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United States men’s national team goalkeeper Matt Freese effectively ended the team’s World Cup hopes when he made a backbreaking error, misplaying a ball that Belgium capitalized on to take a 3-1 lead in the round of 16.
Once the ball entered the back of the net, the criticism of the 27-year-old was voluminous and harsh. Freese said hearing the reaction hurt him.
“It’s very hard for me to hear that because if people saw this group day to day and spent time with these guys on a more personal basis, they would see how much we loved it. They would see how much I loved it,” Freese told ESPN on Tuesday.
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Matt Freese looks dejected after the game following the United States’ elimination from the World Cup in Seattle, Washington. (Blake Dahlin/Image Images)
“Two years ago, I dreamed, literally dreamed about this, and I felt the honor and responsibility that comes with it. We wanted it so much, more than anything else we’ve ever wanted, to capitalize on that and reward that support with something special. During the World Cup and the months leading up to the World Cup, literally nothing else crossed my mind.”
Freese said that after the deflating loss, the team that had captured the hearts of Americans was in disbelief. He said the team’s desire to maximize its performance was so fierce that it hurt that others didn’t know how much they wanted it.
“I would describe (the moments after elimination) as disbelief that the tournament was over for us,” Freese said.
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Matt Freese looks dejected after the game in Seattle after the United States was eliminated from the World Cup. (Blake Dahlin/Image Images)
“Not wanting that experience together and not wanting the memory of ‘Country Roads, Take Me Home’ to end or not happen again at home. Not being able to feel that and feel it again with our fans and feel it together as teammates and as a family on the field. It was devastating.”
The goalkeeper said the team needs to use its elimination as fuel to go further in future tournaments.
“It’s about trying to find a way to turn this elimination into motivation,” Freese said. “I think we all have the motivation to do something even bigger, even better, and come back better. It’s about finding a way to turn elimination into fuel for the fire, if that makes sense. It’s easy (to turn it into motivation), but it doesn’t take away the pain of what elimination leads to.”
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Belgian Hans Vanaken celebrates after scoring his third goal with Dodi Lukebakio and Youri Tielemans while American goalkeeper Matt Freese looks dejected in Seattle, Washington. (Blake Dahlin/Image Images)
Freese will play again when he runs the net for New York City FC and will look to put his costly mistake behind him and move forward with his sights set on 2030.
“The first thing is a feeling of hunger to get back there. That’s a very direct and clear goal for me immediately after finishing the World Cup,” Freese said. “I want to go back there and want to do it again, but want to do better and go further and win that trophy.”
