SEATTLE — There’s no real way to define the kind of win the U.S. national team doesn’t have, so people have settled on “signature win,” as if its three victories so far at this World Cup don’t qualify. Maybe the better way to put it is a win as an underdog, which the USMNT hasn’t had at a World Cup since 2002.
Of course, if you want to get technical, whether the U.S. is an underdog Monday against Belgium depends on where and when you’re getting odds.
Still, this Round of 16 clash would qualify, in this ill-defined manner, as the sort of win that’s never happened — against a European power, to get to a quarterfinal, with America watching in primetime.
Record numbers already watched the U.S. defeat Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32; the World Cup has become the soundtrack of the semiquincentennial summer. Another win and who knows where this could go.
“It would mean a lot, and I feel like belief is already great in this country — if we do that, the belief is going to be even bigger,” Sergiño Dest said before Saturday’s training. “It’s an important game. Belgium is a great opponent but we also see opportunities for us to win, because we’re a great team at the moment.”
Indeed, one could make a convincing argument that the U.S. has been a better team at this World Cup than Belgium, which struggled through two draws to start its campaign before beating New Zealand to secure passage out of the group.
Still, the star power on the Red Devils roster — Jérémy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard — eclipses that of the USMNT. Beating them would send a signal that this is no false start: American soccer has arrived as a team to be reckoned with, against anyone at any time.
“I think advancing, it doesn’t matter if it’s signature or not,” Tyler Adams said. “I don’t really care. I think advancing, taking this thing as far as we can, is the most important thing. I think we have an opportunity to do so. You have to back yourselves whoever you’re playing.”
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Cristian Roldan (strained quad) remained in modified training. All 25 other players were full participants.
Tim Ream presented World Cup volunteer Vera Gonzalez Howard with a cake as a show of appreciation.
The USMNT was slated to watch a fireworks show Saturday night from a rooftop bar in downtown Seattle.
