PASADENA, Calif. — For the men of the United States soccer team, a golden opportunity to quiet their critics and doubters came and went late in their game Saturday night, whisked away as fast as the lightning-bolt strike from Paul Aguilar that give Mexico a victory in the dying minutes of extra time.
So, moments later, the questions came again — about whether the team was actually progressing, about the quality of Jurgen Klinsmann’s work as coach of the team and technical director of the United States soccer federation, about whether the naysayers deserved a response.
“I don’t need to say anything to them,” Klinsmann said late Saturday, laughing softly.