All posts by h716a5.icu

It's no secret that Everton have to work on a tight budget given their FFP troubles in recent months, with most signings either on free transfers or low transfer fees.

Players such as Youssef Chermiti, Jack Harrison and Beto have joined the club this season, with the latter the only one to have cost a transfer fee north of £10m.

The club have often bought erratically in the transfer market, with the club spending big money on players such as Davy Klassen and Jean-Phillippe Gbamin, with both players failing to make an impact. The latter notably endured a period of injury hell at Goodison Park.

The subsequent spending in recent years before Sean Dyche's arrival has seen the Everton boss rely on youth, putting trust in some of his younger first-team members, such as Jarrad Branthwaite and James Garner – with the pair both cementing their places in Everton's starting eleven.

However, one senior player the club signed last summer has unfortunately failed to cut it in the Premier League, with the player looking past his best despite successful spells elsewhere in England's top flight.

Ashley Young's record at Everton

Former Manchester United winger Ashley Young joined the Toffees on a free transfer last summer after leaving Aston Villa, with the 38-year-old penning a one-year deal at Goodison Park.

The winger, who has mainly featured at right-back for Dyche's side, has only managed 20 appearances in the Premier League – including the Merseyside Derby, in which he was sent off for two yellows in the space of 15 minutes.

He's often featured ahead of young right-back Nathan Patterson, who has huge potential with Young disrupting the Scottish defender's progress at the club.

The 38-year-old hasn't registered a goal or an assist so far this campaign, with the defender only achieving an average rating of 6.6 – as per Fotmob.

Wage Burners

Football FanCast's Wage Burners series explores the salaries of the modern-day game.

How much Ashley Young has cost Everton

The signing of Ashley Young was seen as a solid addition at the time, with his wealth and experience crucial in what has been a turbulent season on and off the field for the Toffees.

Young currently earns £40k-per-week, with the 38-year-old currently on a higher wage than talented defender Branthwaite – an insanely low figure for a player of the defender's ability and potential. He has, after all, been touted at a jaw-dropping £100m in some circles.

#1 Abdoulaye Doucoure

£130k

#2 Jordan Pickford

£125k

#3 Andre Gomes

£112k

#4 Dele Alli

£100k

#5 James Tarkowski

£100k

#6 Amadou Onana

£100k

Up to now, the club have forked out £960k on Young's wages, with the club paying him £1.6m by the end of his contract, which expires on the 30th of June this year. That isn't a staggering amount of money but someone who has hardly offered a great deal during their time on Merseyside, isn't ideal.

Indeed, his current weekly wage sees him rank 16th in the Everton squad, with the 38-year-old currently earning more than the likes of midfielders Garner and Dwight McNeil.

Although he's previously succeeded in the Premier League, the move for Young hasn't worked out as both parties expected, with Everton losing a lot of money on a player who clearly isn't able to match the demands of the Premier League in 2024.

With his contract up at the end of the season, the club shouldn't be looking to extend his deal – casting their eye on the future and giving Patterson more game time from next season.

The Real Madrid superstar looked a shadow of his usual self as Les Bleus were deservedly beaten in Munich

France are finally out of Euro 2024. They will not be missed. Didier Deschamps' terrible team endured a fittingly feeble farewell, beaten 2-1 in the semi-finals by a vastly superior Spain side, who were inspired to victory by two tremendous attackers in Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo.

France have some incredible players of their own, of course, chief among them Kylian Mbappe, but despite being unmasked at the Allianz Arena, he was still unrecognisable, looking nothing like the finest forward in the game today.

When he crossed for Randal Kolo Muani to open the scoring, it appeared as if the real Mbappe had finally arrived in Germany, but he played like an imposter for the remainder of the game. Granted, he was one of the main victims of Deschamps' dire tactics and team selections, but even when Mbappe did get himself into dangerous positions, his normally deadly right foot let him down time and time again.

Below, GOAL rates all of the France players on show in Munich as Les Bleus bowed out of the Euros..

