referees, four MLS and US Men’s National Team players, and coach Bob Bradley. The referees asked questions like, “What do you want from us?” and “What fouls do you tolerate?” and the players responded candidly. The referees pointed how English players accept cautions and go on with their game, while MLS players often dissent or throw tantrums. The players admitted they lacked discipline.

One young referee said [paraphrased]: “Why do you do some of the dumb things you do in the home field? Like dissent and mass confrontation, gestures, foul mouth, fouls designed to endanger the safety of a player? Why do you do it if we’re trying to promote the game?”  

A prominent National Team member responded [paraphrased], “We do it because you allow it. If I do something stupid and you don’t do anything to me, I’m going to keep on doing it. You put me in my place when you give me a yellow card and I’ll shape up. You guys don’t take care of business, so I keep on doing it. I do it because you allow it.’”  

“My respect for [that player] went up ten-fold,” said Bratsis. “The kid’s got character, he tells it like it is. And that was the message for the whole year. They do it because we allow it.”

But when referees eject players, crowds blame the referees for deciding the game. Fairly, some of the responsibility falls not only on the players, but the coaches and ownership that encourage this style of play.

The rough tackles and lack of discipline in MLS sometimes carries over to the National Team. Recently Jimmy Conrad was sent off in the 18th minute vs Honduras for fouls that would easily pass in MLS. Ricardo Clark, Michael Bradley, and Sacha Kljestan also have been ejected for fouls that are run of play in MLS. So it’s not surprising that MLS referees, who officiate a different standard of play, were not selected as World Cup referees.

The lack of discipline within the League can hold back player development. It’s expected that Bradley’s World Cup first team will be almost entirely comprised of foreign-based players. Although they’re playing abroad because they’re the best American talent, it also can be argued that the best American talent in MLS cannot fully develop their technical and strategic abilities with the frantic pace and defensive style the League is trending.

“It goes back to management, it goes back to coaching, it goes back to objectives – are you trying to promote this game?” said Bratsis. “Are you trying to make it a predominant sport in the country? Are you trying to compete with major soccer powers? If that’s what you’re trying to do, you better clean up your house.”

“MLS referees don’t cut it for World Cup” was originally published at Soccerlens.com – Football News.

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Tags: Best of SL, Features, Help Football, MLS, Players, World Cup 2010

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Is it time for youth transfer fees in the US?

September 28th, 2009

L.E. Eisenmenger

US soccer has progressed to the level where like the rest of the world, MLS clubs should considering paying modest youth transfer fees to local clubs that develop the young players they select for their U16 and U18 academy teams.

Reimbursement in the form of scholarships would encourage local clubs to develop complete players instead of focusing on wins and also to invest in low-income players, further improving the vision of youth player development in the US. Ultimately, it could help turn out a better selection of youth products and somewhat limit MLS clubs’ need to invest in their own youth programs.

Bob Lenarduzzi, president of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the 2011 MLS expansion team, agrees that youth transfer fees are feasible. The USL Champion Whitecaps already have a youth residency program in place and when they enter MLS in 2011 they will be the first club with that distinction.

“It comes down to the quality of the program that you’re running,” Lenarduzzi said of transfer fees. “If you’re running a program and you happen to have a good kid there that gets signed by a pro club, should you really benefit from that? Probably not. But if you’re a club that’s invested in player development and you’re turning out player after player, then I have no problem working out an arrangement with a club like that.”

Youth clubs are somewhat of a cottage industry, created by passionate professional players and coaches, operating on a non-profit tax status and competing for top players to win tournaments, through which they attract more players who pay seasonal fees. Some are quite tiny with only a few teams and some far more expansive, employing dozens of coaches mostly on a part-time basis. Some are run in offices, some in the home, and almost all the fields and gyms are rented or leased. It’s labor intensive and day-to-day, yet these clubs have launched most of the professional US talent.

MLS requires all its clubs to provide fully funded U16 and U18 teams to play in the US Soccer Development Academy League and encourages them to develop youth programs in their markets. Some clubs, including Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, DC United, and NY Red Bulls recently created extensive programs that bring boys and girls right through the ranks from pre-school to college, and the Fire has a U23 PDL team from which they gleaned Chris Rolfe, who makes the leap to Denmark this January.

Still, many of the MLS clubs’ academy players are selected from outside clubs that get no financial reimbursement for their investment in those players.

