Changing room visitor Clinton praises U.S. spirit
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}By Sonia Oxley
PRETORIA (Reuters) - Former 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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"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.
(Editing by Nigel Hunt)