Getty Goalkeeper & Defence

Mike Maignan (6/10):

Absolutely nothing he could do about either goal. Also produced an excellent bit of sweeping at the start of the second half.

Jules Kounde (4.5/10):

Made a valiant effort to stop Olmo scoring and actually showed a bit of fighting spirit, particularly as he tried to deal with Williams, but he consistently gave the ball away.

Dayot Upamecano (4.5/10):

Loose in possession and his attempts to get to grips with Morata were embarrassingly clumsy at times. Also squandered one of France's few good chances to equalise, from a corner.

William Saliba (5.5/10):

Passed the ball with his usual precision but this was the first time in the tournament we've seen him look a little flustered, with the Arsenal ace lucky to avoid a booking for a clumsy foul on Olmo.

Theo Hernandez (5.5/10):

As usual, always looking to get forward (the AC Milan full-back was one of the few Frenchman to actually create a chance!), but a late challenge on Yamal showed how wary he was of the teenager's threat.

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N'Golo Kante (4/10):

Tried to inject a bit of energy and positivity into France's play, getting forward when he could, but forced to spend too much of the game chasing red shirts. Looked exhausted when he was withdrawn in the 63rd minute.

Aurelien Tchouameni (5/10):

Sent for a hotdog by Olmo before Spain's second goal. Headed a decent chance straight at Unai Simon before being booked for a wild and dangerous challenge on Morata.

Adrien Rabiot (3/10):

Taken off after making little impact on the proceedings. On the receiving end of a hefty challenge from Navas while trying to play Mbappe in on goal before being beaten with staggering ease by Yamal on the equaliser.

Getty Attack

Ousmane Dembele (4.5/10):

Saw plenty of possession on the right wing and once again showed that he can run fast – but do little else. Amazing that he lasted nearly 80 minutes.

Randal Kolo Muani (6.5/10):

Showed good movement and real calmness in front of goal to head France in front but didn't threaten thereafter. Subbed before the midway point of the second half.

Kylian Mbappe (6/10):

Created France's first goal from open play of the tournament with a sublime cross from the left wing, but never really got a clear sight of goal. Mbappe may have been shorn of the mask but this was ultimately another desperately frustrating evening for the misfiring Madrid forward.

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Getty Subs & Manager

Bradley Barcola (6/10):

Brought on for Kolo Muani and went on the left flank, with Mbappe moving into the centre, and his pace posed problems.

Antoine Griezmann (5/10):

Came on just after the hour mark for Rabiot and took up a position just behind Mbappe, but once again failed to make his presence felt. Story of his tournament.

Eduardo Camavinga (5.5/10):

Replaced Kante in midfield and kept things nice and tidy with his passing, but by no means a game-changer and his frustration manifested itself in a late booking.

Olivier Giroud (N/A):

Thrown up top for the last 12 minutes but didn't get a sniff of a chance.

Didier Deschamps (3/10):

For about eight minutes, it looked like Deschamps might have figured to get France firing. But it was just more of the same dreary football thereafter. One can only hope that this meek exit, at the end of a terrible tournament, signals the end of his tenure.

ESPNcricinfo’s live updates and analysis on the Pune Test

Sidharth Monga10-Oct-2019

Celtic may have just been told exactly how to replace Brendan Rodgers after a tricky season at Celtic Park.

Rodgers struggling with the Hoops

All is clearly not well on and off the pitch with last season's Scottish Premiership winners. Ex-Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers took the reigns after the departure of Ange Postecoglou for Tottenham, but it has been a far less impressive campaign than he will have been hoping for, despite now sitting top of the league once more.

Journalist shares what he's now heard about Brendan Rodgers' Celtic future

The club’s stance seems fairly firm.

ByHenry Jackson Mar 11, 2024

They finished bottom of their group in the Champions League, winning just a single game and conceding 15 times in their six games, including a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Atletico Madrid, a pair of stats that handed them the second worst goal difference (-10) of any side in the group stage (beaten only by Royal Antwerp, who finished with -11).