MLS homegrown player rule ups the ante for youth development

Now there’s more incentive for MLS clubs to recruit top youth players. The MLS Board of Governors recently allowed franchises to sign two homegrown players a year in addition to their 24-man roster to encourage clubs to develop their own talent. Homegrown players can be selected at a rate of two per year per age group (for possible total of 150) and placed on a “protected” list which enables the clubs to own their rights within MLS but places no restrictions on the players should they go abroad. Protected players must train with the club for at least two years or one year before their first college game, so typically the academies look to stock their U16 and U18 teams that play in the US Development League.

Still, due to geography and the prevalence of strong established youth clubs, many of the best prospects are cherry picked from other clubs that invested many man hours and sometimes scholarships in those players since they were young children. These clubs get no reimbursement, as they would in Europe under UEFA’s transfer fee schedule for youth players, which considers length of time with club among other factors.

The Colorado Rapids recognized this disparity and tried to equalize it by forming an
Examiner~y2009m9d2-Rapids-and-Fire-academies-expand-by-forging-alliances-with-in-and-outofstate-youth-clubs”>alliance with local clubs and bringing coach training and curriculum to the participating clubs as compensation for the inevitable cherry picking of the clubs’ hottest prospects. While some clubs have fallen in line, Real Colorado, which also offers fully-funded Academy League teams and currently trains 5,000 players including national team players, abstained from the alliance.

Real Colorado General Manager and Director of Coaching Lorne Donaldson, former Jamaican national team player and former assistant coach at the Rapids, says that a two-tiered transfer fee is more appropriate.

Donaldson: We were approached [by the Rapids] and we said thanks for the offer, but we don’t think it’s something that would benefit our kids. We didn’t need it, we have a good product, a good organization. If a major league club wants a young player from an amateur team, like they do in Europe, the club should be rewarded for spending time in developing that player. It might not be a big sum of money, but there should be something given back to the club. Here, MLS wants everything for free, MLS has its own rules, that’s how the system is set up. It doesn’t benefit the youth clubs.

LE: If youth clubs have a non-profit tax status, how can MLS franchises compensate them for players? I was told it’s not possible.

Donaldson: Whoever said that doesn’t know the rules or they chose not to know the rules. You can make any kind of donation to non-profits by the way of scholarships. Most of us non-profits have scholarships that fund kids, especially talented players, so you could give that to a club from a profit to a non-profit through a scholarship fund. How it would be used would be up to the club. It’s legal to do that and there’s nothing wrong with that.

LE: You advocate a two-tier transfer fee. Can you explain that?

Donaldson: Take a player like Jozy Altidore who was playing in Florida and found there by a guy. If you take a player of that stature and he goes through major league, that’s one transfer fee for a youth club. But if he goes on to England and plays, then the Red Bulls are going to get money, but at least the youth club should get a little piece of the pie. Just two-tiered, from his first club to the next, it’s a final transaction. He might go to Everton, then Real Madrid, but no, once he gets to the second transaction it’s done, there’s no more money. But then the club can go back and start again with another player, because that money goes right back into scholarship.

Transfer fees would build relationship between MLS and local clubs

The MLS youth academies and youth programs direct the future of soccer development in the US. But given the dynamics of the current club structure and the geographical limitations in reaching across the country, the franchises will continue to depend on the youth products of these local clubs.

It’s in their best interest to develop relationships that will improve the quality coming from these local clubs and a traditional youth transfer fee in the form of scholarship is a reasonable approach.

“Is it time for youth transfer fees in the US?” was originally published at Soccerlens.com – Football News.

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Tags: Features, Help Football, MLS

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Beckham is back in MLS and teaching lessons like the headmaster

August 23rd, 2009

L.E. Eisenmenger

David Beckham is back in MLS and and after only a few weeks is fully engaged in every commotion related to soccer in the United States. Expansion team ownership, international competition, player contracts, ticket sales, refereeing, MLS Cup, and fan confrontations are now all Beckham-related and bear his mark.

The LA Galaxy are headed for the playoffs, and Beckham already said he’s returning to AC Milan this winter to train for England and the World Cup, and that he’ll return to play and likely buy an MLS franchise, so a brief recap of summer lessons is advised before the midterm.

Lesson 1: Fan behavior gets boundaries

MLS fans that normally sit in empty stadiums and until this summer never saw the flood of teams like Inter Milan, Club America, Chelsea, Barcelona, and Everton in the US, aggressively booed Beckham and taunted him with hate banners when he walked on the field in front of huge crowds after returning from AC Milan. And the fan were shocked that the former England captain responded in a very human manner after they insulted his wife, Victoria. On two occasions he approached his antagonizers and shared words, once encouraging a fan to face him on the field – for which Beckham was fined $1,000 by MLS.

