Belgium trounced the United States Men's National Team, 5-2, in a friendly Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The U.S. carried a 1-0 lead into halftime, courtesy of midfielder Weston McKennie's nice touch in the goal box off a corner from Antonee Robinson, who was playing his first game for the national team in a year and a half, due to a right knee injury and complicated recovery.
The euphoria was short lived. Belgium evened the match in the first minute of the second half and took the lead for good seven minutes later. The Belgians scored three more unanswered before sub Patrick Agyemang potted one for the U.S. in the 87th minute to set the final score.
The U.S., ranked 15th in the world, was playing the without three backline starters, due to injury, were encouraged by the start but disappointed in the finish against FIFA's ninth-ranked team.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino called the match "a good reality check for us," adding, "I think we cannot arrive with the wrong idea that we are so good, we are so handsome, we are so well-dressed and we are Americans. ... It's good to feel that, but if we want to win the World Cup, if we want to go to the next station in the group and we want to beat Paraguay, do you think that they are not going to fight?"
The U.S. is back in action for its final match before June's World Cup, Tuesday against world No. 6 Portugal, another friendly at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The sides have not met in any match since 2017.
My take: The USMNT can score. What they can't do is defend, and the goaltending isn't elite to help compensate. They should get out of the group stage — perhaps the easiest in the tournament. It's a team with the talent to beat any other in the world, but it lacks consistency and what many believe, including former U.S. stars, is the will and work ethic to get there.
THE ASYLUM
Belgium bullies USMNT
Belgium trounced the United States Men's National Team, 5-2, in a friendly Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The U.S. carried a 1-0 lead into halftime, courtesy of midfielder Weston McKennie's nice touch in the goal box off a corner from Antonee Robinson, who was playing his first game for the national team in a year and a half, due to a right knee injury and complicated recovery.
The euphoria was short lived. Belgium evened the match in the first minute of the second half and took the lead for good seven minutes later. The Belgians scored three more unanswered before sub Patrick Agyemang potted one for the U.S. in the 87th minute to set the final score.
The U.S., ranked 15th in the world, was playing the without three backline starters, due to injury, were encouraged by the start but disappointed in the finish against FIFA's ninth-ranked team.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino called the match "a good reality check for us," adding, "I think we cannot arrive with the wrong idea that we are so good, we are so handsome, we are so well-dressed and we are Americans. ... It's good to feel that, but if we want to win the World Cup, if we want to go to the next station in the group and we want to beat Paraguay, do you think that they are not going to fight?"
The U.S. is back in action for its final match before June's World Cup, Tuesday against world No. 6 Portugal, another friendly at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The sides have not met in any match since 2017.
My take: The USMNT can score. What they can't do is defend, and the goaltending isn't elite to help compensate. They should get out of the group stage — perhaps the easiest in the tournament. It's a team with the talent to beat any other in the world, but it lacks consistency and what many believe, including former U.S. stars, is the will and work ethic to get there.
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