I’m not embarrassed by the US team’s performance in the Belgium game.

Don’t get me wrong, they did not play their best, and Freese’s error was pretty bad. But my perspective is this:

A) On their best day, the US would likely lose that game. The Belgian team is just at a higher level of play on both an individual skill level, and as a unit. They have more and better collective experience and institutional development, greater team cohesion and on-field coordination. They’ve been a top 10 team for a long time, while the US is usually in the 15-20 bracket.

B) The red card controversy must have been extremely stressful, disheartening, and confidence damaging. First, you get your best striker kicked out of a game and banned from the next for a serious but completely accidental foul, something that would usually merit a yellow. Then, the card is overturned in an unprecedented move that smacks of corruption from your very unpopular national leader. You get your player back, but you’re now associated with unfortunate political overtones and dynamics that have nothing to do with you as a player. You just want to compete.

The USMNT did not play their best game. They were shaky. But even at their best, one could see they were outclassed. They had some good moments and passable chances at goal, but even when they displayed that kind of quality the Belgians never looked truly pressed or in danger.

The whole game got tangled up with the politics, and I think that can affect everyone’s perspectives on what happened and why, from players to commentators to fans. Overall, I think they did ok considering the external pressures on them. I’m not embarrassed and don’t think they should be either. Except maybe Freese (poor guy).