Last week at Seattle Sounders, seventeen minutes in, Beckham dove studs-up between the feet of friend and former teammate Peter Vagenas with a right-footed tackle that earned him a quick trip to the locker room and a suspension for the following high-stakes match against Chicago Fire. The tackle appeared intended more for a red card than the ball or a leg, and at the end of the day served as a lesson in manners for shabby fans.

Over 20,000 ticket holders in Chicago didn’t see Beckham play on August 19, but they did see their home team shut out 2-0 after Landon Donovan broke down the middle and lashed the ball under Fire keeper Jon Busch and into the corner of the net. The Galaxy have improved.

“There’s always going to be someone out there that’s going to say something about it not being a good idea me being here or it’s not working,” Beckham told reporters in Boston, “but statistics say it is.”

Lesson 2: Numbers don’t lie

Twenty-one of the 25 largest crowds in the US this summer supported international matches, many tied in some way to Beckham’s relationship with MLS and Soccer United Marketing.

93,137 Los Angeles Galaxy-Barcelona (Aug. 1) Pasadena, Calif.
82,252 Mexico-Haiti (July 19) Arlington, Texas
81,224 Chelsea-Inter Milan (July 21) Pasadena, Calif.
79,156 USA-Mexico (July 26) East Rutherford, N.J.
72,368 D.C. United-Real Madrid (Aug. 9) Landover, Md.
71,203 AC Milan-Chelsea (July 24) Baltimore
66,848 Seattle Sounders-Barcelona (Aug. 5) Seattle
65,289 Seattle Sounders-Chelsea (July 18 ) Seattle
61,572 Barcelona-Guadalajara (Aug 8 ) San Francisco
57,229 Chelsea-Club America (July 26) Arlington, Texas
55,173 Mexico-Costa Rica (July 23) Chicago
51,115 Mexico-Venezuela (July 24) Atlanta
50,306 AC Milan-Club America (July 22) Atlanta
47,713 Mexico-Panama (July 9) Houston
42,531 AC Milan-Inter Milan (July 26) Foxboro, Mass.
32,526 Seattle Sounders-Colorado Rapids (June 28 ) Seattle
32,500 Mexico-Nicaragua (July 5) Oakland, Calif.
32,405 Seattle Sounders-D.C. United (July 25) Seattle
32,204 Seattle Sounders-Houston Dynamo (July 11) Seattle
31,026 Inter Milan-Club America (July 19) Stanford, Calif.
31,087 USA-Panama (July 18 ) Philadelphia
30,624 Mexico-Guatemala (June 29) San Diego
27,000 El Salvador-Costa Rica (July 3) Carson, Calif.
27,000 Los Angeles Galaxy-AC Milan (July 19) Carson, Calif.
26,623 New England Revolution-Los Angeles Galaxy (Aug 8 ) Foxboro

* Figures according to Soccer America

According to Barcelona economic vice-president Joan Boix, Barcelona’s 12-day tour of the US generated $8.5 million. Average attendance for the three Barcelona matches against the Galaxy, Sounders, and Chivas was 73,852, and Boix claimed the games sparked partnerships with US-based companies.

Althought the Galacy lost 2-1 to Barcelona, it was Beckham who scored off a magestic free kick shown around the world. The goal silenced critics on both sides of the ocean, perhaps more his European colleagues who doubted his decision to play for MLS.

“I must admit it was one of the ones I enjoyed, I’ve watched it a few times since,” said Beckham. “I haven’t scored one like that for a while, so to do it against Barcelona, great rivals of mine when I was at Real Madrid. I know they’re only in their preseason, but they’re champions of Europe, champions of Spain, and won the Spanish Cup.”

Lesson 3: Beckham closes the book on Grant Wahl

Another media blitz was created by Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl, who wrote the rather bitchy The Beckham Experiment released precisely as Beckham returned to the Galaxy. Wahl, who followed Beckham during his first two years, welcomed MLS’ biggest investment back with a back-handed slap, telling tales of team infighting, Beckham’s disloyalty, mismanagement, and failure.

“Unfortunately for David,” said Landon Donovan, “no one wants to hear those things about them, especially through a book, so it was difficult for him, but to his credit he’s been a man about it. He’s taken it like a man and he’s done a great job of moving past it and I can’t say a lot of people would have done that. David’s been great since he’s been back – in every way.”

Now in second place in the Western Conference, the Galaxy are headed into the playoffs for the first time in three years. Galaxy head Coach Bruce Arena released most of last season’s team and built a squad of older, experienced players and with a record of 8-4-10, the Galaxy has lost the fewest games of any MLS team this season.

