DOHA, Qatar — The devastating blow that knocked the U.S. out of the 2022 World Cup was a 21-pass Dutch masterpiece. It was class and ruthlessness personified, clockwork orange from front to back to front. It crushed American optimism that had swelled throughout two weeks in Qatar, and eventually sent the American team trudging toward their traditional exit.
It led to Netherlands 3, U.S. men’s national team 1 here at the Khalifa International Stadium on Saturday, and to a game during which the USMNT crashed head-first into its current ceiling.