US knocked out of World Cup, loses to the Netherlands 3-1
Christian Pulisic covered his face as he walked off. Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Kellyn Acosta gathered for a group hug. Tim Weah, DeAndre Yedlin and Sean Johnson sat on the field in a small circle with their cleats off.
“It hurts after a tough loss like that when we feel like we could have had more,” Pulisic said, managing a voice only just above a whisper. “We don’t want to feel like this again.”
The United States’ return to the World Cupended with a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands on Saturday in the round of 16, Associated Press reported.
While the Oranje extended their unbeaten streak to 19 games and advanced to a quarterfinal with Argentina, the Americans contemplated how far they came and how short they fell.
Defensive lapses gave the Dutch a treat as Memphis Depay scored in the 10th minute and Daley Blind in first-half stoppage time.
U.S. hope revived when Pulisic’s cross hit the trailing foot of second-half substitute Haji Wright and popped over goalkeeper Andries Noppert and into the net in the 76th. But Denzel Dumfries, named after actor Denzel Washington, scored on a volley in the 81st after assisting on the first two goals.
“The American public should be optimistic,” said Gregg Berhalter, the first person to play for and coach the U.S. team at a World Cup. “When you look at the way we wanted to play and did play, it should be positive.”The U.S. hasn’t reached the quarterfinals since 2002 and was eliminated in the first knockout round, just like in 2010 and 2014.
After the American failure to qualify for the 2018, Yedlin was the only holdover on a roster that was the tournament’s second-youngest, averaging just over 25 years.
“Now they know that feeling of what it’s like to lose after putting so much into it,” the 29-year-old defender said, “and the feeling of defeat from the past can only fuel success in the future.”
The U.S. is winless in 12 games against European opponents at the World Cup since 2002 and has won once and lost seven in knockout rounds since the championship launched in 1930,according to Associated Press.
“This tournament has really restored a lot of belief, restored a lot of respect to U.S. soccer and to soccer in our country,” McKennie said. “I think we’ve shown that we can be giants eventually. Maybe we may not be there yet, but I think we’re definitely on our way.”
Before a crowd of 44,846 at the renovated Khalifa International Stadium, Pulisic had a chance to put the U.S. ahead in the third minute. McKennie knocked a poor clearance back into the penalty area, but Noppert blocked his point-blank shot with his left thigh.
“I thought I was way offside when it happened, but I still hit it and he made a good save,” Pulisic said.
The Dutch went ahead when Cody Gakpo played the ball to Dumfries on the right flank. Depay sprinted into the penalty area as Adams failed to track him, and Dumfries one-timed a cross that Depay redirected inside Matt Turner’s far post for the first goal against the U.S. during the run of play in the tournament.
Blind scored in the first minute of stoppage time. Following a throw-in, Dumfries got a cross around Adams and Blind beat a late-arriving Sergiño Dest to the ball at the penalty spot for his first international goal in eight years.
Wright entered in the 67th and scored his second international goal on the unusual touch from three yards out, sparking U.S. hopes. But Dumfries was left unmarked by Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson and scored off Blind’s cross from six yards for his sixth goal.
“When you play a team with so much quality like that and you give them three, four chances, they’re going to put three or four away,” Adams said. “We can show that we can hang with some of the best teams in the world, some of the best players in world, and that’s a lot of progress for U.S. soccer.”
Players didn’t want to leave the field at first, wanting more time together.
“Just putting perspective and reflecting on the journey,” Yedlin said. “Just giving thanks to the Earth. After every training and game we try to do a thing called grounding. It just helps put in perspective to come, good or bad.”
Others absorbed the defeat without words.
“Just looking around that locker room, the silence is deafening,” Turner said. “We all want to create moments for people back at home to fall in love with the game and tonight was not one of those nights, unfortunately.”
Indian envoy calls on PM for the second time after elections
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava called on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday. This is the Indian envoy’s second meeting with Deuba since November 20 elections. According to sources, the duo discussed contemporary political issues including the formation of the government. The meeting takes place at a time when tense talks between Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) are going on about government formation. NC leaders close to Deuba are repeatedly meeting Maoist Chairman Dahal.
South Korea stun Portugal 2-1, secure last 16 spot
South Korea beat Portugal 2-1 in a dramatic clash at the Education City Stadium on Friday, The Indian Express reported. With the clock ticking down on South Korea’s time in the tournament, striker Son Heung-min ran free after a Portugal corner in added time and slipped a pass to Hwang Hee-chan who fired past Diogo Costa to spark wild celebrations. Portugal, who made six changes, to their side from the last game found the net inside six minutes but could not convert their chances later on. However, they had already advanced after two games and won the group. Both teams finished with four points and both had a goal difference of zero, but the Asian team scored four goals compared to Uruguay’s two. When the Uruguay-Ghana game finished 2-0 and South Korea was sure of its second-place finish, the players on the field erupted in joy and squirted water in the air, according to The Indian Express. Then they got in a line and sprinted toward their fans behind one of the goals at Education City Stadium before performing a dive in front of them.
