Yarema Stasyshyn
After not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) knocked out Iran allowing them to make it out of the group stage for the first time since 2014. Following their victory over Iran in the deciding game, the USMNT secured their spot in the round of sixteen.
Coach Gregg Berhalter put together an almost new squad keeping just two players from the original one. Although progressing through the group stage was messy at times, it was their lowest expectations as a team to make it out.
“It made me ecstatic to see the USA team make it out of the group stage,” NHS junior Emad Azba said.
The USMNT’s World Cup opener with Wales was not a clean game. Twenty five total fouls were called during this game and six of these fouls were yellow cards. With possession of the ball staying close to half and half, Timothy Weah, a right footed winger, was able to slip one past the Welsh keeper to put the USMNT up one. A tackle from Walker Zimmerman led to a penalty kick in the eighty second minute of the game. Gareth Bale was able to tap the ball in and tie the game up. The USMNT were not happy about the outcome of this game.
With the tie earlier in the week, the USMNT could not be more motivated to win the biggest game of their lives. With the favor being out of USA’s hands, England was expected to destroy the USMNT. The outcome of the game ended up being a tie but the USMNT was anything but sad. With such odds going against the USA, they were able to celebrate this unexpected tie.
“After hearing the USA was playing England I thought for sure it was over for us but I definitely was not let down by them,” NHS junior Dominic Simpri said.
They’re next game was a must win to allow them to advance to the round of sixteen. The USMNT dominated for most of the game against Iran with 69% of the possession going in their favor. On top of that, they had a total of nine shots while holding Iran to none in the first half only. One of those nine shots happened to hit the back of the net off of Christian Pulisic’s attempt. This goal led to an unfortunate injury to Pulisic’s abdominal area causing him to leave the pitch for the rest of the game.
“As I was celebrating the goal I noticed Pulisic on the ground and I got really worried for him. I hope he will be okay to play in the next game,” NHS senior Justin Sims said.
The game concluded in a win for the USMNT, one goal to nothing.
The USMNT’s run to the finals was quickly cut short by The Netherlands in the first round of the knockout stage. The team allowed two goals after the first half ended making the score two to nothing. The USMNT was able to add some pressure to The Netherlands putting one in in the seventy sixth minute. This would not be enough to clinch the game as The Netherlands were able to score another goal in the eighty first minute sending the USMNT home in defeat.
"This is a difficult one to handle, it's such a good group of guys, such a close group of guys and we came up short today but not for a lack of trying, not for a lack of effort. I think the guys poured everything they had into this game and unfortunately we lost it." Coach Gregg Berhalter said after his defeat to The Netherlands.