United States men's national team goalkeeper Matt Freese has spoken about the intense criticism he faced after a misplay that contributed to the team's elimination from the World Cup. Freese described the backlash as "difficult to hear."
"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.
Freese, 27, made a critical error in the Round of 16 match against Belgium, misplaying a ball that allowed Belgium to extend their lead to 3-1. This mistake was seen as a pivotal moment in the match, which the U.S. ultimately lost.
He reflected on the team's deep desire to succeed in the tournament, stating that the World Cup had been a dream for two years. "We wanted it so badly, more than anything else we've ever wanted, to capitalize on that and reward that support with something special," Freese said. "During the World Cup and the months leading into the World Cup, there was literally nothing else that crossed my mind."
The moments immediately following the elimination were characterized by disbelief, according to Freese. He expressed the team's disappointment at not being able to continue their World Cup journey and share the experience with fans. "It was devastating," he stated.
Freese emphasized the team's intention to use the elimination as motivation for future tournaments. "It's become about trying to find a way to turn this elimination into motivation," he 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."
Looking ahead, Freese aims to return to club play with New York City FC and put the World Cup experience behind him, with an eye toward the 2030 tournament. "The first thing is a feeling of hunger to be back there," Freese said. "I want to be back there and to want to do it again, but to want to do it better and go further and win that trophy."