SEATTLE - The loneliest position on any soccer field is in goal, and never more so than after a heartbreaking loss. In the moments after the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup dreams were dashed Monday night, Matt Freese wandered alone at one end of the field, surrounded by grass, noise and disappointment.
“This hurts,” he said later. “This moment stings more than probably any other moment in my life.”
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Freese had entered this tournament as perhaps the biggest question in the American starting lineup. He exited it as the biggest post-tournament question, too.
For most of this World Cup, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had done enough to quiet the doubts. But against Belgium, he gave them new life. In the Americans’ 4-1 loss in Monday’s round of 16 matchup, Freese conceded four goals and committed the blunder that will be hard for U.S. fans - and maybe Freese, too - to forget.
“This hurts,” he said later. “This moment stings more than probably any other moment in my life.”
Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.
Freese had entered this tournament as perhaps the biggest question in the American starting lineup. He exited it as the biggest post-tournament question, too.
For most of this World Cup, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had done enough to quiet the doubts. But against Belgium, he gave them new life. In the Americans’ 4-1 loss in Monday’s round of 16 matchup, Freese conceded four goals and committed the blunder that will be hard for U.S. fans - and maybe Freese, too - to forget.
21 days ago
