After World Cup hype, hysteria, United States back in an all-too-familiar place | Commentary
A talented roster with players at big European clubs, a respected foreign coach with World Cup playing experience, record television viewership, brash talk of transforming the sport in America, a successful group stage, hope, expectation, anticipation, swagger … and then played off the park in the round of 16 by Belgium, population 11.8 million. We’re not talking about 2026. We’re talking about 2014.