“My working with David over the last month has been nothing but fabulous,” said Arena. “He’s been a great member of the team, he does a great job off the field as well as on the field, he’s very cooperative with us in every way, and you can see the quality of his play. He’s a fantastic player.”

“People look for criticisms or just try to knock the organization or knock the ideas that they’re trying to bring to this league and to this game in the US,” said Beckham. “There’s always going to be the bad out there, but we as an organization and me as a person and us as a team, we always look at the positive sides and there’s a lot more positives than negatives.”

4. Lesson 4: Beckham plans to buy MLS franchise, hints at player contract changes

With a rather small and polite media contingent in Boston, Beckham confirmed his plans to obtain an MLS franchise.

“It’s something I’m very interested in because when I stop playing I still want to be involved in the game and I still want to be an ambassador of this league,” said Beckham. “It’s a long-term plan, it’s not something where I’ve come over for a couple years and just going to walk away. It’s something I am passionate about and something I do believe in, so I want to stick to that. There’s a deal in place where I can purchase an MLS team or start a franchise so it’s something that I’m definitely interested in and wouldn’t have something in my contract without wanting to do it. I can’t go into specifics but the option is there.”

Beckham indicated contractual relationships with players must change for MLS to attract talent, and this is particularly interesting considering the MLS Players Union collective bargaining agreement expires January 31, 2010. The union included free agency and guaranteed contracts in their proposed agreement.

“That’s what players in Europe look for, they look for a challenge,” said Beckham. “Coming over would be a challenge because it’s a different league and a different style of soccer. In years to come there will be more players that come over from Europe but the whole system is different. In Europe you’re contracted two, three, four, five years at a time and players see out those contracts, so that’s what’s difficult, a different situation with the system.”

“There are a lot of things that we would like to see changed,” said Donovan of the Players Union’s proposed CBA, “and the beauty is that the league probably agrees with us on a lot of them. Now it’s a matter of getting things done that we want, coming to an agreement that makes sense for everyone . . . As for the salary cap, I think everybody would want that increased – the league, ourselves, the owners, the coaches. The only thing it does is make for the ability to get better talent, to keep American players home by paying them more money so it’s a win-win for everyone and I think everyone realizes that.”

Lesson 5: MLS franchises could develop international flavor

Beckham’s ownership of a MLS franchise might encourage Barcelona to return with another franchise proposal, as they are rumored to be doing with the New York Red Bulls.

This past spring, the Barcelona-Claure proposal to develop a progressive Miami MLS franchise crashed, incredibly, because of Beckham’s winter sabatical from MLS to AC Milan.

“The treatment has to be different,” Marcelo Claure told El Deber after pulling out of the deal, “since the economic picture changes if David Beckham does not return to the US. In this case the league, because Beckham represents economic figures, should consider what it can mean to have an institution like Barca to MLS – there is a big difference with a player. MLS needs to analyze what would be the benefit to Barcelona of Spain in the league.”

Barca wanted to bring their young players to MLS as a sort of reserve team and give them game time. According to Kartik Krishnaiyer of MLS Talk, Barca was concerned if MLS owned the contracts of the Barca youth players that came here, MLS could turn around and sell them directly to a rival club and Barca wanted more control over the players they brought in. Barca was concerned about MLS limiting their spending via the salary cap because they wanted to bring as many players as they could and to spend as much money as they wanted.

“We are pioneers,” said Joan Oliver, general director of Barcelona, “and if it turns out well, other clubs will follow us.”

Beckham is back in MLS and confirming his long-term commitment to soccer in the US, and that could attract foreign club investors like Barca back to MLS. Imagine if every club touring the US this summer – Everton, Barcelona, Chelsea, Club America, Inter Milan, AC MIlan – owned an MLS franchise and brought their brand, their history, their philosophy, culture to the US. Pretty exciting.

All things considered, Beckham has not done bad in bringing order to the MLS schoolyard.

“Beckham is back in MLS and teaching lessons like the headmaster” was originally published at Soccerlens.com – Football News.

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Tags: Barcelona, David Beckham, Features, LA Galaxy, MLS

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Inter sweeps AC Milan for third place in World Football Challenge

July 28th, 2009

L.E. Eisenmenger

Tied for third place in the inaugural World Football Challenge tournament, Inter and AC Milan fought for pride at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, and Jose Mourinho’s Inter kept their dignity with a 2-0 win over hometown rival AC Milan. Chelsea won the tournament July 26 by shutting out second place Club America 2-0.

Diego Milito scored both goals for Inter, first unassisted in the fourth minute and again in the 75th minute off an assist by Dejan Stankovic. Milito beat keeper Zeliko Kalac coming out of the net, chipped the ball which hit the crossbar and bounced down inside, and there was nothing Kalac could do. After the second goal, Inter played for joy with creative attacks, a volley of shots, and frequent substitutions.

