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Lalas, Wynalda to lead USA legends vs. Mexico

LalasHermosilloVintage (ISIPhotos.com)

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

BY ADAM SERRANO

Fans of the United States and Mexico were unable to see the two arch-rivals face off this year during Olympic Qualifying, but thanks to a blast from the past, they'll get their fix. 

The Legends Classic, a match featuring several of the greatest players to play for the US and Mexico is scheduled to take place at the Home Depot Center on April 15th at 9pm EDT. According to former Chivas USA captain Mariano Trujillo, who is scheduled to play for Mexico, the lineups are predominantly made up of players from the 1990s and the early 2000s. 

Currently confirmed for the US squad are World Cup veterans Alexi Lalas, Eric Wynalda,  Marcelo Balboa, Clint Mathis, Paul Caligiuri, Thomas Dooley and Cobi Jones. Also expected to participate are John O'Brien, who appeared in two World Cups for the US; Cle Kooiman, a defender on the US' 1994 squad as well as former MLS stars Roy Lassiter, Ted Eck, Jovan Kirovski and Christopher Sullivan.

The Mexican roster is led by former Chivas USA standouts Francisco "Paco" Palencia, Ramon Ramirez and Claudio Suarez as well as former MLS stars forward Luis Hernandez and goalkeeper Jorge Campos. Also included are Alberto Garcia Aspe, a veteran of three World Cups and Club America great Zague.

There have also been a number of reports that could see the roster include proflic forwards Brian McBride and Jared Borgetti according to ESPNLA and Hoy Los Angeles, respectively. 

Comments

  1. That was one of the dirtiest, cowardly and most uncalled for things I’ve ever seen in a match, and along with how Mexico, especially back then, would never show the slightest bit of professional respect to the US team, is why I have no respect for their national team.

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  2. Uh, he’s supposed to keep talking and talking, he’s a studio analyst. It would be rather odd if they went to him and he just sat there quietly, reading something or looking at the camera not saying anything. I can understand when people say announcers talk to much, especially when they seem to ignore the game, but studio people?

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  3.  Cle Kooiman – really?!?! I thought that they wanted to have legends play, not legendary hacks. I could have done without ever hearing his name again.

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  4. Yes! I have fantasy-world 20/20 hindsight rosters going all the way back to 1990. For the 98 version, switching the two Roys is a must! Actually, I really do think he would have been useful in that Iran game: all sorts of garbage balls in the box plus his speed could have stretched their packed defense. It was totally his game.

    (I also switch 80% fit Ramos with Kirovski, 80% fit Wynalda with Wagner, and 100% useless Lalas with 18-year old O’Brien. Result: win against Iran and a plucky but doomed draw with Yugoslavia followed by goal difference elimination. Christ, my fantasy-world 20/20 hindsight US teams are good….)

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