The Men’s National Soccer Team and US Soccer Federation have reached an agreement to keep negotiating a new labor agreement. More importantly, the players have agreed to a no-strike clause and the federation will provide a pay raise of 38 percent. Looks like we’ll be seeing the first team playing against Trinidad and Tobago in 2 and a half weeks. What you heard is Bruce Arena’s huge sigh of relief.
"Certainly, I’m relieved," U.S. Coach Bruce Arena said in a telephone interview from California, where he has been overseeing a training camp that comprises minor league players. "We now have a full group of players to utilize and we’ll prepare for our next game. We’ll have to decide whether to hold over any of these [replacement] players or say thanks and move on."