Belgium exposed the defensive cracks USMNT showed all World Cup long

SEATTLE — The United States men’s national team finally showed the cracks along the fault lines that had been there from the beginning.Their vulnerable defense that bent through friendlies, shined and survived in the group stage, and escaped against Bosnia and Herzegovina, finally fractured Monday night.“Today wasn’t a good day,” midfielder Tyler Adams said.“There was a lot of things we could have done better.

I think when you concede goals that easily against a team of that quality, you’re going to lose.This was an opportunity to advance and try and do something special and we fell short.”Belgium found every weakness, pulled every loose thread and watched the entire sweater unravel in a devastating 4-1 Round of 16 victory that sent the Americans crashing out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.If we’re being honest, the warning signs had been there for months.

Belgium simply became the first elite opponent disciplined enough to punish them without mercy.The Red Devils didn’t overwhelm the U.S.with dazzling individual brilliance.

They dissected the defense with skill, quality and precision.Quick one-touch passing repeatedly pulled defenders out of position before Belgium attacked the channels near the edge of the penalty area.

Once there, the final pass almost always found an American defender a step late, leaving their man unmarked over and over again.And those mistakes became the difference between belief and elimination.“We were so good defensively in this whole tournament, but today we gave up all those easy opportunities,” defender Alex Freeman said.“We can’t do that.

We will look back on this game and realize those are the things we have to do better.We need to be more consistent.

At the end of the day, that’s what we need to work on.”Belgium’s opening goal was a clinic — for the wrong team.Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson both left Charles De Ketelaere unmarked and he stood completely alone in front of the goal before calmly fin...