Tag: Alexi Lalas

Lloyd: USWNT has embraced Albert after anti-LGBTQ+ controversy

Alexi Lalas said Albert’s Olympic performance said “a lot about her mentality, as a person and as a player”

Carli Lloyd believes that the U.S. women’s national team has embraced Korbin Albert after the controversial midfielder was a vital part of the team’s Olympic gold medal victory.

Albert has been under fire for months after fans discovered homophobic and transphobic social media posts on TikTok, with the 20-year-old called out by USWNT players past and present.

Amid the controversy, the midfielder continued to be an important midfield cog for the USWNT, with head coach Emma Hayes offering her backing after naming Albert to the Olympic roster.

Albert repaid Hayes’ faith at the tournament in France, playing in five of the team’s six games and starting two of its three knockout-round matches — including Saturday’s gold medal game.

Playing at her club Paris Saint-Germain’s home stadium Parc des Princes, Albert delivered the game-winning assist to Mallory Swanson as the USWNT defeated Brazil 1-0 to take home its first gold medal since 2012.

In an appearance on the State of the Union podcast with Alexi Lalas, USWNT legend Lloyd said that from the outside, it appeared that the team had moved on from the controversy.

“She was one of the best players on the field that day (against Brazil) and she played a huge role,” Lloyd said of Albert.

“The midfield looked a little bit more cohesive, and then she played that perfectly weighted pass on for Mallory Swanson to score.

“Ultimately, you silence haters by doing something well on the field and performing. I can’t comment on what’s been going on within the team, but it certainly looks like the team has embraced her.

“When she scored her goal (against Australia), everybody was hugging her and seemed really excited. So hopefully everybody can just move on. And I would imagine that the group has talked about the issue and talked about what happened, and I’m sure they’re wanting to move past it as well.”

Lalas added: “Let’s hope so. Ultimately, she did the job on the field, and she did the job on the field even with all the other stuff that was going on, and the crap that she has been getting off the field. And so it says a lot about her mentality, as a person and as a player.”

In addition to her assist against Brazil, Albert also scored her first USWNT goal in a 2-1 win over Australia to close out the group stage.

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Lalas: Copa America final chaos shows U.S. is a soccer nation

This is one way to find a silver lining

Amid the chaotic and disturbing scenes at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday night, Fox analyst Alexi Lalas attempted to find a silver lining.

Fans breached the gates ahead of the Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia, overwhelming security and causing officials to close off access to the stadium.

With thousands of fans stuck outside the stadium in hot and humid conditions, the match was delayed and eventually kicked off 82 minutes late. Argentina would win 1-0 in extra time, clinching its second straight Copa title.

The unruly scenes set off a scramble to assign blame, with Hard Rock Stadium saying that “thousands of fans without tickets attempted to forcibly enter the stadium, putting other fans, security and law enforcement offers at extreme risk.”

But others pointed out that tournament organizers CONMEBOL had to shoulder much of the blame for allowing so many ticketless fans to walk right up to the stadium, rather than implement multiple checkpoints as is common at major matches worldwide.

On Fox’s broadcast of the match, Lalas said both CONMEBOL and the host nation would have to take on some of the blame, but also strangely suggested that the unruly fans who put themselves and others in danger was sort of … good? Or it at least ended any misconception that the U.S. doesn’t care about soccer.

“I understand this is not a good look for CONMEBOL. This is also because it is happening on our watch, in our country, not a good look for the U.S. less than two years out of the World Cup,” the former U.S. men’s national team defender said.

“I have no doubt that FIFA and the United States and Canada and Mexico will sort this out and make sure that this doesn’t happen going forward. But I think it also shows that, don’t let anybody tell you that America is not a soccer nation. Don’t let anybody tell you that the United States does not have an incredible history and doesn’t have fans out there.

“There are millions of soccer fans and they are going to either come from other places here and join the millions that exist or like I said, the ones that are already here.

“I think this shows that there are many home teams when it comes to the U.S. but there is a fervor and there is a passion for this game and for these tournaments that is going to be on display for the next two years, and is going to culminate in what I think is going to be the most important and biggest summer of soccer when it comes to the summer of 2026.”

If anybody ever tells you the U.S isn’t really a soccer nation, just ask them: Would a country that doesn’t care about the sport have fans crawling into a stadium through the air vents?

Checkmate.

Watch Lalas on Copa America final chaos

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Klopp for USMNT? Lalas, Howard urge U.S. Soccer to approach ex-Liverpool boss

It might seem like a longshot, but the players-turned-pundits both want Klopp to be the next USMNT coach

Jürgen Klopp may be the ultimate pipe dream for U.S. men’s national team fans, but don’t tell ex-USMNT stars Tim Howard and Alexi Lalas.