Cops start investigation into Lamichhane’s citizenship
Police have started an investigation into the citizenship dispute of Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party. According to a police source, Kathmandu police have started an investigation into Lamichhane’s citizenship. Lamichhane, who had already won the election to the House of Representatives, is accused of submitting a ‘relinquished’ Nepali citizenship certificate. A complaint has been filed at the Ministry of Home Affairs, requesting to carry out an investigation into Lamichhane’s citizenship certificate. Lamichhane had defeated Umesh Shrestha, common candidate of the ruling coalition, and CPN-UML candidate Krishna Bhakta Pokharel to emerge victorious.
Mind Matters | Stressing over the future
Query
“I’m a 20-year-old student who has just finished high school. My request for a visa to the US was denied. Though I have tried to stay positive, I’m really worried that this setback will hamper my career. I’m anxious and that makes me overthink things. I can’t seem to concentrate on what’s important and I have stopped being productive. How do I deal with this anxiety? –R.P
Answered by Rishav Koirala, psychiatrist and researcher
It’s entirely normal that you are having trouble deciding on the right academic and professional path during this transitional period. It’s also normal to feel uncertain and worried right now. Don’t beat yourself for it. But if you are worried about how your anxiousness might affect your life, there are a few things that I’d like you to consider.
The rejection of the visa was a negative experience, and as a result, the body naturally began to feel the negative energy. The anxiety was a result of your inability to accept the incident. Being anxious isn’t always a bad thing. It may energize us, keep us attentive, alert us to dangers, and inspire us to find solutions. However, if anxiety interferes with your capacity to function, it can be a problem. Anxiety can be an indication of a mental health issue if it is chronic, strong, difficult to regulate, or out of proportion with your circumstances.
Anxiety can be classified as either normal or abnormal. It’s common to have anxiety every now and then. However, strong, excessive, and continuous worry and panic over everyday situations is known as abnormal anxiety disorder. To distinguish between normal and abnormal anxiety, it’s necessary to understand a few things.
It’s important to identify how long the anxiety has been present. Anxiety should be considered a significant disorder if it lasts for three or more months. Identifying the symptoms comes after that. Some symptoms of abnormal anxiety include shortness of breath, lack of attention, low confidence, and persistent restlessness.
Based on the information you have provided I’d say you seem to have mild symptoms. The main symptom you are experiencing is known as anxious overloading. But you also need to evaluate how anxiety is affecting your daily life. Even though you might not have severe symptoms, the impact of anxiety on your quality of life cannot be overlooked. You might require the help of professionals who can guide you in the right way.
But there are some things you can do to tackle this dreary feeling by yourself too. Meditation and exercise are some things that you could benefit from. Eliminating caffeine, alcohol, and energy drinks could be helpful as well. I’d also suggest you talk to your loved ones, relatives, or friends who might be able to provide you with a different viewpoint on your situation. Also, reduce potential triggers by managing stress apart from following a balanced diet and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.
Students, police clash in Dhangadhi (In pictures)
A clash broke out between students and police personnel in Dhangadhi of Kailali on Friday.
Police fired dozens of tear gas canisters to disperse the mob after the students staged a demonstration in the prohibited area.
The students have been staging demonstrations in every chowk of the area defying the prohibitory order.
Chetana Saud, a student at the Padmodaya Higher Secondary School, had died after being hit by a grader at around 10 am on Thursday. Saud (14) had died on the spot.
Following her death, the students staged demonstrations for the whole day.
Then, the District Administration Office issued a prohibitory area from 7 pm on Thursday until further notice to take the situation under control.
Meanwhile, police have arrested some students for staging demonstrations in the prohibitory area.
Gold price increases by 1,000 per tola on Friday
The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 000 per tola in the domestic market on Friday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 99, 100 per tola today. The yellow bullion was traded at Rs 98, 100 per tola on Thursday.
Indian national shot at in Kapilvastu
An Indian national was shot at in Mayadevi Rural Municipality of Kapilvastu. A group of unidentified persons opened fire at Irshad Khana (35) of Aligadhawa, Siddharthanagar, India at a hotel in Chakarchauda of Mayadevi Rural Municipality-4. Khan received bullets on his shoulder and leg, DSP Prem Bahadur Basnet of the District Police Office, Kapilvastu said. He has been taken to the Gorakhpur Medical College of India for treatment. Police said that they are looking into the case.
