USA vs. Argentina: Q&A with Former U.S. National Team Goalkeeper Tony Meola

Bleacher Report’s Jo-Ryan Salazar talked with Tony Meola ahead of the USA’s international friendly with Argentina on March 26. Q: Give us your take on the state of soccer in the USA. How has it improved since you hung up your cleats?A: Well, it’s only a couple of years ago, but over the course of a 20-year career, it has grown in leaps and bounds. And I can say the biggest improvement was on the player pool side, the number of players on our national team our coaches were able to choose from. And that was never…that wasn’t always the case. [Current U.S. Men’s National Team Head Coach] Bob Bradley has the nice luxury [of being able] to choose from…I gotta think it has to be 70 or 80 players for the team, where other [former] national team coaches like [current Los Angeles Galaxy manager] Bruce Arena had a list of guys prior to Major League Soccer and players having a home where they can build on, and mold, their skills on a daily basis. The other coaches didn’t have that chance, and certainly, the players relished that opportunity to give them a platform [to showcase their] wares every week. Some ...

U.S. Soccer: One on One Conversation with Tony Meola

With the United States Men's National Team squaring off against the Argentina National Team in a friendly match tomorrow night at 7pm ET at the New Meadowlands Stadium, fans are looking forward to this epic encounter.Also looking forward to this matchup is none other than former United States Men's National Team Goalkeeper of the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, Tony Meola.In addition to representing the United States, Tony was also one of the founding players for the New York Metrostars when Major League Soccer started in 1996. From 1996-2006, Tony played for the New York Metrostars and the Kanas City Wizards (now Sporting KC), where he won the 2000 MLS Cup & Cup MVP, before finishing off his MLS career with the New York Red Bulls (formerly the New York Metrostars).This reporter had the privilege and honor of talking with United States Goalkeeping legend Tony Meola, who took a moment out his busy schedule for a brief phone interview. Question: Where are you watching the United States-Argentina match tomorrow?Tony: Well I'm here with representing Allstate and I'll be watching it from the box with my friends. It's about 70 yards away from where I want to be (laughing). Prior to the ...

Major League Soccer and United States International Soccer: Culturally Inept

Self-inflicted is a term that usually indicates something gone wrong. That is certainly the case for Major League Soccer this weekend. Why would they schedule a full slew of games while the national team has two games on home soil? The lack of attention to these fixtures is even more disgraceful as there will be two, count them two, MLS kickoffs that will take place while the U.S. is actually playing Argentina on Saturday night. Would it not make sense to use the spectacle of a U.S. vs. Argentina clash to focus the soccer population in their markets? Or has business gone so well that now the MLS can push forward with their fixtures regardless of what else is going on out there? This is just a quintessential example of why the American soccer culture is still lagging. Last time I checked, every top flight league in Europe takes a break when internationals take place.There is a respect for the national team and what it represents; a showcase event to pit each nation’s best in an event meant to instill pride in one’s country and their system of soccer. Or at the very least, a chance to slay a giant and ...

New York Cosmos: Borough Boys SC Host Successful Q&A With the Front Office

"I'm not talking to myself. When you talk to yourself, you are alone. No one hears you. You happen to be with me. You hear me. Therefore, I am not talking to myself." - Capt. "Howling Mad" Murdock In an event hosted by the Borough Boys SC at Legends Bar NYC, press, fans, and Borough Boys members were treated to a Q&A session with the New York Cosmos front office. Borough Boys president Nick Laveglia introduced to the audience Joe Fraga and Dan Cherry III, who along with Cosmos Academy East Director Giovanni Savarese, who were ready to answer any questions about the New York Cosmos. While everything from the stadium plans, the Cosmos Academies, their deal with Umbro, the "Beckham" rumor, the Cosmos Copa, and potential sites were all addressed, last night was more about questions and answers. Last night was about both sides declaring to each other, "We love the Cosmos and we want them back!" As corny and cheesy this may sound, that's what it was all about. Now I understand some of you want a more professional assessment, so in layman business talk, "Last night, a synergy was developed amongst the New York Cosmos front office and the ...

NFL Already Losing Ground During Labor Dispute: Chad Ochocinco Joins MLS

In retrospect, it likely was destiny. The NFL labor dispute is now having an impact on another sport. As players are not currently limited to contractual terms, and free agents can't sign new contracts in the NFL, a high-profile player is flirting with another sport. Maybe it was also inevitable that person would be one of the flamboyant receivers from Cincinnati. As much as we might have expected it to be Terrell Owens, the player formerly known as Chad Johnson and temporarily as Chad Ochocinco is trying his hand…well, legs…at Major League Soccer. Kansas City of the MLS has given Ochocinco a four-day tryout to determine if he might have a role with their squad. The first day of his workout was hardly perfect, as he was panting and looked exhausted following Day 1. It is possible that his conditioning has waned over the last two months, but it is more likely that there is a bit more running in soccer than the manner in which Ochocinco plays football. "Exactly what I expected," Ochocinco said. "I would be a little winded being that I haven't ran at this pace or this level since the end of our season of football. It ...

