U.S. men's national team goalie Matt Freese had a tough World Cup.
While Freese played well in the group stage and the win over Bosnia, he allowed a terrible goal against Belgium, that essentially sealed the loss for the American men. With the U.S. trailing 2-1, Freese badly misplayed a ball, allowing Belgium to score easily, going up 3-1. Belgium ultimately pulled away with a 4-1 win.
Soccer fans are passionate. So, too, are American sports fans. Freese was on the receiving end of a lot of criticism as the USMNT's World Cup ended. And he wasn't too happy with how he was treated.
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Freese, 27, admitted to ESPN that he's truly heartbroken by all the reaction to his and his teammates' poor play against Belgium.
The U.S. men's national team goalie wishes it could be different.
Freese sounds off on behavior from U.S. fans
"It's just so difficult for me to hear that because if people were to see this group on a day-to-day basis and spend time with these guys more personally, they would see how badly we wanted it. They would see how bad I wanted it," Freese told ESPN on Tuesday.
"Two years ago, dreaming, like literally dreaming of this, and feeling the honor and the responsibility that comes with it. We wanted it so badly, more than anything else we've ever wanted, to capitalize on that and reward that support with something special. During the World Cup and the months leading into the World Cup, there was literally nothing else that crossed my mind."
Freese continues to be saddened by it all.
"I would describe [the moments after the elimination] as being in disbelief that the tournament was over for us," he said. "Not wanting that experience together and not wanting the memory of 'Country Roads, Take Me Home' to be over or not be happening again at home. Not be able to feel that and feel that again with our fans and feel that together as teammates and as a family on the field. It was devastating.
"The desire and will to maximize our performance was so strong it hurts my heart to see that people don't know that because it is true. I wish I could talk to every person personally and individually and explain this to them and tell them this."