With U.S. Soccer facing increasing pressure to dismiss coach Gregg Berhalter after the team’s embarrassing early exit from the 2024 Copa América, both Howard and Lalas went public in urging the federation to pursue Klopp.

The former Liverpool manager, who won six major trophies during an outstanding nine-year run at Anfield, has made no public pronouncements about interest in the USMNT job (or any other national team post).

That hasn’t stopped fans and pundits in the U.S. for citing him as the top target for U.S. Soccer.

“If you’re not going to go big, it flies in the face of what America is — we want big, we want bold, and dare I say we want arrogant in the things that we do, in particular in terms of maximizing the summer of 2026,” Lalas told the New York Post in an interview.

“Someone like Jürgen Klopp is out there. I know people scoff at the idea of someone with his pedigree and background would ever consider doing this. But until you have the conversation, you don’t know.”

Howard pledges in-person pitch to Klopp

Where Lalas was simply interested in U.S. Soccer touching base with Klopp, Howard went much further.

“If I was in charge of U.S. Soccer right now, I’d be on my way to the airport. Why? Because I believe I could make a very compelling argument to Jürgen Klopp,” wrote Howard in an opinion column in the Daily Mail.

“After the disappointment of Copa América, after the United States lost to Uruguay and exited at the group stages, I will personally fly to Spain. I mean it.

“I know Klopp has only been retired a few weeks and I know he wants a break. But if we sat around his villa in Spain, I think I could lure him over here. 100 percent.

“The money is certainly there. So my pitch would be simple: he has a young group of players who can play progressive, front-foot soccer, exactly like his Liverpool teams. And in two years’ time he can go to the biggest World Cup in history.”

Howard’s insistence that the money will be there might be a stretch. Klopp reportedly made $19.1 million per season at the end of his Liverpool contract.

By comparison, World Cup bonuses took Berhalter’s contract for 2022 up to $2.3 million.

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Lalas: If USMNT doesn’t advance, Berhalter will be fired — and rightfully so

The USMNT coach is under huge pressure after a damaging loss to Panama

Alexi Lalas believes that Gregg Berhalter will be coaching for his job on Monday night.

The U.S. men’s national team fell to a shock 2-1 defeat against Panama on Thursday night, leaving the team on the brink of an unthinkable group-stage exit at the Copa América.

Berhalter’s side will enter Monday’s Group C finale against Uruguay likely needing to win to reach the quarterfinal. That won’t be easy: La Celeste is ranked fifth in the world per the Elo Ratings and has won its past three games by a combined score of 12-1.

Though it’s only been a year since he was re-hired by U.S. Soccer, Berhalter is under intense pressure after some subpar displays by his side in 2023 and 2024.

For ex-USMNT defender Lalas, Monday’s game in Kansas City is now make-or-break for the embattled boss. But he didn’t necessarily view that as a negative, given the match also provides the coach with an opportunity to achieve a long-awaited signature win.

“I mean, this one hurts, obviously” Lalas said on FOX following Thursday night’s defeat.

“But there’s a strange part of me that said, ‘You know what? All chips in, all right?’ We talked so much about this tournament being an assessment of this team, an assessment of head coach Gregg Berhalter relative to getting out of the group and playing against the likes of Colombia and Brazil. But you know what? That challenge and that assessment — that ultimate assessment — is now going to happen in the third game against Uruguay.

“They better be up for it. Because if they do not go through, Gregg Berhalter is going to lose his job, and rightfully and fairly so. But this is a situation that this team, including Gregg Berhalter, have created for themselves. Now, find a way to get out of it.”

Should the USMNT beat Uruguay, it would be Berhalter’s first win against a top-25 team in the Elo Rankings outside of Concacaf.

Watch Lalas’ take on Berhalter

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Daniel Sturridge is going through it sitting next to Alexi Lalas

Welcome to American television!

Daniel Sturridge is getting quite the introduction to the world of American punditry.

The ex-England international is making his debut with Fox Sports this summer, serving as a studio analyst for the network’s coverage of Euro 2024.

Also serving as a studio analyst is notorious pot-stirrer Alexi Lalas, who continues to grace the airwaves with his unabashed style of punditry.

Lalas provided another example of his freeform commentary during a segment on Thursday, taking aim at England in a rant featuring a Justin Timberlake reference, a pointed mention of the very British term “whinging” and, of course, lots of yelling.

Sitting next to the ex-U.S. international, Sturridge could hardly contain himself, burying his head in his hand at one point while offering plenty of side-eyes to his colleague.

