AL RAYYAN, Qatar -- Gregg Berhalter and his assistant coaches weren't sure what to say. It was half-time on Saturday night. The United States men's national team were trailing the Netherlands by two goals. Their tournament lives were dangling, but the US players had dominated so much of the opening 45 minutes, had played the way that they wanted, had very much battled with a favored Dutch side even as they were losing.
What could Berhalter tell his players? Finally, he stepped into the room.
"Soccer can be cruel sometimes," he said.
It is the truth, particularly at this level.