The nearly two-week FIFA international break that delayed the start of the MLS playoffs has left coach Adrian Heath perplexed. He wonders why some players, away on national-team duty, won't be back until a few days before the team's first MLS playoff game at home against the L.A. Galaxy a week from Sunday.

Starting right back Romain Metanire went back to training with his United teammates Thursday during a short two-day work week (they'll also train Friday before taking the weekend off) and won't travel halfway away the world to play for his Madagascar team.
But starters or potential starters Jan Gregus, Kevin Molino, Robin Lod, Mason Toye and Hassani Dotson all away playing with national teams. So, too, is midfielder Rasmus Schuller.
Gregus was an unused substitute Thursday in Slovakia's 1-1 UEFA Euro qualifier against Wales. Molino's Trinidad and Tobago team played Honduras that night. Gregus' team plays again on Sunday against Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago plays again Monday against Venezuela.
Lod's Finland team plays Saturday and Tuesday before he and Schuller return from Finland. Toye and Dotson are with the U-23 team in Miami in training that ends with a game Tuesday against El Salvador.
For those players who travel overseas and back, Heath wonders why national teams can't -- in a break like this one -- play games Thursday and Sunday, which would allow six to seven days before they returned to North America to play with their MLS teams.
"I don't know where it started," Heath said. "I just don't get it and that's not just now. I've been saying this for years. You have a two-week gap and sometimes you get your players back on a Thursday morning, Friday sometimes. But, hey, that's the way the calendar is. There's not a lot we can do about it other than complain when we get a chance."'
So he took the opportunity after Thursday's training to do so.