United States males’s nationwide group and New York Metropolis FC goalkeeper Matt Freese stated he felt devastated following the 2-1 loss to Mexico within the Gold Cup closing, earlier than insisting the group will solely use the outcome as motivation when heading into preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
“I used to be devastated. It was an enormous alternative for the group and a chance to make an announcement,” Freese advised ESPN. “And maybe we made some statements alongside the way in which, however once more, the final word objective was to win the ultimate and win the trophy, and we fell wanting that.
“It is one thing that I do know all of us will want we had one other shot at and hopefully we do have one other shot at it in some unspecified time in the future. But additionally it provides gas to the hearth and it retains you hungry.”
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The USMNT emerged in first place from the group stage after defeating Saudi Arabia, Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti, earlier than occurring to overcome Costa Rica and Guatemala to succeed in the coveted closing towards Mexico. Although the US earned the early lead within the fourth minute with a Chris Richards objective, the group finally fell to their Concacaf rival because of efforts from Raúl Jiménez and Edson Álvarez.
The USMNT entered the match on a four-game dropping streak and with criticism from the fanbase over an inexperienced squad lacking a number of senior gamers because of fatigue, harm and Membership World Cup commitments.
However Freese maintained every participant noticed the competitors as an opportunity to impress head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
“Many people seen it as a chance, a chance to get minutes to point out the teaching workers what we will do,” stated Freese. “However to be trustworthy, for probably the most half, we purposefully actually simply targeted on ourselves, targeted on the group that we had within the locker room and within the lodges.
“We did not actually pay an excessive amount of consideration to the skin noise that was occurring, notably firstly of the match.”
Freese began in objective for all six matches of the Gold Cup, changing long-time USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner within the beginning lineup. The 26-year-old entered the match with only one look for the US, making his debut for the senior group days prior on June 2 in a pleasant towards Turkey.
Now, main as much as the 2026 World Cup, Freese stated he has been advised by Pochettino that he should preserve a constant stage with a view to compete for that beginning position subsequent summer time.
“Clearly, I spoke with [the coaching staff] and so they stated it was a giant step for me,” Freese stated. “I clearly acquired a chance and I wished to profit from it and make them proud and be myself in there.
“They thought it was a giant step, however in addition they stated that that’s now the minimal normal for me and I must proceed to construct upon that basis that I set this summer time.”
Freese, who has spent his complete profession in MLS after coming by means of the ranks on the Philadelphia Union, additionally harassed that regular-season MLS motion prepares gamers for the calls for of a match as a result of journey and congested schedule, giving groups simply a few days to plan.
“There’s at all times the query of MLS versus different leagues, however I believe it is positively essential to say that the MLS is unquestionably a really aggressive league with high quality gamers,” he stated. “Clearly you are enjoying a tricky schedule, touring throughout the nation, and two, three video games per week.
“You’ve intervals of time the place it is three video games inside six days. You are touring 1000’s of miles throughout that. So most of these challenges actually enable you put together for a brief match the place there’s a whole lot of video games and a restricted quantity of days and a whole lot of journey.”
Freese boasts 62 MLS video games for NYCFC, managing 17 clear sheets throughout two-and-a-half seasons.