4 American soccer gamers sat in a circle on the turf of Khalifa Stadium an hour after getting knocked out of the World Cup.
America males’s nationwide workforce gave every little thing it had by 4 video games, however on Saturday, it met a greater workforce within the Netherlands that beat them 3-1, ending their hopes of reaching the World Cup quarterfinal for the primary time in 20 years.
DeAndre Yedlin, Tim Weah, Aaron Lengthy and Sean Johnson sat collectively on the moist grass, legs crossed, soaking of their environment. They chatted about life and what this second meant within the grand scheme.
“We have been simply placing issues in perspective and reflecting on the journey and simply giving thanks, you realize, to the Earth,” mentioned Yedlin, who was the one U.S. participant that had been to and performed in a earlier World Cup heading into Qatar.
Yedlin defined later that he and his teammates typically sit collectively like this after coaching periods and video games. They have been doing it for some time, really, and name the session of types “grounding.”
“It simply helps put perspective to life, good or unhealthy,” he mentioned.
“It is one thing that I’ve [been doing for awhile],” Yedlin continued. “We sort of launched it to the workforce and the fellows have appreciated it, so we’re simply attempting to maintain it going. Particularly in a time like this, the place it may be tough to place perspective to life and understand that it is not the be all, finish all.”
Eight years in the past, Yedlin was the second-youngest member of the 2014 USMNT squad that went to Brazil, which was additionally defeated within the spherical of 16. He got here off the bench in each match as a youthful 20-year-old. In Qatar, Yedlin, now a 29-year-old veteran, performed in two matches the place he got here on as a late substitute.
A lot had been mentioned about his significance to this roster due to his World Cup experience. And main into the event, teammates requested him all types of questions on what it could be like and what to anticipate. The Inter Miami defender fortunately gave recommendation.
Yedlin is a man who loves soccer, however one who additionally understands there’s extra to life. He has mentioned he does not actually watch the game when he isn’t taking part in. He is inspired this group of 20-somethings to acknowledge the larger image and take into consideration their expertise introspectively.
“I’ve realized to place perspective on issues higher than after I was youthful,” Yedlin mentioned. “It hurts, and it hurts for lots of the fellows, however I feel it is essential that we understand that we nonetheless have our households. The blokes who’ve kids, we nonetheless have our youngsters. We’re nonetheless sons, brothers, uncles, no matter it could be. And that is an important factor in life.”