Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 28, 1994 TAG: 9406300054
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
DANA POINT, Calif. - U.S. soccer players were angry Monday: with each other, with their coach and with their officials.
Most of the criticism was directed at the U.S. Soccer Federation, which failed to tell players two yellow cards in first-round games would result in a one-game suspension. John Harkes will miss the Americans' second-round game because he received his second yellow card in Sunday's 1-0 loss to Romania at the Rose Bowl.
``It's embarrassing, actually, to tell you the truth,'' said Alexi Lalas, a U.S. defender. ``It's the rules of the game. It doesn't matter what your experience is or how many World Cups you've played in, at the very least you should know the rules of the tournament you're in - and we didn't.''
The United States likely won't clinch a spot in the second round until today at the earliest. Only a bizarre series of results would prevent the Americans from advancing for the first time since 1930.
Germany's 3-2 victory over South Korea on Monday ensured that if the Americans do advance, they'll play July 4 at Stanford Stadium against Brazil or Sweden.
``We proved that anything can happen in the World Cup,'' Lalas said, ``and now we don't want `anything' to happen.''
Most of the team's discussion Monday centered on the yellow card controversy. Hank Steinbrecher, the USSF's executive director, and Bill Nuttall, the team's general manager, misunderstood the rule, and players said the rules hadn't been explained to them.
Nuttall took the blame Monday. The USSF's appeal of the yellow card, given to Harkes by referee Mario Van der Ende of the Netherlands for not being 10 yards back from the ball on a free kick, was made after the deadline of one hour after the game and was denied by FIFA, the sport's governing body.
``The film clearly shows that Harkes and [Mike] Sorber hadn't moved from the spot the referee designated,'' Nuttall said.
Harkes said no one on the U.S. staff had warned him a second yellow card would result in a suspension.
``It should have been explained to the players and nothing was made clear to the players,'' he said.
Eric Wynalda was the only American player Monday who said the yellow card rules had been made clear.
``He's the only one on the team, I think, who knows the rules,'' Harkes said sarcastically.
With Harkes out, one possible replacement for a U.S. second-round game is Claudio Reyna, like Harkes a former Virginia midfielder. Reyna, thought to be out for the tournament with a pulled hamstring, said he might be ready to play by July 4.
Another U.S. midfielder, Tab Ramos, was unhappy Monday. In the past, Ramos has been a playmaker in the center of the field, but Bora Milutinovic, the U.S. coach, has been using him on the right wing.
``Maybe that's why I got taken out,'' said Ramos, who was replaced by Cobi Jones midway through the second half. ``I remember Bora yelling at me to stay wide. ... It's very difficult if you're on the sideline waiting for the ball to be creative.''
Harkes and Marcelo Balboa said nothing should be made of their yelling at each other after the yellow card. Both agreed Balboa was trying to keep Harkes from getting a red card, which would bring an automatic suspension of two games.
Wynalda questioned the referee's impartiality, saying the referee was shaking hands with Romania's players and patting them on the back.
``I don't know if they had any plans after the game, but it sure looked like it,'' Wynalda said.
Meanwhile, the players waited for the rest of the first round to play itself out. Most didn't concentrate on working out the math.
``If you do that, I think you go crazy,'' said forward Ernie Stewart.
by CNB