Rodgers at Celtic 23/24 vs Postecoglou at Celtic 22/23 (All competitions)

Rodgers 23/24

Postecoglou 22/23

Games

39

53

Wins

25

41

Losses

8

7

Win %

64%

77%

Goals for

84

147

Goals per game

2.15

2.77

Goals against

40

53

There have also been talks of behind the scenes issues that have also played into an overall feeling of discontent at Celtic Park this season, something that stretches far beyond performances alone.

And overall, it has led to plenty of speculation over the future of Rodgers, who could well be leaving his post should things not improve.

Celtic told what to do next

Now, former Aberdeen club chief Keith Wyness has told Celtic exactly how to fix their managerial problem, and has urged them to go for a young dynamic coach from the continent rather than shopping so close to home this time around. Wyness served as CEO for Aberdeen between 2000 and 2004, and also worked with Aston Villa (2016-2018) and Everton (2004-2009).

Speaking to Football Insider, he explained that “I think Celtic would be looking outside of Scotland if they were to replace Rodgers". As for who, he felt a longer-term project will be the solution.

“They should go for a young, European manager. I think they’d want to go back to that sort of route. They obviously see themselves as a progressive, forward-thinking club.

“I don’t think they should go for a stop-gap. For me, they should target someone like Roberto De Zerbi. Not him, of course – but someone like him. There are a few around who could be looked at."

However, he added that were Rodgers to turn things around and clinch the Scottish Premiership title, he would not be surprised to see him stay at the helm.

“For now, if they win the league – I’m sure it will be business as usual at Celtic and Rodgers will probably remain in post.”

Replacing Postecoglou and following in the footsteps of his popular reign in Glasgow was always going to be a difficult ask, and it one that Rodgers appears to be struggling with. A fresh start could be just what the club needs to rediscover their identity.

Germany legend Thomas Muller has called time on his international career following the conclusion of Euro 2024 in his home country.

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Muller ends international careerWon World Cup in 2014Scored 45 times for his countryWHAT HAPPENED?

The 34-year-old forward has confirmed his international retirement the day after the European Championship reached its conclusion, with Spain lifting the trophy in Berlin on Sunday night at England's expense. Muller brings the curtain down on a memorable 14-year career with Germany, during which he made 86 goal contributions in just 131 caps.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Muller was included in the Germany squad for Euro 2024 on home soil but only played 56 minutes of football across two appearances, although he did get an assist on the opening night against Scotland. His final cap came as a substitute in the quarter-final defeat to Spain as the hosts bowed out after extra-time.

DID YOU KNOW?

Muller helped Germany to win the 2014 World Cup, scoring five goals along the way, and was also the Golden Boot winner at the previous tournament in South Africa four years earlier.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MULLER & GERMANY?

Although he has hung up his boots at international level, Muller still has one year to run on his Bayern Munich contract. Germany will struggle to replace such an influential figure, but they will hope emerging talents such as Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz can fill the void.

Liverpool have issued a statement after seeing their U18 side walk off the pitch twice due to alleged racist abuse at a tournament in Germany.

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Liverpool U18 player allegedly racially abusedTeam playing pre-season tournament in GermanyWalked off pitch in successive gamesWHAT HAPPENED?

Liverpool have requested an investigation be undertaken after their U18 team left the field twice in protest at alleged racist abuse directed at one of their players during the Bundesliga Cup competition, a pre-season youth event held in the German city of Schwabisch Hall.

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As per – in their opening match against Hoffenheim on Friday, a Liverpool player claimed to have been the recipient of a racist remark from an opponent, prompting the Reds to leave the pitch in protest. The same Liverpool starlet then reported similar degradation during his side's next game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, with the squad once again taking the decision to abandon the contest.

WHAT LIVERPOOL SAID

In a statement made following the two incidents, Liverpool said: "Liverpool FC can confirm that a member of our under-18s team reported he was racially abused by an opponent while playing in the Bundesliga Cup youth tournament at Schwabisch Hall in Germany on Friday. The player immediately alerted the match official, his team-mates, and our coaching staff. Consequently, LFC’s management team decided to stop the game and leave the pitch together. In a further incident, the same player was the target of abuse during a fixture in the tournament today. Again, the player alerted his team-mates and coaching staff and our management team opted to leave the pitch once more.