At the end of his diatribe, Lalas turned to Sturridge and demanded to know where he would play Phil Foden if he were in charge of England.

“Don’t put this on me Alexi,” was all could Sturridge could muster before breaking out in exasperated laughter.

Welcome to American television, Studge!

Watch Lalas go on England rant

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Lalas slams ‘shameful and embarrassing’ USMNT display vs. Colombia

The former USMNT defender didn’t hold back

Alexi Lalas has hit out at the U.S. men’s national team for a “shameful and embarrassing” performance against Colombia on Saturday.

The USMNT suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat in a Copa América warm-up, as Los Cafeteros scored three late goals to turn a one-goal lead into a blowout at Commanders Field in Landover, Maryland.

On his “State of the Union” podcast, Lalas held nothing back when reviewing a match that has ramped up the pressure on the team and coach Gregg Berhalter.

“This was a shameful and embarrassing, and to be quite honest, an unacceptable performance,” the former USMNT defender said.

“We were all looking for a reason to believe in this team. For some, a reason to believe in this team again. For some, a reason to believe in the team for the first time. Against elite competition with [World Cup] ’26 in the background, and not only did they not give us that, but the way in which they performed — and I use that term very loosely — I think gives a lot of people pause, and I think brings up a lot of questions.”

Though this group of U.S. players contains many who ply their trade at some of Europe’s biggest clubs, Lalas said there was no evidence of that kind of experience during the game against Colombia.

“There was no authority on the field and when I say authority, I mean authority that comes from a maturity that you expect from some of these players given their pedigree. And there was certainly no confidence/swagger.”

After the game against Colombia, the USMNT now has arguably an even bigger challenge. Berhalter’s side will face Brazil in Orlando on Wednesday in its final tune-up friendly before the Copa América kicks off.

Watch Lalas slam USMNT display vs. Colombia

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Pulisic may yet be dropped by new AC Milan coach, Lalas says

All bets could be off if a new coach doesn’t rate Pulisic, the ex-USMNT defender says

Christian Pulisic’s outstanding season at AC Milan may not count for much if a new head coach doesn’t rate him, according to Alexi Lalas.

Pulisic has set a career high in goals with 13 during his first season with AC Milan following a transfer from Chelsea last summer.

But the coach who brought him to Milan and offered a regular starting role, Stefano Pioli, appears to be heading for the exit at the end of the season, per multiple reports.

Pulisic has credited Pioli on multiple occasions with offering him the platform he needed to reignite his career. But it appears the U.S. national team star will now have to prove himself all over again leading into the 2024-25 campaign.

Speaking on his State of the Union Podcast, Lalas said that coaching changes won’t be anything new for Pulisic, but losing Pioli certainly won’t be a positive development for the 25-year-old.

“He’s been around long enough, he’s a grizzled veteran, even at a relatively young age in his career, and he’s seen how quickly things can change,” the former USMNT defender said.

“I got a question on X this morning about, ‘Has he done enough?’ Yeah, he’s done more than enough to prove his worth, to prove his value to Milan. Matter of fact, I think you could argue he’s been their best player.

“It doesn’t matter because when there is a changing of the guard, there’s often a change of mentality and you have people that come in with their preconceived notions and their baggage and their direction that they want to go.

“Who knows? Christian Pulisic might be in a place that thousands of players have been, where they are just not part of the plans going forward. The good part for Christian Pulisic is I think there will be a lot of suitors out there.”

Pulisic and Milan will face Juventus in Serie A on Saturday in a game that could feature four USMNT players, with Yunus Musah lining up for Milan and Weston McKennie and Tim Weah featuring for the Bianconeri.

Watch Lalas on Pulisic’s AC Milan situation

USMNT has no proven replacement for Dest, says Lalas

At least one ex-USMNT defender has doubts about the options behind the injured right back

With Sergiño Dest expected to miss this summer’s Copa América with a knee injury, Alexi Lalas says the U.S. men’s national team is facing a “huge” problem.

“I think he is — when he is healthy — an in-pen starter for this national team,” said Lalas of the PSV defender, who suffered an unspecified, long-term knee injury in training this past Saturday. “[Dest] has been vital in terms of up and down that right-hand side, providing an incredible talent and ability with the ball, incredible speed.”

Speaking on his State of the Union podcast, Lalas went on to declare that no other USMNT right back has been pushing Dest for the starting job, creating a pickle for the team going into a massive summer tournament.

