​OSHKOSH − The fevered excitement in Oshkosh never reached that peak again, a lot like Team USA’s performance on the night. The crowds still packed Greene’s Pour House, but there wasn’t much left to cheer as the hosts bowed out of the World Cup with a quiet 4-1 defeat to Belgium on Monday. The energy in the room remained subdued for most of the match, even though the bar was standing room only, with nearly 150 patrons in red and white USA jerseys and blue shirts.
The round of 16 rematch of the 2014 World Cup failed to live up to its hype, especially in a second half that proved costly for the United States due to a pair of misplays. “I was hoping for a win today and that we’d move on to Friday, but I didn’t expect it to be this lopsided,” said Nate Boyce, vice president of the American Outlaws Oshkosh Chapter, who organizes the watch parties at Greene’s Pour House. “I thought maybe a one-goal game—but not this bad.”
The Greene’s Pour House crowd was in disbelief as USA fell 4-1 to Belgium. After trailing 2-1, there was some early life in the second half when Giovanni Reyna came on and sparked a few cheers, but that momentum faded quickly. A muffed touch by goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed Hans Vanaken to score a simple goal in the 57th minute, and the bar’s atmosphere shifted to a muted hush. The Outlaws attempted to rally the crowd with drums, but the only response came when Sebastian Berhalter’s left-footed shot narrowly missed.
It was a setback for a night that had started with such high anticipation while the bar filled up well before kickoff. Patrons began the game singing “I Believe That We Will Win,” and Freese’s early save was greeted with cheers that soon turned to collective gasps when Charles De Ketelaere found the net in the ninth minute after a defensive clearance failed in the box. About 20 minutes later, Malik Tillman leveled the score with a deflected free-kick, briefly energizing the room with USA chants.
Tillman’s equalizer energized the crowd for only a moment, as De Ketelaere restored Belgium’s lead shortly after, and the hosts never recovered. From there, sloppy touches and poor passes highlighted a lackluster performance, underscoring a night that started with promise but ended in disappointment for a World Cup campaign that could have deserved better.