At the end of the day, Inter outshot Milan 15 to eight with eight shots on goal overshadowing Milan’s four. Inter was called offside nine times, Milan not at all. Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato of Milan were issued cautions, as was Mario Balotelli of Inter.

Leonardo said tournament schedule unfair, Milan needs new players

In his native Italian translated by Pino Mittiga of America Oggi Newspaper, Milan coach Leonardo said he was very upset with the tournament organization because of scheduling. He also blamed the losses on injured players, including top goal scorer Filippo Inzaghi, who was injured in the match with Chelsea, and that Milan’s defenders, aside from Mathieu Flamini, are no longer young.

Leonardo said Milan isn’t ready to compete because they need a new goal scorer and a defender, and that both he and Gennaro Gattuso had appealed to AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi (also prime minister of Italy), and that Berlusconi said he would consider the player purchases if not too expensive.

Leonardo didn’t name the desired players, but rumors circulating in the Italian media say Juventus’ French striker Trezeguet is the target, and that Milan wants an additional unnamed player from Juventus in the deal, which has been refused.

In English Leonardo said, “In the last five days we played three matches and it’s not equal that Inter had five days to prepare for this match. To play a match in two days, it’s impossible. This team needs preparation and time to come back from injuries, but what they’re demonstrating is enough for me to say that we can be a good team. Three defeats is so heavy but we have to manage that, look a positive way to prepare the team, and obviously we need some new players.”

Milan’s new central defender gets first starts in World Football Challenge

New Milan central defender and US men’s national team player Oguchi Onyewu made his first start in World Football Challenge.

“[Onyewu] is a good player for us right now,” said Leonardo. “He needs to prepare for the team, train with the team to understand our system and what we are. He’s a very important player in the group and it will be his performance that will say what he’ll do with us.”

“I’ve only been with this team a week” said Onyewu. “We’ve only had a full session two times, so slowly but surely I’m beginning to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the players around me and I’m sure they’re able to do the same with me. We need time to jell and let that chemistry set in and take place, but with time that’s going to happen and we’ll build a strong unit.”

Inter staff and players enthusiastic, Mourinho silent

Mourinho, who promoted Inter’s global initiative and World Football Challenge in Boston this spring, did not speak to the media.

“We’re a winning team,” said Giuseppe Baresi, assistant coach of Inter Milan, “and we’re going to try to win everything in our path – the Champions League, the Italian Championship, and the upcoming tournament in China. We’ll play game by game, not let our egos get too big, and that’s how we’ll win Scudetto once again.”

Man of the Match Melito, whose star is rising, said he has had no contact with Maradona, but understands the coach wants him to play with the Argentine national team versus Brazil and if Maradona calls him he’ll be happy to play for Argentina, particularly with the home advantage.

Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who only arrived in preseason two days before, was enthusiastic about the American tour with World Football Challenge.

“It’s very good for the team to be playing some of the top teams in the world, like Milan, Chelsea, and Club America. Having Lucio on the team is a tremendous addition because of his professionalism as well as his abilities. I’m happy having him in front of me after having played together in the national team for many years.”

World Football Challenge attendance soars, exceeds expectations

A spokesman for World Football Challenge, broadcast on ESPN, said attendance exceeded expectations with a 71k sellout crowd in Baltimore for AC MIlan vs. Chelsea, 81k in Pasadena for Chelsea vs. Inter Milan, 51k in Atlanta for AC Milan vs. Club America, 32k in Palo Alto for Club America vs. Inter Milan, and 57,229 for Club America vs. Chelsea.

The passionate crowd of 42,531 fans of European and South/Central American football came early to drink, play, and tailgate before the Inter vs. AC Milan match, but fans, foreign and local media alike expressed outrage at the massive stage scaffolding for an upcoming concert looming at one end zone that prevented use of those seats and tainted the aesthetics of the field.

The demand for international matches like World Football Challenge and international friendlies with MLS clubs, such as Chelsea vs. Seattle Sounders and AC Milan vs. LA Galaxy (where angry fans harrassed Beckham), contrasts sharply with decreased attendance for MLS this season. In June, eight teams (LA, DCU, NE, CHI, NY, CO, NE, SJ, and FCD) experienced declining ticket sales in double digits. The US passion for the international game is moving MLS to adopt more international standards.

“It’s very important [for American fans] to see games of this caliber and level,” said Onyewu. “Not to say the MLS is not a good quality, but obviously games like AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Chelsea show that it’s a different level and it’s very important for American fans of soccer and even people who aren’t familiar with soccer to watch these games and better familiarize themselves with the sport.”

