United States Outclassed, Eliminated in 3-1 Loss to Netherlands
The devastating blow that knocked the U.S. men’s national team out of the 2022 World Cup was a 21-pass Dutch masterpiece.
As reported by Yahoo Sports, it was class and ruthlessness personified, clockwork orange from front to back to front.
It crushed American optimism that had swelled throughout two weeks in Qatar, and eventually sent the American team trudging toward their traditional exit.
It led to Netherlands 3, U.S. 1 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday, to a game during which the USMNT crashed head-first into its current ceiling. It led to slumped shoulders and weak voices, the products of an all-too-sudden end.
The Americans were up for the Dutch challenge, capable of trading jabs with a European heavyweight in what at times felt like an even fight. “We were right in the game,” a gutted Christian Pulisic later said.
But they lapsed in moments, in split seconds that separate haves and have-nots.
They recovered from a two-goal halftime deficit, and pulled a goal back with 15 minutes remaining. Haji Wright’s wicked, fluky finish awoke 44,846 fans from a slumber, and momentarily rekindled dreams.
But Denzel Dumfries answered a few minutes later. The fightback wasn’t enough. In the end, Dutch quality was.
The Yanks were confident and eager, and for eight whole minutes seemingly superior. Then they were struck while snoozing by soccer royalty.
The Netherlands lulled them into a trance, then pounced with talent unlike any the U.S. had seen at this World Cup. Frenkie De Jong toyed with them.
Memphis Depay picked them apart at midfield, then punished Tyler Adams and his midfield teammates for lagging.
