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Assistant coach defends Sampson
Posted: Tuesday June 30, 1998 11:24 AM
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Clive Charles (left) was upset that some players criticized Sampson (Brian Bahr/Allsport) |
PORTLAND, Oregon (AP) -- Clive Charles, assistant coach for the
U.S. national soccer team, defended head coach Steve Sampson on Monday,
saying frustration over losing and veterans' lack of playing time led to
Sampson's ouster. "National team coaches are hired to be fired, and
that's the fate of every one, all 32 there in France," Charles
told The Oregonian. "This day will happen to every single one of
them. You know that when you accept the job." Charles, the coach at
the University of Portland, said that his duties with the U.S. team ended
with the 1-0 loss to Yugoslavia
in the first round of the World Cup. He'll now focus his attention on
coaching the U.S. Olympic team. Charles said he wasn't surprised at
Sampson's resignation on Monday, particularly after veteran players like
Tab Ramos, Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda complained loudly about the coach's
personnel moves. "What you are hearing are disgruntled players, because
they didn't get on the field," Charles said. "Players complaining about
playing time is nothing new. This has been going on for years ... it's the
same in all sports. But it's easier to complain after you've lost, which
also is nothing new." Criticism by Ramos, who made the U.S. team
after twice recovering from serious knee injuries, was particularly unfair,
Charles said. "Tab hasn't kicked a ball for the national team for
eight months because of injuries," Charles said. "Steve kept that
[midfield] position open for him, though. Tab wasn't 100 percent fit when
we went to France, either. Then he rewarded Steve by slamming him in the
newspaper." Charles said the calls for Sampson's job shows that
soccer is becoming more important in the United
States. "A few years ago, no one [in the U.S.] would have cared,"
Charles said. "This [controversy] is what goes on in every country that
gets knocked out in the first round." Charles said U.S. goals would
have prevented much of the unhappiness. "If we win the games 1-0,
everbody's happy," he said. "It's all about results -- and we didn't get
them."
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