Jesus Ferreira:
This was finally his chance. And it was over in 45 minutes.
Jesus Ferreira became the third USMNT striker to start in this tournament, and he became the third to be held scoreless. If you're wondering what held the USMNT back, it's that right there.
Ferreira was good for a bit of hold-up play, but little else. He checked back into midfield to get the ball, but could do nothing with it. With the Dutch totally content to concede possession, his pressing was somewhat useless and he never created havoc on the counter.
Ferreira was yanked at half-time as the U.S. brought in Gio Reyna for some kind of spark. They needed it because, once again, there was very little coming from up top.
Christian Pulisic:
You hate to say what if but, really, what if?
What if Pulisic was 100 percent and didn't suffer that pelvic contusion against Iran? And, more importantly, what if he buried that early chance that could have seen the U.S. seize control early?
It would have changed the game, no doubt. Pulisic was there, one-on-one with goalkeeper Andries Noppert and a whole net to shoot at. He was not offside and he had time, but he didn't make the most of it.
What could have been a tournament-changing goal instead ended up being a tame shot kicked away to Noppert's left.
USMNT defending:
What in the world was that?
The U.S. was nearly flawless on the defensive end in the three group stage games. Heading into the knockout round, it was actually their calling card.
Even with the attack sputtering, the U.S. hadn't conceded from open play. No matter what, it would be difficult to break down. Or so we thought.
All three Dutch goals were down to the USMNT's inability, or unwillingness, to track back. Physical and mental fatigue seemingly caught up with the playerrs and, in the end, that led to three all-too-easy goals.
It all just felt so preventable. The Dutch were good, of course, but it was a series of cataclysmic sequences from the U.S. that sealed the end of its World Cup dream.
Gregg Berhalter:
Berhalter couldn't prevent the goals himself. He wasn't the one that failed to track back. He also wasn't the one that squandered chances on the other end.
But the heat will be turned up after this one. Not just because the U.S. lost but because of how they lost.
Berhalter's roster and lineup decisions have drawn criticism for weeks, and this game will not have helped. The Reyna saga will go down as perhaps the defining story of this team and, given how the U.S. attack sprung to life during the Dortmund star's 45-minute appearance, it won't go away any time soon.
It won't be the only question asked of Berhalter. Did he rely too heavily on his midfield's tired legs? Did he get his striker selections right? Should Reyna and Brenden Aaronson have played bigger roles?
That's the job for a national team coach: answering to those sorts of questions. A bigger one is coming, though.
Will Berhalter get another chance at the World Cup with this team?
