US star goalie Matt Freese opens up on the fierce backlash following costly World Cup mistake

Dan Dakich reacts to the USMNT's embarrassing World Cup Round of 16 loss to Belgium after Christian Pulisic and the squad completely COLLAPSED.

United States men's national team goalkeeper Matt Freese effectively ended the team's World Cup hopes when he made a backbreaking mistake, misplaying a ball that Belgium capitalized on to take a 3-1 lead in the Round of 16.

Once the ball rolled into the back of the net, criticism of the 27-year-old was both voluminous and harsh. Freese said hearing the backlash hurt.

"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 on Tuesday.

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Matt Freese looks dejected after the match following the U.S. elimination from the World Cup in Seattle, Wash. (Blake Dahlin/Imagn Images)

"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."

Freese said that, following the deflating loss, the team that had captured the hearts of Americans was in disbelief. He said the team’s desire to maximize their performance was so fierce that it hurt that others didn’t know how badly they wanted it.

"I would describe (the moments after the elimination) as being in disbelief that the tournament was over for us," Freese said.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE