US star goalie Matt Freese opens up on the fierce backlash following costly World Cup mistake

United States men's national team goalkeeper Matt Freese effectively ended the team's World Cup hopes when he made a backbreaking mistake, misplaying a ball that Belgium capitalized on to take a 3-1 lead in the Round of 16.

Once the ball rolled into the back of the net, criticism of the 27-year-old was both voluminous and harsh. Freese said hearing the backlash hurt.

"It's just so difficult for me to hear that because if people were to see this group on a day-to-day basis and spend time with these guys more personally...