Steven Goff, of The Washington Post, said that MLS can be blamed, in part, for the U.S.' poor performance because league players were not prepared to play at such a high level. He said a big positive for MLS was the play of Tampa Bay Mutiny midfielder Frankie Hejduk. Michael Lewis, of the Daily News, also cited Hejduk as an example of how MLS can help the U.S. National team. Paul Oberjuerge, of Gannett News Service, said that U.S. play in the World Cup highlighted the need for developing American playmakers and scorers. But, he said, getting MLS coaches to develop such skills, while trying to win, won't be easy.
MLS teams are out to win.
I don't think most coaches on a daily basis are worried about developing players for the 2002 World Cup. The Colorado Rapids and the Chicago Fire are set to face Mexican First Division squads Leon and UNAM Pumas on Wednesday, July 15. D.C. Colorado won the first leg, 1-0, when Marcelo Balboa tallied the game's only goal in the 81st minute, just nine minutes after entering the game and just one day after returning from World Cup France '98. Should Leon win 1-0, the teams will play extra time to break the deadlock and determine who advances. Pumas was the first and is the latest Mexican First Division team for whom the flamboyant Jorge Campos splits time at goalkeeper and forward.