"We are proud of our player for his prompt actions in reporting the incident and the maturity of his response. He and any of his team-mates affected are being supported by the Academy safeguarding team. The club calls upon our opponents and the tournament organisers to conduct an urgent and thorough investigation into the incident."

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WHAT NEXT?

Eintracht sporting director Timmo Hardung has also spoken out, telling German outlet : "We can rule out racism, it is a linguistic issue and we therefore hope that we have also cleared up the misunderstanding with the players concerned and those responsible at Liverpool FC."

According to , Hoffenheim have given a similar explanation for the incident that took place on Friday.

Liverpool's U18s are scheduled to take to the pitch again for the final day of the Bundesliga Cup on Sunday.

The team leaves for Pakistan on December 8, where they will play two Test matches that will count towards the ICC World Test Championship

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Nov-2019Pakistan will be hosting Test cricket for the first time in more than ten years, that too against a full-strength Sri Lanka line-up, in December 2019.Dimuth Karunaratne will lead the Sri Lanka side, with experienced batsmen Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal present in the 16-member squad. The team leaves for Pakistan on December 8 to play two Test matches that will count towards the World Test Championship.Less than three months ago, Sri Lanka had toured Pakistan for a series of limited-overs matches, but as many as ten high-profile players had opted against travelling.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe Test series was originally scheduled for October at a neutral venue because of security concerns, but the PCB requested Sri Lanka to play the entire bilateral series in Pakistan. The white-ball games were played as a test of sorts for the security measures taken by the hosts, and following the success of that tour, Sri Lanka agreed to play the Tests in Pakistan too.There was only one change to the Sri Lanka squad that played the second Test against New Zealand at home in August. Kasun Rajitha, the right-arm fast bowler, replaced legspinner Akila Dananjaya, who is currently serving a one-year suspension for an illegal action.The first Test will start on December 11 in Rawalpindi, followed by the second in Karachi from December 19.Pakistan has not hosted a Test match since the 2009 Lahore attack that wounded several Sri Lankan cricketers, support staff members and others. Of the current players, fast bowler Suranga Lakmal was part of Sri Lanka’s squad back then as well.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has showcased his willingness to trust and develop academy talents in his debut season with the Yorkshire-based side.

The German boss worked the likes of James Maddison, Ben Godfrey, Max Aarons, and Emiliano Buendia during his time with Norwich City, and has now provided Mateo Joseph and Archie Gray with opportunities to shine this season.

Gray, who was 17 at the start of the campaign, made his senior debut under the Whites manager this term and has racked up 36 appearances in the Championship so far.

The England U21 international is the first-choice option for Farke at right-back, whilst Joseph is currently the back-up to Patrick Bamford in the number nine position, and this shows that the tactician is prepared to bring academy gems into the team if they are good enough and ready to feature.

This bodes well for the array of talent currently occupying the U21 and U18 teams at Thorp Arch, as they know that the club have a manager who will not ignore them if they perform to a high level, in matches and in training.

Current U18s star Josh McDonald is one player who could have his eyes on a future place in the first-team, and Farke could eventually unearth him as a homegrown heir to Dan James, who has had somewhat of a revival at Elland Road this season.

Dan James' initial struggles at Leeds

In the summer of 2021, former Leeds duo Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta swooped to sign the Wales international from Manchester United for a reported fee of £25m.

The forward started regularly throughout the 2021/22 campaign for Bielsa, and then his replacement Jesse Marsch, but failed to deliver goals and assists at an impressive rate.

He produced four goals, with eight 'big chances' missed, and assisted four for his teammates, with 0.8 key passes per game, over 31 Premier League starts.

His less-than-impressive form at the top end of the pitch, after a big £25m move to Elland Road, led to a loan to league rivals Fulham for the 2022/23 campaign.

