Ireland take on USA at the Aviva on November 18th, so in association with NIVEA MEN - official skincare provider to the FAI - we’ve got 6 corporate box and 15 premium tickets to the game to give away. For a chance to win all you've got to do is vote (at the bottom of the page) for your favourite US international in our bracket. In this round we've got another two pairs of premium tickets up for grabs.
This is the second of two semi-finals, the first between Roy Wegerle and John Harkes was won by Wegerle - our favourtie mulleted American footballer. In this round, Alexi Lalas tackles Cobi Jones.
Alexi Lalas
Ask anyone what is their standout memory of the American team at the 1994 World Cup and undoubtedly the majority of people will mention a swashbuckling centre back with long red hair and beard - Alexi Lalas.
Lalas got his first cap for the US team three years earlier but did not fully establish himself in the starting lineup until the year of the World Cup. He would go on to start all four of the US' games at the tournament.
After the World Cup, the centre back went to play in Italy for Serie A side Padova where he would spend two seasons before coming back to the US to play for New England Revolution in the newly established MLS. Years later in 2002 he would win the MLS Cup with LA Galaxy before retiring early in 2004. Lalas also played in the less successful US '98 World Cup team as they finished bottom of their group losing games to Germany, Iran and Yugoslavia.
Where is he now?
Lalas currently works as a pundit for ESPN and ABC for MLS games and US National Team games.
Here are some of the reasons to vote for Alexi Lalas
He was a talented man outside of football
Lalas was part of a band named the Gypsies which opened for Hootie and the Blowish on a few occasions.
Here he is singing a cover version of The Primitives 'Crash'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em-PxpstTZM
That distinctive hair and beard combo
He played amateur football with Hollywood United FC
After he retired from professional football, he played for Hollywood United. A team which also featured Vinnie Jones, Jason Statham, Ziggy Marley (son of Bob) and Franck Leboeuf.
Cobi Jones
Cobi Jones is another USA 94 star with a distinct appearance, mainly due to his deadlocks. The midfielder came off the bench in all three of his country's group games and would go onto start the round of 16 game against Brazil. He also played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
Following the 1994 World Cup, Jones signed for Coventry spending a season at the West Midlands side after which he had a brief spell in Brazil with Vasco Da Gama. In 1996 he move to the MLS and LA Galaxy, spending the next 11 years there, retiring in 2007. He would win two MLS Cups, in 2002 (with Alexi Lalas) and in 2005.
Where is he now?
Jones currently works for Fox Sports and Time Warner as an analyst. He also spent two years (2008-10) as an assistant coach at LA Galaxy.
Here are some of the reasons to vote for Cobi Jones.
Those dreads
He still has the dreads
You don't see this very often anymore. Bringing it back old school. #ayso corona opening ceremony. @ussoccer @mls pic.twitter.com/Cjfu6PBfLs
— Cobi Jones (@cobijones) August 23, 2014
He's 7th in the all-time list of international appearances.
Jones played a remarkable 164 times for the USA in a 12-year career. He also scored 15 goals.
[gravityform id="45" name="Greatest US international"]
Terms and conditions:
Winners have 24 hours to respond once contacted. If no response is received within that time then another winner will be selected. Full terms and conditions can be viewed here. This round of voting closes at 6pm on Friday November 14th. There will be more opportunities to win tickets to the game all week on Balls.ie and @ballsdotie.