Seattle Sounders: Top 5 Reasons They Can Win It All

The Sounders are off to a slow start. True enough. But we are in year three of the franchise, and can anyone argue with the success of the previous two years? Despite an incredibly slow start last year, the Sounders still made the playoffs, admittedly exiting early.The team brought home its second Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and this time in front of a home crowd. But we are hungry for more. The fans want the boys to bring home the big prize—the MLS championship. Here are five reasons why this year it'll be possible.Begin Slideshow

Los Angeles Galaxy Ins and Outs, March 23, 2011

Landon Donovan out for an Argy bargyReal Salt Lake may be counting their blessings—they get a handicap.Los Angeles Galaxy team captain Landon Donovan will be unavailable for Bruce Arena's club as they take on Argentina in an international friendly on March 26.Donovan was one of 24 names on Bradley's roster released Wednesday for friendlies March 26 against Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J. and March 29 against Paraguay in Nashville. According to ESPN's Scott French, seven local players are on the US roster for the friendlies with Argentina and Paraguay, including Carlos Bocanegra (Alta Loma/Alta Loma HS and UCLA) and Jonathan Bornstein (Los Alamitos/Los Alamitos HS and Cal Poly Pomona/UCLA), and midfielders Michael Bradley (Manhattan Beach), Maurice Edu (Fontana/Etiwanda HS), Benny Feilhaber (Irvine/Northwood HS) and Sacha Kljestan (Huntington Beach/Huntington Beach HS).Also on the roster is former Galaxy striker Edson Buddle, now with Germany's FC Ingolstadt.Here is your list of players on the USA men's national team.GOALKEEPERSMarcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton/England)Tim Howard (Everton/England)David Yelldell (MSV Duisburg/Germany)DEFENDERSCarlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne/France)Jonathan Bornstein (UANL Tigres/Mexico)Timothy Chandler (FC Nuremberg/Germany)Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96/Germany)Jay DeMerit (Vancouver Whitecaps)Oguchi Onyewu (FC Twente/Netherlands)Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls)Jonathan Spector (West Ham United/England)Zak Whitbread (Norwich City/England)MIDFIELDERSMichael Bradley (Aston Villa/England)Clint Dempsey (Fulham/England)Mikkel Diskeruud (Stabaek/Norway)Landon Donovan (L.A. ...

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake: Showdown at Rio Tinto

Bruce Arena's footballing troopers known as the Los Angeles Galaxy prepare themselves for a suicide mission when they travel to Sandy, Utah and Rio Tinto Stadium to take on Jason Kreis' Real Salt Lake on Saturday, March 26.Like the Galaxy, Real Salt Lake scrapped it out in the rain to open their season with a 1-0 victory thanks to the leg of Kyle Beckerman.While the elements will not be as severe on Saturday, the importance of the Galaxy finishing their chances on goal will be stressed this week.“On the night, our team played very well,” Arena told LAGalaxy.com. “Obviously conceding a goal in the opening minutes put our backs to the wall and I think our team responded well. We got a goal back and probably had another goal, although the referee doesn’t agree with that. We could have scored a bunch of goals.”One goal in particular that did not go in coincidentally came from the same culprit who equalized for LA: Juninho, who currently has two goals in as many games.“The one that [New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt] Reis dropped, that’s not a foul,” said Landon Donovan to LAGalaxy.com. “I don’t think anybody in here could claim that was ...

MLS Week 1 Review: Charlie Davies’ Spectacular Comeback Highlights Eventful Week

Major League Soccer kicked off it's 16th season in Seattle Tuesday night and it's opening weekend delivered a plethora of action, goals and story lines. No story line however, came as big or as heartwarming as the one from RFK Stadium in the Nations Capital.     Charlie Davies' Dream Comeback for DC United Seventeen months ago, as Charlie Davies lay in a hospital bed following an awful car crash in Northern Virginia, speculation was not when Davies may make his soccer comeback, but whether he would be able to recover from the horrific injuries at all. During the long road to recovery, Davies joined DC United on a season-long loan from his club Sochaux. He began his debut for his new team on the bench of their season opener against Columbus Crew. It was the first competitive game Davies had been part of since that fateful day in October 2009, and it could not have gone much better. DC were already enjoying a good start to the game when fellow newcomer Josh Wolff opened the scoring. Chris Pontius was felled in the box in the second half, resulting in a DC penalty. The ball was placed on the spot by Charlie Davies, who had only been on the ...

One World Futbol: Inspiring Hope with an Ultra-Durable Soccer Ball

"If this can be termed the century of the common man, then soccer, of all sports, is surely his game.... In a world haunted by the hydrogen and napalm bomb, the football field is a place where sanity and hope are still left unmolested."  - Stanley Rous, 1952 The soccer ball is without a doubt, the most important thing in soccer. The players, the fans, the uniforms and the teams they would be useless without the soccer ball. Sure, the player may hit to score, but without the soccer ball what would become of the player? But while the ball being almighty and powerful, it is vulnerable. A soccer ball can destroyed by barbwire punctures, wear and tear, or simply the quality behind it's design. A quality ball is expensive enough that you're not likely going to play with it in a rough terrain. Is there a cost effective, ultra-durable soccer ball? Yes. It's called the One World Futbol. Invented by Tim Jahnigen and financed by music icon Sting, this inexpensive and ultra-durable soccer ball has already been distributed worldwide to refugee camps, UN hot spots, conflict zones and poor villages throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Since July 8, 2010, ...