Luck not on American side, says Klinsmann

Jurgen Klinsmann

Salvador (Brazil), July 2 (IANS) US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Tuesday that only luck didn't go the Americans' way in their 2014 World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium.

The United States lost 2-1 to Belgium in extra time.

"At the end you need a little bit of luck that is going your way and today we didn't have that," he said.

"But when you look at the four games we played we did a very, very good job."

In Group G, the United States beat Ghana 2-1, tied Portugal 2-2 and lost 1-0 to the group winners Germany, finishing second to face Group H runners-up Belgium in the round of 16.

With three extra-time goals in the thrilling knockout game, midfielder De Bruyne and substitute forward Romelu Lukaku gave Belgium a 2-0 lead before America's 19-year-old substitute Julian Green closed the gap with 12 minutes to go.

"Obviously it's a bummer, we were so close," Klinsmann said after the breathtaking match. "I think we can all be very, very proud of this team. When you push Belgium to the limit or even beyond that is something to be proud of."

"It could have gone either way," he said.

"We had our chances as well. Things open up because the legs get heavy and they push us to the limit. We had our chances to win, but we didn't put it in, they put it in."

Responding a question about his future, Klinsmann said that he believed he would direct the US team to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.