Appearances

24

Starts

7

Goals

2

Assists

1

Key passes per game

0.4

As you can see in the table above, James also struggled during his time with the Cottagers as he only racked up three direct goal contributions in 24 matches.

His lack of end product on the wing in the Premier League may have contributed to Fulham's decision to send him back to Elland Road last summer, instead of attempting to sign him on a permanent basis.

That did, however, provide Leeds and Farke with an opportunity to help him regain his confidence by playing regular football in the Championship this season.

Dan James' impressive form this season

The 26-year-old speedster has started 24 of his 34 appearances in the second tier for the Whites so far this season, and has showcased his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

James has plundered an eye-catching 12 goals and seven assists in those 24 starts – a return of one goal or assist every 1.26 starts on average in the league.

Only Wilfried Gnonto (2.72) has outscored his Expected Goals by more than James (1.8) within the Leeds squad, as the electric winger has found the back of the net 12 times from an xG of 10.2.

This shows that the former Manchester United forward has been efficient in front of goal, and not wasted many opportunities to get his name on the scoresheet.

The Welsh wizard has also showcased his creativity with 12 'big chances' created and 1.5 key passes per game across his 34 league matches for Leeds this term. He ranks within the top 5% of Championship attacking midfielders and wingers for Expected Assisted Goals (0.29) per 90, and the top 8% for assists (0.30) per 90.

These statistics show that the Whites star has been an excellent operator as both a scorer and a creator of goals, whilst having the quality to operate on either the right or the left wing for Farke.

In total, James has racked up 16 goals and 12 assists in 77 appearances in all competitions since he made the move to Leeds in the summer of 2021, which is a return of 2.75 matches per game on average.

Josh McDonald's Leeds potential

Leeds swooped to sign McDonald from Scottish side Hamilton Academical in the summer of 2023, at the age of 16, amid interest from Premiership giants Glasgow Rangers.

Football Insider quoted an unnamed Scotland U18 coach as describing the talented teenager as an "exceptional" young gem, which is why he played for his country at U18 level despite being just 16 at the time.

The outlet noted the club's desire to bolster the quality of their youth teams across the board, which is why they were keen to sign the 16-year-old to add him to their U18 group.

McDonald has been playing for Leeds at that level so far this season and has caught the eye with his contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Like James, the Scottish wizard has the ability to play on either the left or the right side of the attack, rather than being restricted to one or the other, and that could help his first-team chances as he could fill in for multiple positions.

As you can see in the table below, McDonald has featured regularly for the club in the league and the cup during his debut campaign in English football.

Appearances

4

17

Minutes played

344

1,028

Goals

0

5

Assists

1

3

He has racked up eight direct goal contributions in 17 appearances for the U18s this season, which is a return of one goal or assist every 2.13 outings on average – better than James' Leeds career average of one every 2.75 games.

These statistics show that McDonald, like the Wales international, can both score and create goals at a decent rate from either the right or left wing.

At the age of 17, the Scottish maestro also has plenty of time left to develop and progress over the years to come, and could be a player Farke keeps an eye on for the future as a possible long-term homegrown heir to James, who is nine years older than him.

It would be a dream scenario for Leeds and the German boss as the club would not need to splash out millions on a replacement for the Welshman, should McDonald continue to progress and emerge as a senior option.

Hafeez marked his comeback at the age of 39 with an unbeaten 67 off 49 balls against Bangladesh