“Inter sweeps AC Milan for third place in World Football Challenge” was originally published at Soccerlens.com – Football News.

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Tags: AC Milan, Inter Milan, Match Reports

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Interview with Heather Mitts, USWNT, Olympic Gold Medalist, Boston Breakers Defender and ESPN’s “Sexiest Female Athlete”

May 17th, 2009

L.E. Eisenmenger

Heather Mitts is a left back starting for the Boston Breakers in the new WPS league. Mitts has earned 100 caps with the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT), a gold medal in the Beijing Olympics, and featured colorfully in several magazines.

From running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, to her views on collegiate soccer, a possible future in broadcast journalism, and being ESPN’s “Sexiest Female Athlete,” Mitts runs the gamut in an interview prior to her May 17th home match with the Washington Freedom at Harvard Stadium.

Read the Soccerlens interview with Heather Mitts, after the jump.

LE: You ran with bulls in Pamplona, Spain, in 1999. Can you walk me through that experience?

Mitts: Running with the bulls was one of my crazier judgments in life and one of those things I decided to do spur of the moment. It was pretty hilarious.

I was with my best friend from college and typically women don’t run with the bulls, the majority are men, local men, and so we decided we were going to do it. We hopped in the ring and it rained that morning so the cobblestones were pretty wet and we were saying, “We haven’t told our parents that we’re doing this because we knew they’d disapprove, and the cobblestones are kind of wet, so what happens if we slip and fall with these bulls running after us!”

So we were debating whether or not to do it, but before we could change our mind the bell rang and the next thing you know we were running through the streets of Pamplona. We made it into the coliseum way before the bulls did – you’re not supposed to, it’s against their culture, but we didn’t know that until we got in there and people started throwing food at us and booing.

So we ran out and the bulls caught up to us and we couldn’t believe how big these bulls were! Never would have imagined these animals being half the size. The minute we saw those things we took off back to the coliseum, we didn’t even care if we were going to get food thrown at us again because they were so big and coming full steam at us and it’s true, your life kind of flashes before your eyes. They were pretty close and it was pretty terrifying and we were looking at each other like, “What are we doing right now?” But we made it back into the coliseum and didn’t get hurt and we’re living to this day and it was one of the best experiences of my life. We can look back on it and laugh and say we’re glad we did it.

Nobody was seriously hurt that day. We heard later that a couple people had actually died so it was a little terrifying we even considered it but you can be kind of naïve and make stupid choices, but it all worked out.

LE: Are you going to do this again?

Mitts: No, I like to do things like that once in my life, I don’t think I’d do it again. I want to do things before I have children, because when I have children it’s not going to happen. I’ve done bungee jumping, I’ve done the running with the bulls, I guess sky diving is the last thing on my list.

LE: You earned your 100th cap in Algarve in March, the 25th American to do so. How important is your involvement with the national team?

Mitts: For me, it’s a dream come true. It’s the pinnacle of women’s soccer and to be able to play with the best in the world and compete for the World Cup and in the Olympics and play for your country is just a huge honor.

LE: Your May national team games in Texas and Utah were just cancelled by Japan after four Japanese students returned from Canada with the swine flu.

Mitts: Yeah, we just got the news, it’s unfortunate. Anytime you have any opportunity to be with the national team it’s an honor and a challenge, and it was something I was looking forward to.

LE: How do Pia Sundage [USWNT] and Tony Dicicco [Boston Breakers] differ as coaches?

Mitts: They have very different philosophies. Pia is Swedish and European and her philosophies are different than American philosophies. It’s fun being coached by both because they teach me different things which help elevate my game. I played for Pia in Philadelphia [Charge] and won a gold medal with her and she’s very inspirational. I’m loving being coached by Tony because he’s expecting a lot more from me because I’m a national team player and he’s trying to push me and elevate my game. When you’re 30 years old it’s hard to do that.

LE: And you are playing a strong game, you gave Kelly Smith her assist last week in Boston.

Mitts: But I’m playing on the left side now, so that’s a huge challenge for me. I’m a right-sided player and I’ve been playing on the right so long it’s a real challenge, but every game keeps getting better and better. Tony wants me to really get into the attack, get forward – on other teams you try to create opportunities off crosses, but I need to get in there and score some goals.

I played a little bit on the left when I was in college, kind of the same situation where we didn’t have a natural left-footed back. I find it frustrating, I’m not going to lie, but at the same time, I feel like every little thing is becoming more comfortable and I think it’s a test of my versatility, which in turn can help me with the national team.