“The big problem for Gregg Berhalter and this team is nobody — like the No. 9 position — has yet stepped up and even challenged, even remotely challenged, [Dest],” said Lalas. “At times in the past when we have seen players play in that position, the [Joe] Scallys and stuff, they have not shown that they’re even close to stepping into his shoes right now.”

Scally is the obvious choice to replace Dest, but his form at Borussia Mönchengladbach has been iffy at best this season. Additionally, Scally plays the position much differently, taking fewer risks and offering less going forward than Dest, who functions as an X-factor for the USMNT.

Lalas noted that Berhalter has “possibilities of doing some different things,” which could mean a shift to a back three, or experimenting with players in new positions. Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Tim Weah all have right back or right wingback experience, for example, though all three are seen as locked-in starters elsewhere for the USMNT.

Dest at least got some good news on the club front on Wednesday, with PSV boss Peter Bosz stating that he’d like the club to sign the USMNT defender to a permanent deal from Barcelona.

The 23-year-old joined the Eredivisie giants on loan this season, and his frosty relationship with Barça manager Xavi — who will reportedly stick around for the 2024-25 campaign — has boosted the chances of a full transfer this summer.

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Lalas: Nottingham Forest decided long ago it can’t count on Reyna

The USMNT star made his first start for Forest over the weekend

Gio Reyna may have finally made a start for Nottingham Forest, but that doesn’t mean the club believes it can count on him.

That is the opinion of Alexi Lalas, who spoke about the U.S. men’s national team midfielder’s dire club situation on the latest episode of his State of the Union podcast.

Reyna finally made his first Premier League start over the weekend, notching an assist from a corner kick as Forest drew Wolves 2-2 in a vital match.

It took the American nearly three months of his loan from Borussia Dortmund to get his first start, having played a total of just 90 minutes for Forest prior to Saturday’s match.

Though Reyna has finally made a breakthrough, Forest now has just five matches remaining this season. As a disappointing loan stint gets set to conclude, Lalas didn’t mince words about the USMNT star’s situation.

“You don’t need me to tell you that Gio starting, and Gio playing after what has been an absolutely abysmal time in terms of this loan to Forest is a good thing. Yes it’s a good thing. Does it change who Gio is as a player? No. Does it change how Forest in general look at him going forward? No,” Lalas said.

“I think they have gotten plenty of looks at what Gio is. And I think they have made the determination long ago that this is not somebody for the long haul. Not somebody they want to count on.”

Forest will face Everton on Sunday in a crucial relegation six-pointer. Reyna’s side enters the match one point and one place above the drop zone, with Everton just one point and one place above Forest.

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Lalas: USMNT ‘glued to TV’ as OJ chase unfolded on eve of World Cup

Several USMNT stars didn’t get the sleep they needed ahead of the biggest game of their life

Former U.S. men’s national team star Alexi Lalas recalled one of the wildest moments in recent American history on Thursday, following the news that O.J. Simpson had died of cancer at age 76.

On June 17, 1994, the nation was captivated by a slow-speed car chase on the freeway in Los Angeles, as Simpson sat in the passenger seat of a white Ford Bronco driven by his friend Al Cowlings.

Earlier in the day, Los Angeles police said the ex-NFL star was a fugitive who was sought in the killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman.

Eventually, Cowlings and Simpson led police to Simpson’s home, where he surrendered. Simpson was acquitted of the murders after a trial that captivated the nation over 11 months between 1994 and 1995.

The events of June 17 took place the night before the USMNT opened the 1994 World Cup on home soil, facing Switzerland at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan.

As news spread of Simpson’s death, Lalas went on X to recall the surreal moment.

“It was the start of our World Cup,” he said. “Biggest game of our lives. Night of June 17th, we all sat in our hotel rooms glued to the OJ Bronco chase happening in LA.”

Lalas also spoke to The Athletic in 2019 about the events of that summer evening on their 25th anniversary.

“Look, everybody remembers where they were, if they were around, and cognizant of what was going on,” Lalas said. “It is that seminal type of moment: Where were you when this was happening? It was the ultimate reality show unfolding in real time in front of you.

“The whole team was doing this. Everybody was watching it. You would move from the television in the lobby of the hotel, to the television where we were eating, to the television in our room. It was this running show that seemed like it would never end. And yet you couldn’t turn away and you were waiting for that conclusion.”

Former USMNT goalkeeper Tony Meola told ESPN in 2014 that he wasn’t as rested as he should have been for one of the biggest games of his life, which would end in a 1-1 draw.

“I was exhausted on the day of the game. I roomed with John Harkes and we had spent the night watching the O.J. Simpson chase. Harkes kept yelling at me to turn the television off but I was totally glued to it,” Meola said.

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