Former U.S. men's national team striker Hérculez Gómez thinks the USMNT's poor World Cup performance has revealed a far greater problem than the one they faced against Belgium.
After the Americans were blown out in the Round of 16, Gómez took to ESPN FC to blast "unrealistic expectations" set by big American media outlets. The former U.S. international recognized Belgium's quality, but the story of the USMNT had gone so far astray before a ball was even kicked.
Optimism wasn't the issue for Gómez; it was selling people a false sense of security about where the United States is in the world's elite.
(Photo by Miguel Tovar/LatinContent via Getty Images)
Gómez said, "That's a problem in this country. You're listening to people who are saying, 'We can go all the way, and the U.S. can win the World Cup.'"
Gómez Says the USMNT Lost the Game Mentally
Gómez stressed that head coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to project confidence. However, television analysts should be honest, not give him high hopes, Gómez said.
The Former USMNT striker added, "The coach can say it, absolutely, because he's the coach and he has to motivate his players. But you have a responsibility if you've got a microphone in front of you to at some point in time just be realistic with the people."
He noted that Belgium is a great side, but not as high as the likes of France, Spain, or Portugal in the tournament. That was a frustrating loss in his eyes.
The Americans were physically able to compete, but mentally they were down when Belgium put pressure on them, Gómez said.
He added, "Psychologically, they were already beaten."
His words have left American soccer in a state of debate and have brought up new questions about whether the USMNT's expectations have outpaced their performance on the international stage.
