- Hosts crash out at the group stage
- Baffling decisions by officials
- Tempers frayed during Uruguay clash
WHAT HAPPENED?
Referee Kevin Ortega and his team of officials became unfortunate stars of the show as the United States suffered a 1-0 defeat to Uruguay. Ortega allowed play to continue when brandishing a yellow card at one stage, while no VAR referral was made when awarding the only goal of the game to Mathias Olivera despite evidence to suggest that he may have strayed marginally offside.
WHAT PULISIC SAID
Pulisic, as captain of his country, led protests throughout a frustrating outing against Uruguay that saw the USMNT crash out at the group stage. He told reporters afterwards of being left baffled by some big calls: “Honestly, I mean I saw things that I’ve never seen before right in front of my eyes today that I just I truly I can’t believe. It’s not why we lost; we’re not out of this tournament because of officiating. But really, I’ve just seen things that I just really – I mean I think everyone can just admit I don’t know what I’m looking at. I don’t know what they’re calling. I don’t know what he’s – he gives no explanation. He’s doing things that I just can’t accept.”
Ortega snubbed a handshake offer from Pulisic at the final whistle, with the 25-year-old adding on that incident: “He wouldn’t shake my hand. It’s normal – I mean, I guess.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter said of the decision to award Olivera’s goal despite obvious questions regarding his position on the field: “It’s pretty crazy, really. I don’t understand it. You know, I feel like I know the rule pretty well. I feel like we had the pictures that are showing how the rule could be interpreted and it’s an offside goal. It’s disappointing, it really is, but you know, that happens in football and we have to live with it, obviously.”
WHAT NEXT?
The USMNT have become the first Copa hosts, since the group stage was introduced in 1993, to miss out on a place in the knockout rounds. They have plenty of work to do heading forward if the potential within their ranks is to be unlocked.
