Changing room visitor Clinton praises spirit
Reuters - Wednesday 23 June 2010, 18:59
PRETORIA, June 23 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Bill
Clinton got to his feet to celebrate his team's last-gasp goal
against Algeria at the World Cup on Wednesday and gave the
players a speech about the American spirit afterwards.
"He spent 45 minutes in the locker room," U.S. Soccer
president Sunil Gulati told reporters.
"He was so proud of the team - they didn't get frustrated
by the fact they missed some chances today and didn't let the
last game affect them (a 2-2 draw with Slovenia where they had a
late goal disallowed).
"That's the American spirit, that's what President Clinton
said in the locker room after the game."
Landon Donovan's stoppage-time goal put the U.S. through to
the knockout round as Group C winners, with Gulati saying
Clinton was on his feet celebrating like the thousands of other
American jubilant fans in the stadium.
Donovan was thrilled by the dressing room visitor.
"He is very charismatic, you can tell how touched he was by
the moment and it was really nice to have that," he told
reporters.