When you’re putting together a roster, especially for the Olympics, you need players who can play as many positions as possible. Any place Pia wants to put me, or anyone wants to put me, well, put me there and hopefully I’ll go out and perform my best.

LE: Your Breakers teammates Amy LePeilbet, Amy Rodriguez, and Angela Hucles were also selected to play against Japan, and only the Red Stars had so many players called up. What does that say about the level of the Breakers?

Mitts: Our team is great and we have the right coach to help us reach our potential. All of our players are amazing and that’s the reason they’re getting called in.

LE: You won a gold medal and beat Brazil in the Beijing Olympics last summer. What do you personally take away from that?

Mitts: It was the best experience of my life. I had just come back from my ACL and I thought I’d be lucky to just make the squad and then to go out there and start and play? I look back and think about how the whole year went – we lost Abby [Wambach] the game before going over there and a lot of people doubted us. But it was a team effort – we all believed in one another and every person on that team contributed whether they played five or 90 minutes and we were so happy to get the results.

LE: You played in the original women’s league WUSA in 2001-2003 with the Philadelphia Charge and now you’re in WPS. What’s the biggest difference between these two leagues?

Mitts: My role was different. I was fresh out of college and I was the hungry college player looking to be on the national team and this time around we’re the experienced ones, the ones that are trying to help make other players better. I think the level of this league is really, really high, and I think the way things are going – the marketing, the branding, and drawing smaller, I think it’s a good and smart way to do it. If they continue to go the way they’re going, this league will be around for years and years to come which is really going to help the game of soccer in the United States.

The salaries, I believe, are $20,000-45,000 and I don’t know the salary cap, but that’s decided by the GM and the coach so every player is paid. We have four internationals per team.

LE: So what’s going to make the difference between these two leagues?

Mitts: Well, obviously we’re paid a lot less. That’s one of the things in order to make the league succeed we all had to agree upon – that we’d get paid less money in order to make something work in the future. The marketing plan is different and we don’t have a home base in NYC, it’s a better place, not quite as expensive. It’s a lot of the things we did the first year in the Philadelphia Charge – we actually spent our first preseason out in San Diego and we stayed in Doubletree for an entire month. Now we’re going to be staying in our market whether or not it’s cold outside. It’s something we have to deal with – sacrifice some of those costs we weren’t as smart with in the past league. All those things are going to make a huge difference to make sure this league succeeds, and we’re all on the same page and we’re willing to do it.

LE: The seven team rankings change rather dramatically on a weekly basis. How important are these rankings?

Mitts: The great thing about this league is the parity. When you have national team players split evenly throughout the league, the draft, the international players and whatnot – all the teams are very comparable as far as talent. In any given week, one team could beat another team and so every game is important and it’s going to come down to the very end to see who’s going to make it to the playoffs. It’s so competitive and so fun and exciting and stressful and all those things, but at the same time this is why we play soccer and it’s why we have a league.

LE: How important is winning the league this year and what is the prize?

Mitts: A trophy like every other league, but also the fact you’re making history in the first WPS season. We want to be a part of that. The playoff system is pretty interesting. If you end up the season in first place then you don’t have to play another game till the finals. It’s up to that second, third, and fourth place team to duke it out in the next couple games until they get to that final game.

LE: Harvard Stadium is the oldest stadium in the nation, it’s beautiful, and has seen so much history. When you play there, do you feel that you’re part of that history?

Mitts: Being a part of the new WPS league is history right there. Playing at Harvard and all that history, and on top of that if you win the first season, you’re making history as the first Championship team. There’s a lot at stake and we’re all aware of that, but excited enough that there’s a league after all these years and we all understand the importance of this league.

LE: The difference in the Breakers’ play between the April 11, Athletica match and the May 2, LA Sol match was remarkable. The technical, strategic side, the attacking mode, it was fantastic, steps up from the 2-0 home opener win with Athletica. How do you account for the difference in the level of the Sol game?

Mitts: It’s two-fold. It’s the fact that we’re more used to playing together and we’ve made some changes in the line-up. And another thing is, we were playing against one of the best teams in the league. When you look at LA and their attacking players – Marta and Han Duan and Miyama and Shannon Boxx and Aly Wagner all on the same team, it’s a pretty dynamic team, some of the best in the game, so obviously we elevated our game. We knew they were an attack-oriented team and we needed good defense and we have all those things. We have Kelly Smith and she’s one of the best players in the world. And also, we’re starting to play our game as well. We’re starting to play to our level and I think we’re one of the best teams in WPS and it’s starting to show.

