For USA, the dream is over — and the criticism rains down

The lights of Kansas City dimmed on a Monday night, but the glare of scrutiny has only intensified for Team USA. The American press has turned on its national team after the 1-4 defeat to Belgium eliminated the hosts from the World Cup on home soil. The defeat meant the internationals failed the 'most important test of their lives', according to the coverage. CNN was unsparing in its verdict. 'No interference from FIFA, President Donald Trump, his administration, or anyone else could fix the team’s biggest weakness,' it stated. 'The American defence has been leaking and unreliable for months — a fact conveniently forgotten when the USA started the tournament brightly.'

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The failures mounted on Monday. 'The impossible dream of the United States is over,' CNN concluded. 'The USA are out of the World Cup.' looked back to 2022 in Qatar, when Oranje beat the USA 3-1 in the Round of 16. 'Four years ago, the USA began strongly against the Netherlands. But Memphis Depay reached the box unmarked and finished a clever Dumfries cross. The Dutch won easily.'

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FOX also turned its fire on head coach Mauricio Pochettino. 'The Argentinian earns a salary far above any male or female executive, yet his tenure delivered more of the same. All the talk of reaching the semi-finals, leaving a legacy, even winning the World Cup —