An ABC7 Los Angeles reporter has gone viral ahead of the United States’ round of 32 clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Reporter Abigail Velez was crossing live from Long Beach following the UMSNT’s group-stage loss to Türkiye when she admitted to not knowing a thing about the US team’s next opponent.
Not that it was a problem. In fact, she said she didn’t want to learn anything about Bosnia and Herzegovina, including “where it is on a map”, warning that Team USA is “better than ever”.
“I could not point out where it is on a map,” she said.
“I don’t know the first thing about Bosnia, and I don’t wanna know. That’s because Team USA, we’re back, we’re better than ever. That’s next Wednesday. Get prepared, Bosnia, because you don’t want it. You don’t want it like that. But you’re gonna get it.”
Predictably, the comments did not go down well on social media.
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It comes after a heavily changed United States side lost 3-2 to Turkey in a dead-rubber clash that coach Mauricio Pochettino vowed would not derail the World Cup co-hosts’ considerable momentum.
Already crowned Group D winners, the US had arrived in Los Angeles seeking to extend a perfect start with a third win, but with more than an eye on the last-32 meeting against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
For Turkey, already eliminated and without even a goal after disastrous losses to Paraguay and Australia, the only objective was to restore some pride.
Having gone ahead early and then clawed back an equalizer after two Turkey goals, the US fell to a Kaan Ayhan winner deep in stoppage time.
“We had other priorities. We did want to win, we wanted the victory, but there were other things that we need to balance out, and I made the very best decisions,” said Pochettino, who made nine changes to his lineup ahead of the Bosnia clash.
“What does it mean to win three (group) matches if you’re going to be losing the next one, and you’re not going to be winning the World Cup?” he asked a notably tense and spiky press conference after the game.
URUGUAY CLARIFIES FLIGHT CLAIM
The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) has refuted claims it cancelled a charter flight intended for its players after the team crashed out of the World Cup on Saturday.
Two-time winners Uruguay become the highest ranked side to be eliminated in the group stages as the defeat rounded off a miserable tournament for Marcelo Bielsa and his squad.
After draws against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, reports of a revolt in the Uruguay camp emerged with leading players, including Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, clashing with Bielsa over his tactics.
Now journalist Martin Charquero has claimed in a viral post on social media that the AUF decided to cancel a charter flight home, adding that players instead will be made to return on commercial fights.
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The AUF, however, has clarified in a statement that a charter flight for the return to Uruguay was never organised in the first place.
“The outbound trip required an exclusive charter flight due to the volume of the delegation (more than 150 people) and the need to move more than 5,000 kg of luggage and props. As planned from the beginning, The return route never contemplated the charter flight option due to not knowing where the return would start from,” the statement read.
“For this reason, as the number of passengers is significantly reduced, the remaining members of the official delegation will begin the return to their homes starting tomorrow 28/6 on commercial airline flights, this being the fastest and most efficient way for each individual destination. They will arrive on Monday in different groups.”
SPAIN PLAYER HITS OUT AFTER ‘ONE OF THE WORST DAYS OF MY LIFE’
Spain winger Nico Williams said suffering a latest injury setback was “one of the worst days of his life” as he criticised Uruguay for lashing out in a 1-0 defeat that ended their World Cup.
Williams could miss the rest of the tournament if Spain do not go far after picking up a muscle injury that was provoked by a lunge from Nicolas de la Cruz.
Moments later, Agustin Canobbio was shown a straight red card for diving in on Pau Cubarsi as the two-time World Cup winners bowed out in disgrace.
Williams has had an injury-disrupted season at Athletic Bilbao and only made brief appearances as a substitute in Spain’s three group games.
“Today is one of the worst days of my life. I am injured again after a very difficult year,” the 23-year-old posted on social media.
“Yesterday, I suffered a new injury following an incident where a fellow professional acted out of frustration, unhappiness, and sadness over the situation he was going through.
“In my opinion, it was a play that could have been avoided, as it was completely unnecessary. But this won’t stop me.”
The Spanish Football Federation said Williams had suffered a “moderate” injury and still had a chance to return later in the tournament.
There was better news for the European champions as a scan on Yeremy Pino ruled out a fractured collarbone.
The Crystal Palace midfielder also now has a chance of returning before the end of the World Cup.
The loss of both players would have been a major blow to Spain’s chances of winning the tournament with Luis de la Fuente’s options in wide areas already limited.
Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal has not played a full 90 minutes in over two months as he is nursed back to fitness after a hamstring injury, while new Liverpool signing Victor Munoz is yet to feature at the World Cup due to fitness problems.
After topping Group H, Spain will face either Austria or Algeria in the last 32 in Los Angeles on Thursday.
NETHERLANDS STAR’S HEARTBREAKING LOSS
Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo has asked for “privacy and space” following the loss of his unborn son, which was announced by his partner Noa van der Bij.
Van der Bij posted a picture on Instagram of the pair holding hands over a blanket and knitted hat.
“With broken hearts, we share the devastating news that our baby boy passed away during pregnancy,” she wrote.
“Thank you for your love and support. Elijah Raphael Gakpo. Forever loved. Forever our son.”
She also posted a photo of a candle and cross, with the message: “We went to church to light a candle. Afterward, we walked to the church playground with our son Samuel.
“There was only one other child there. His name was Elijah. There could not have been a more beautiful sign from God. He reminded us that our little boy is never far away.”
In a post of his own, Liverpool forward Gakpo, who is on World Cup duty, wrote: “This is an incredibly difficult time for our family.
“We kindly ask for our privacy and space. Thank you for your understanding.”
Gakpo, 27, has started all three of the Netherlands’ games in the United States, scoring twice.
Ronald Koeman’s team, who topped their World Cup group, play Morocco in the last 32 in Mexico on Monday.