Umar Farooq26-Jan-2020Mohammad Hafeez, who marked his comeback at the age of 39, was excited with his match-winning contribution against Bangladesh in the second T20I and emphasized on the importance of carrying experience with the team. He also suggested that he has learnt over the years that ‘survival’ in the team isn’t possible without performance.Hafeez, alongside Shoaib Malik, returned to the side after a lengthy gap – during which Pakistan have had a string of poor results. Since January 2018, they hadn’t won a T20I for nearly a year, with their last win before this series coming in February 2019 against South Africa. They lost eight of their nine completed games in the format last year. Their remarkable record – that kept them sitting tightly on top of the rankings – was drawn between January and November 2018, in which they won 17 out of their 18 T20Is.Hafeez and Malik have both played match-winning knocks this series, and their experience was evident in Pakistan’s balance in batting. There was a severe lack of consensus about bringing back both players, as there was apparently a directive to move on from seniors and invest in younger players.”It was a superb opportunity for me to represent Pakistan again and contribute in getting Pakistan a winning momentum,” said Hafeez after his unbeaten 67 off 49 balls in the second T20I. “There was one required missing part in the team and that is exactly what I am trying to cover. I am really happy the way Shoaib Malik played a magnificent inning on a difficult situation and pitch and won a game for Pakistan, and that was something to learn from. So today with my innings, I am more than happy to be able to help Pakistan win a game.”When you make a come back there is a pressure of expectations,” he said. “[…] for 8-9 months I didn’t play international cricket and I didn’t play domestic, because I wanted to let youngsters to play. I quit Test cricket, so there was no point playing four-day cricket. I was focusing more on white-ball cricket. There was a lot going in mind but I kept on backing my experience and my preparations and waiting for the opportunity. I was positive all the way and during the time never let my thought process go negative.”Before this series, Hafeez last played T20Is in November 2018. Since then, he has featured in various T20 competitions at home and abroad, and his record in that period has been modest: 509 runs in 26 matches at an average of 21.20 and a strike rate of 107.38, and 16 wickets at 33.75, and an economy rate of 7.28. He was left out but he refused to fade away and kept his hope alive for another comeback. He didn’t make a perfect start in the first game, scoring 17 off 16 balls, but his second innings not only gave him the confidence but also gave captain Babar Azam enough to justify his faith in the senior players.Hafeez suggested that there should be a policy to communicate with the players about their future rather than leaving them out in the wilderness.”If there is any policy then it should be talked about. I had tried speaking to the higher officials directly, asking if they need me or otherwise,” he said. “I told them that I am happy with my career and satisfied from my services for Pakistan. But if they think that I am no longer required or there isn’t a place for me, then I should distance myself from international circuit and focus on international leagues. But I never got a reply so I was being patient and open and was happy to serve Pakistan again when required.”My return is being painted as a comeback, which for me was an opportunity to come with a more focused mindset. To me, performances are what help your team to win and I am more excited than ever that my contribution has played a key part, as a match-winning innings similar to Malik the other day. I think communication is very important and if a player is communicated in time then it’s a lot easier [for player to plan his future].”Banking on his experience, Hafeez talked about the importance of having a player with 17 years in the circuit. His T20 international average 25.21, however, isn’t something Pakistan can rely on. But he is the second leading run-scorer for Pakistan in T20s with 1992 runs.When asked if this opportunity was easier for him, playing at home, Hafeez responded sternly: “It’s important to look at the stats. In the last 10 years, I haven’t played in Pakistan. Out of 12,000 International runs, 11,000 were scored outside Pakistan so I never got Pakistani conditions. So I am happy that I have scored in very difficult situations for Pakistan and had a winning contribution, which is nothing less than a proud moment or memory for me.””You always take experience alongside. Even when I got out in the first innings with a mistake, sitting outside watching Malik’s innings with the youngsters, I was telling them to observe the winning process, how Malik is playing and his control. You have to learn it and apply it. We have great talent in our country, but there is there is a need for more work on the development of the game. Making players learn that performance for the winning cause is so important – the finishing touch and how to absorb the pressure at international level.”It does take time. Even we took time to learn. I had shared a dressing room with an example in front of me in Inzamam ul Haq – who scored over 10,000 runs, [Mohammed[ Yousuf, who was scoring a hundred every second or third innings, and Shoaib Akhtar. So we learnt from them and understood that you won’t survive in the team if you don’t produce match-winning contributions.”

Achraf Hakimi's side dominated the entire game, putting the overmatched USMNT on their heels from the opening whistle

The U.S. men's U23 national team crashed out of the 2024 Olympics, falling to Morocco 4-0 in the quarterfinals Friday in Paris.

