USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese reflects on 'devastating' elimination from World Cup: 'We wanted it so badly'

In the week and change since the United States men’s national team fell to Belgium in a 4-1 rout , a lot has been done to dissect what led to the loss, despite the uptick in talent and the advantage of playing on home soil. But for the players, there’s still a lot to process after the wave of support gave way to a disappointing World Cup exit in the Round of 16. In an interview with ESPN , U.S. starting goalkeeper Matt Freese reflected on the loss, saying that he initially felt “disbelief” in the moments after the team was eliminated. "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,” Freese told ESPN on Tuesday. “It was devastating.” Freese, who started in all but one of the USMNT’s games, had some bright spots throughout the tournament, but had a pretty tough game in the loss to Belgium. The 27-year-old keeper made three saves, but conceded four goals, including one where Freese made an egregious error after coming off his line. Freese’s mistakes were not the only issues in the loss, though, as multiple defensive errors and a struggling attack left the team vulnerable to a strong performance from Belgium. That lead to plenty of criticism from fans and pundits, and accusations that the U.S. simply didn’t try hard or want it enough — which Freese said were unfounded. "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. "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." For a starting goalkeeper, Freese is still relatively young: This was Freese’s first World Cup, with the 27-year-old picking up his first U.S. cap just last year. Despite that, he was able to take over the starting spot very quickly, supplanting veteran Matt Turner and moving to the top of the depth chart. Going forward, one of the biggest questions for this U.S. team is going to be whether head coach Mauricio Pochettino will stay on to guide the USMNT to the 2030 World Cup. Freese, like many of the USMNT players, says that he hopes the coach chooses to stay. "I would love to keep working with him. I would love for him to stay," Freese said. "He gave me an opportunity and really gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. And I'm so grateful for that. I think he succeeded in getting this team and this country to believe.” That belief was clear as the : More than 30 million Americans watched the U.S.-Belgium match on Fox Sports, making it the most-watched (English-language) soccer broadcast in the country’s history. But that kind of turnaround, especially in a country like the U.S. that lacks some of the same passion for soccer as the rest of the world, will make him an attractive option for club teams looking for a coach. "I know he is a world-class coach, and he will have many suitors and many teams, many clubs, etc. wanting to work with him,” Freese continued. “And I'm just a player, so I don't know what's going to happen." For now, part of Freese’s future is set: The keeper is back with his club, New York City FC, which restarts MLS play on July 22 against the Columbus Crew. As for the USMNT, there are no friendlies currently on the schedule, but the next FIFA international window falls in September. It’s unclear whether starters like Freese will be making an appearance, or if they’ll be getting a break. But either way, Freese said that he wants to use the disappointment of the tournament to power his next chapter. "It's become about trying to find a way to turn this elimination into motivation," Freese said. "I think all of us have the motivation to do something even greater, even better, and to come back better. It's been about finding a way to turn the elimination into fuel for the fire.”