This Is Much Worse Than Trash Talking

Probably the most disappointing moment for Alexi Lalas on Sunday evening was not when he made a mistake in midfield and allowed Salvador Carmona to steal the ball.

Nor was it the moment seconds later when he failed to spot Luis Hernandez sprinting past him to head in Mexico’s championship-winning goal.

No, the worst moment came after the final whistle.

Lalas and his teammates, already dejected at being beaten by a team that is certainly no better than the United States, were walking off the Coliseum field and into the tunnel.

The crowd of 91,255 had been overwhelmingly pro-Mexico for the 90 minutes, but as the players walked to the locker rooms, some fans turned ugly.

The Americans were whistled and jeered and bombarded with debris of all sorts while security officials simply stood and watched.

This is what it’s like playing soccer in Los Angeles when you’re not wearing the tricolor of Mexico.

“You don’t get used to it,” Lalas said. “It [stinks] every time. I’m all for roots and understanding where you come from and having a respect for your homeland, but tomorrow morning all of those people are going to get up and work in the United Stares and live in the United States and have all the benefits of living in the United States.

“I would never be caught dead cheering for any other team than the United States because I know what it’s given me.”

With his long red hair, Uncle Sam goatee and his music, Lalas has been the most interesting personality on the U.S. team ever since the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and certainly since World Cup ’94.

Perhaps his play has not always matched his fame, but his effort has always been honest, just like his comments.

“I think the team did a very good job as a team and individually putting the win against Brazil behind us and focusing on this game,” he said.

“It’s disappointing, but we have to build on it. We’re still going to France.”

The Americans have been together for more than six weeks and the wear and tear is beginning to show.

Victories over Sweden, Cuba, Costa Rica and Brazil do not make up for all those days and nights away from home.

Asked what his main memory of the Gold Cup will be, Lalas said: “Probably the fact that we’ve been on the road since Jan. 5 and I’ve seen every movie on SpectraVision there is to see. So that’s about the only memory I’m going to have.”

It doesn’t get any easier for the U.S., which plays the Netherlands in Miami on Saturday before flying to Brussels to play Belgium on Feb. 28.

The U.S. badly wanted to win Sunday night’s game. The rivalry between the countries is much more keen now that the Americans are almost as powerful in the game that their neighbors to the south call their own.

And Mexico could have been defeated, Lalas said. Coach Manuel Lapuente’s team is not as strong as the one Bora Milutinovic put together that qualified for the World Cup.

“I think the qualifying team was much stronger,” Lalas said. “They had more character and more personality and they were more dangerous. Not necessarily against us, but in terms of how they played. I think tactically they also played much better.”

Still, regardless of the Gold Cup outcome, Lalas and his teammates still have Tuesday’s victory to their name. But enjoying that will take a while.

“Most of us will wait a few years and look back on the Brazil game and be happy and proud of it,” Lalas said, “but all of our focus this week was toward winning the Gold Cup.”