Morocco went up early in the first half from the penalty spot on what was a controversial call, and it set the tone for the match. Two Moroccan players and defender Nathaniel Harriel went to challenge for a ball in the air, and the Philadelphia Union defender's boot made contact with the calf of Soufiane Rahimi, who fell to the ground.

The Al-Ain striker scored the ensuing penalty kick after a brief VAR review to make it 1-0 in the 28th minute.

The U.S. made it to halftime without conceding again, needing a new identity on the pitch for the final 45 if they were to secure a result. They came out of the break with a much higher tempo, but nothing came of it, and Morocco began to dominate.

Minutes after the USMNT's best chance of the game, a close-range effort from Miles Robinson that was hit wide, the Atlas Lions doubled their lead. It was a sensational counter, led by ex-Barcelona star Abde Ezzalzouli and finished by winger Ilias Akhomach in the 63rd minute.

They added a third seven minutes later, with PSG star Achraf Hakimi putting the game away, making it 3-0 after a solo-effort that saw the U.S. defense just watch him dribble by. They then added a fourth in stoppage-time after another penalty was called on Harriel, this time for a handball offense despite the defender's arm being tucked in on his side in a natural position.

The USMNT lacked ambition and aggression much of the game, and seemed to be affected by a predominantly Moroccan crowd.

“To go down in the nature that we did was tough, pretty frustrating,” U.S. defender Walker Zimmerman said. “It’s sad because I think it’s a group that has a lot of belief in each other and a lot of character and I don’t think it showed through and that’s what’s hard is knowing how much everyone did care, had each other’s back.”

Overall, it was a brilliant and unexpected run for the U23 squad at these Olympics, and it could be a spark for the program for years to come. But the U.S. – playing in the Olympics for the first time since 2008 and in the knockouts for the first time in 24 years – were not up to the task in the quarterfinals. And on a day in which they needed to be at their best, they didn't deliver

GOAL rates the USMNT's players from the Parc Des Princes in Paris.

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defense

Patrick Schulte (7/10):

Did absolutely nothing wrong, despite the four goals allowed. Made a great attempt on the penalty, had an outstanding first half save, too.

Nathaniel Harriel (5/10):

Sloppy moment on the penalty, but an incredibly harsh call. Not his best day, as he found himself out of position on the second penalty, too.

Walker Zimmerman (6/10):

Rather solid on the back line. Was composed, connected passes and was visibly trying to be a leader. What they needed from the veteran.

Miles Robinson (3/10):

Another poor showing. Sloppy giveaways and wrong positioning on the final two goals.

John Tolkin (7/10):

Was tasked with keeping Hakimi quiet, and he relatively did so. He was left out to hang on the third goal, and made an attempt to stick with him.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Tanner Tessman (6/10):

Was the best midfielder on the day. Tough result after a great tournament.

Jack McGlynn (4/10):

Started in place of Busio, but struggled to replicate his role. Picked up a nonsensical yellow.

Djordje Mihailovic (4/10):

Never found his footing. Couldn't connect passes or find space. Removed in second half.

Getty ImagesAttack

Griffin Yow (5/10):

He had all the momentum coming into the match, but nothing came of it. A poor showing. Was in Hakimi's back pocket all day.

Paxten Aaronson (6/10):

Tried to make things happen, was creative on the ball, but was just outclassed.

Kevin Paredes (7/10):

The best attacker for the USMNT on the day. Had shooting opportunities, tried to take on defenders 1v1, was just let down by those around him. Should hold his head high.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Taylor Booth (6/10):

Subbed on to make something happen, but game was gone by that time.

Benja Cremaschi (N/A):

Subbed on late.

Joshua Atencio (N/A:

Joined the group late off the bench.

Duncan McGuire (6/10):

Brought on for attacking momentum, but too little too late.

Caleb Wiley (N/A):

Replaced Tolkin late.

Marko Mitrovic (4/10):

So much felt wrong. The U.S. didn't press, they welcomed pressure, they didn't link in the middle – the list goes on. They were overwhelmed by their opposition, and Mitrovic failed to make the necessary changes in time. The stage was too big for all involved.