A tie with Inter Milan would have kept Alexi Lalas in the Italian First Division, but a 91st-minute goal gave Inter a 2-1 win June 4. Serie A newcomer Padova must now play Genoa June 10 in a one-game playoff for survival.

SOCCER AMERICA: Conceding a goal in injury time must have been crushing.

ALEXI LALAS: It sucked. It’s one of those games you look back and say, “We blew it.”

You were leading 1-0 at halftime.

We played very well, which made it worse. It looked like we were going to win, and then like we were going to tie … I always figured I would try to make my time here as exciting as possible.

How does the team feel about its chances in the playoff against Genoa?

During the season, we lost to Genoa 2-1 and tied 1-1. We’re going into it very confident because we played so well against Inter.

What will you do next season?

I’ll play with Padova for another year if we win. If Padova goes into the Second Division, it can’t pay me. I’d like to stay in Italy, though, so I’d have to find another team.

You have been linked to German clubs.

We’re looking at everything. I hope to stay in Italy. But I’m not averse to trying another country.

You’re still on loan from U.S. Soccer?

Yes.

Is there much talk about the U.S. coaching situation there?

People ask me what I think in every interview. I say what I know, and that’s that Steve Sampson has taken over. We’re comfortable with that. It’s still the same guys on the field.

How does Carlos Alberto Parreira — Brazil’s 1994 World Cup coach — sound to you as U.S. coach?

Sounds awesome, sounds great. If you want to become a champion, you look for someone who knows how to get there. I heard he speaks English. He would be wonderful for us. He’s been around the international game and sounds like the kind of coach who could help us build on what we achieved last summer.

How do you feel about the MLS signing Jorge Campos?

A good step in the right direction. The league needs big international and domestic names.

Alexi Lalas in the MLS?

I think it will happen someday — whether in the beginning, middle or end, I have no idea. All I know for sure is I’ll play overseas at least one more year.

Why are so many of the U.S. players in Europe struggling?

The reality of being an American is that the teams willing to take a chance on you are usually lower division teams or high division teams struggling to stay in the First Division. That puts the U.S. players in tough situations.

by Soccer America Senior Editor Mike Woitalla