Taylor Twellman goes off on Team USA after disastrous 4-1 loss to Belgium: 'Can't miss fundamentals'

The US Men's National Team entered Monday night's crippled against Belgium successful Seattle with the highest expectations of immoderate U.S. World Cup squad successful decades.

They had a mostly "golden generation" of players successful their peaks, similar Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, and Sergino Dest. Folarin Balogun, arguably the champion striker the US has had successful caller memory, was besides disposable for the must-win lucifer aft FIFA controversially postponed his reddish paper suspension with immoderate engagement from President Donald Trump.

Belgium was wide viewed arsenic a "beatable" opponent. They'd trailed Senegal 2-0 successful the 86th infinitesimal successful the circular of 32, earlier a ferocious, fortunate comeback led to a 3-2 triumph heavy successful other clip aft a questionable punishment allowed Youri Tielemans to slot location the winner. Their defence was seen arsenic questionable, astatine best, and their "golden generation" had aged past their primes. Star guardant Jeremy Doku was besides retired of the starting 11, seemingly giving the US backmost enactment an advantage.

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku (9) kicks the shot past the United States' Chris Richards (3) to people his team's 4th extremity during the World Cup circular of 16 shot lucifer betwixt the United States and Belgium successful Seattle, Washington. Monday, July 6, 2026. (Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)

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As it turns out, not lone did the USMNT not person an advantage, they were hopelessly outplayed and outclassed by an organized, composed, assertive Belgian attack. They created fewer bully chances, facing a overmuch amended antiaircraft operation without Kevin De Bruyne connected the pitch. After tying the lucifer connected different fantastic escaped footwear from Tillman, they conceded again successful little than 70 seconds. There was a humiliating goalkeeper mistake erstwhile Matt Freese kicked the crushed alternatively of the ball, starring to the 3rd extremity that efficaciously enactment the lucifer away. 4-1 defeat, and small to amusement for it.

All that mightiness beryllium much forgivable, aft all, Belgium is inactive a precise bully planetary team, if the USMNT had a cleanable lucifer and were simply beaten by a amended team. But they didn't conscionable get beaten. They embarrassed themselves connected the biggest signifier they've ever had. Literally. And shot expert Taylor Twellman went disconnected connected the players and unit for the many, many, inexcusable mistakes.

Tim Ream (L) #13 and Sebastian Berhalter #14 of the United States lament aft a 4-1 nonaccomplishment successful the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 lucifer betwixt USA and Belgium astatine Seattle Stadium connected July 6, 2026 successful Seattle, United States. (Photo by Al Sermeno/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) (ISI Photos via Getty Images)

He discussed what happened with Yahoo Sports! "The Cooligans" podcast aft the loss, saying the squad failed their archetypal "real test."

"That was the archetypal existent trial of the World Cup," helium said. "What'd we get? Yeah, I mean, what'd we get?

"And listen, we've done stuff, right? We did stuff...[but] you can't marque mistakes astatine the highest level. You can't miss fundamentals. The archetypal 2 goals from Belgium. They marque you privation to...it's not an casual ticker guys. That's not an casual watch...That's a 50-50 shot wrong the 18 that Dest conscionable looks around, lets it bounce. Run done it."

He continued, saying that he'd alternatively person players acceptable to "run done the wall" alternatively of being passive oregon unsure of themselves.

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"And listen, everyone connected societal media talks about, oh, Sebastian Berhalter this...Give maine 10 Sebastian Berhalters," helium said. "They'll tally done the wall, astatine least. You cannot hide fundamentals. The small things, that is gonna be, for that radical of players, the astir hard pill to swallow. Because erstwhile you ticker the tape, erstwhile you watch, the tape, it's not my experience, I watched it, that's a hard 1 to swallow. Those are elemental fundamentals and we missed each of them tonight. All of them."

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Not overmuch to reason with there. Just look astatine the deficiency of antiaircraft effort connected Belgium's archetypal goal, successful the 10th minute. When the shot goes into the air, determination are virtually 4 US players astir 1 Belgian player. Plus 3 much defenders adjacent oregon successful beforehand of the goal. Somehow, that 1 Belgian subordinate got by each of them, earlier threading a walk into an unmarked Charles De Ketelaere for the easiest changeable of his life.

Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere (17) celebrates aft scoring his side's opening extremity during the World Cup circular of 16 shot lucifer betwixt the United States and Belgium successful Seattle, Washington. Monday, July 6, 2026. (Maddy Grassy/AP Photo)

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Freese's mistake was compounded by Ream jumping to effort and deflect an unfastened changeable connected extremity by Hans Vanaken, lone to mostly whiff and spot the shot rotation straight into the net. On the 2nd goal, De Ketelaere conscionable outjumped 2 US defenders, portion 2 different stood astir helplessly.

These are cardinal problems that cannot hap astatine this level. Inexcusable, indefensible mistakes. There's a absorption connected managers and coaching successful the planetary game, erstwhile managerial value pales successful examination to having amended players. Right now? The USMNT simply doesn't person capable bully ones.