LE: Referee Keri Seitz did a great job in that LA Sol match. It was physical, lots of slide tackles, but they were clean and winning the ball, and not one card required. Such a difference from the Washington Freedom/Athletica game that got so out of control and ended up with Daniela getting her leg broken by Abby Wambach. How do you deal with the inconsistency of referees?

Mitts: You have to realize you can only control so much of the game. You can’t really rely on the referee because you never know what they’re going to call. You never know if you’re going to have someone who’s an amazing referee or someone mediocre. So really you have to control what you can control, not the entire game, and try to play the best soccer possible and play clean and be smart and professional. If a game gets a little out of control, they have game reports at the end of each game and the referee gets graded on their performance, so hopefully that will play out through the season as well.

LE: How is Fabiana, the new Brazilian striker working into the team, do you expect her to take the field this Sunday?

Mitts: No, no, no, she’s just coming back from an ACL injury, it’s going to take her a little while to get back out there on the field. But that gives her a little time to get used to us, learn a little of the language and we’ll learn a couple key words to help her out as well. We’re just trying to make the transition for her as comfortable as it can be, it has to be a little nerve wracking coming to a new country when you barely speak the language and on top of that she’s extremely young and coming back from injury. She came with a translator and they’re going to be together at all times. We’ve already given her a nickname – Fabs –and she seems to get a little chuckle out of that.

LE: Some of your games are neither broadcasted nor online. What steps is WPS taking to make more of the games viewable nationally?

Mitts: The Fox Soccer deal was a huge accomplishment because the true soccer fans are going to have it, so that’s a positive step in the right direction Obviously we’d like to be viewed a little more but maybe the first year we have to see how things go and maybe the next year they decide to invest more.

LE: Would you want to play in a doubleheader with the New England Revolution?

Mitts: I think it’s a great idea. When you have two professional teams in the same town, why not have something where you can come and see both teams play. When I played in the WUSA we did exhibition doubleheaders with MLS teams and the turnout was great. Soccer fans go there to support one team and then they see another team they’ve never seen before and they might end up being fans of both teams. It’s fun for the players too.

LE: What are the pros and cons of playing a doubleheader in both of those venues, Harvard Stadium and Gillette?

Mitts: The pro is that soccer fans get to watch two successful area teams play. They’re both great locations. I love playing at Harvard because it’s our home field and we have an advantage there, but at the same time it’s fun for us to go and play in new stadiums, it’s exciting. Really, I can’t think of any cons to tell the truth, maybe the traffic at Gillette.

LE: Do you think the college soccer program needs to be improved?

Mitts: From my experience in college, we had a very intense fall season and in the spring it was still taken seriously but much less games. Spring was a time for more individual training and sometimes that’s what makes you a better player. The games get you game ready but if you work on your individual skills hours upon hours each week, that’s going to help improve your game as well. Personally, I couldn’t ask for anything more, it was a really good balance, I loved playing and never got burned out.

A lot of the time I think the big issue with academies is players get burned out, they’re asking too much of you. You look at all the players on the national team and we’ve all been through the college experience and seem to be doing just fine. Everybody needs time to give their body a rest, not just physically but mentally as well, and the way it’s set up now allows for that.

LE: You were voted ESPN’s “Sexiest Female Athlete,” appeared in a five-page spread of FHM, and posed for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Why did you pose?

Mitts: My pictures are more sporty, not your typical FHM photos. Women’s soccer is not heavily publicized, so when you have an opportunity to be in such a big magazine that publicity can be good. It definitely helped as far as awareness about the new league and women’s soccer.

LE: There’s a Philadelphia WPS franchise starting in 2010, where your fiancée lives. Are you considering a move?

Mitts: My fiancée A.J. Feeley plays for the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadephia will have a team. I love playing in Boston, I love my team, I love my coach, and I’m very happy here, so we’ll cross that bridge when it happens.

LE: You’ve done some sideline journalism and live commentary for American football. Do you see yourself in broadcast journalism when your playing career is over?

Mitts: I’d love for that to happen. I’m taking my soccer career day by day and hopefully I’ll be able to transition to a broadcasting role. I was going back to college to get my Master’s in sports broadcasting, but the league came about at the same time, so why not play as long as I can, I love it so much.

Also See: Boston Breakers bio / Official Website

Photo Credit: Tony Biscaia / BreakersNet.

If you liked this interview, you might also want to check out our interview with Hope Solo.

“Interview with Heather Mitts, USWNT, Olympic Gold Medalist, Boston Breakers Defender and ESPN’s “Sexiest Female Athlete”” was originally published at Soccerlens.com – Football News.