Although Belgium is far from being the powerhouse team that promised great things, they are still a very competitive team and good enough to beat the United States 5-2.
The loss against Belgium, while not entirely surprising, was surprising in terms of the scoreline and highlighted the lack of defensive solidity and the poor performance of starting goalkeeper Matt Turner for Alexi Lalas.
America’s first two games
This match left me with mixed emotions. Mauricio Pochettino’s side showed order and competitiveness in the first half. But everything changed in the second half.
Belgium took advantage of mismatches in space and defense and scored four goals in the second half, clinching a landslide victory. The multiple changes made by the American coach in search of replacement players ultimately resulted in the team being left in obscurity.
Direct criticism of Alexi Lalas and Matt Turner
Throughout the podcast, Lalas clearly analyzed goaltender Matt Turner’s performance. Although he avoided placing full blame for the defeat, he made it clear that the result would have consequences.
You will concede 5 goals and unfortunately you have no doubt
For Lalas, these types of performances are important, especially in a situation where the team doesn’t have an undisputed goaltender.
Who will be the starting goalie for the USA team at the 2026 World Cup?
Beyond the criticism, Lalas also has a potential replacement in Matt Freeze on the table. Analysts believe he should be a starter in the next game, given his recent continuity with the team.
According to his analysis, there is still a competition for goals, but not necessarily because the level is high, but because there are no fully convincing leading candidates.
The debate over who should be the starting goaltender is not new. Since the 2022 World Cup, Turner has successfully established himself as a first-choice player, but his performances have been inconsistent in recent games.
For Lalas, this reflects a deeper problem. The U.S. national team continues to enter major tournaments with questions at key positions.
A former player summed it up candidly: “He didn’t do anything to get his job back or change anyone’s mind.” A phrase that sums up the sentiments of some fans and analysts.
The USMNT hasn’t had a clear goaltender since Tim Howard retired. Coaches often say teams are built from the back to the front, but the lack of a clear goalscorer is a concern for the co-hosts just weeks before the start of the World Cup.
