NOTES

Leonardo Cuellar, the Cal State Los Angeles coach who for the past six months has doubled as Mexico’s women’s national team coach, says he would favor retaining the team’s cross-border identity.

Mexico strengthened its roster for the Women’s World Cup by including more than a half-dozen Mexican-American players from U.S. college teams. The move brought some criticism in Mexico.

“I think we have to welcome the best talent available,” Cuellar said. “If those Mexicans are in the United States or maybe in Europe or South America, if they have the talent and they have the commitment, as long as I’m in charge of the program I will welcome them.

“I think it’s very important that we develop more players in Mexico to create more competition for the spots. But I don’t have any problem accepting any Mexican-Americans who live in the United States.”

*

What did U.S. Coach Tony DiCicco tell his team at halftime of its game against North Korea, with the score 0-0 and the crowd becoming restless?

“We better score some goals,” he said. “There’s been no 0-0 ties so far in the Women’s World Cup and we didn’t want to be involved in one.”