USA fans blame one player for the shocking World Cup loss to Belgium
Wrapping up the exits of all three host nations in the Round of 16, USA fans have been pointing to one player as a main reason for their disappointing World Cup loss.
The USA did everything they could to get their top players ready for the knockout game against Belgium, even breaking the usual rules by having President Donald Trump help lift a one-match ban on Folarin Balogun. But despite this, they couldn’t keep up with Belgium.
Belgium’s team is changing, leaving some of their old stars on the bench to focus on a new generation of players, and it worked perfectly. Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere scored the first goal after taking the striker spot from Romelu Lukaku, who later sealed the win with a fourth goal late in the game, using his experience to lock the result.
Belgium showed their best knockout performance in recent memory, putting the tough days of the Roberto Martinez era behind them. Meanwhile, the USA team didn’t play as well as they had earlier in the tournament.
After the 4-1 loss to Belgium, fans quickly took to social media to talk about one specific player. Even though star Christian Pulisic had a rough game and played through pain—seen wrapped in bandages and ice after coming off—and goalkeeper Matt Freese made a big mistake leading to Belgium’s third goal, it was another player who got the most criticism.
At the center of defense, USA captain Tim Ream had a tough day. The 38-year-old former Premier League player struggled to keep up with Belgium’s attackers, losing his man for the first goal and getting outjumped for the second. This undone some great work by Malik Tillman, who had brought the USA back into the fight.
After the match, many fans expressed their frustration online. Barstool Sports’ Jeff D. Lowe said, “Tim Ream had an all-time forgettable match, holy wow. Just got absolutely dunked on.”
One fan joked, “I don’t watch soccer, but is Tim Ream really the best defender we can find in a country of 300 million people?”
Others humorously suggested that maybe Donald Trump could step in again, this time to help Tim Ream avoid trouble on the field. One fan even asked, “Is it possible to intervene and give Tim Ream a red card?”
With 85 caps for the USA, Ream is an experienced player, but at 38, there aren’t many chances left for him to play under coach Mauricio Pochettino.
To add to fans’ worries, Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards also had a weak game, raising concerns about the team’s defense as they look to build a stronger lineup in the future.