FIFA World Cup champion praises Team USA despite tournament's end: 'They did surprise us'

It wasn't the ending Team USA wished for in the Round of 16 loss to Belgium, but a former FIFA World Cup champion believes the collective work this squad did on home soil should be celebrated.

In fact, four years from now when the new World Cup tournament begins, he wouldn't be shocked if we see the USMNT making their way to its first-ever final.

Christian Karembeu, the French legend who helped the country lift the World Cup trophy in 1998, said "as Europeans," and as a soccer player himself, the U.S. surprised him in this tournament.

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"They did surprise us. Nobody expected that they can play like that," Karembeu told Fox News Digital , while also discussing his partnership with Coca-Cola and FIFA for their "Every Throw-In Counts" initiative. "With speed, with possession at times, and also, the talent you have now.

"I think [head coach Mauricio] Pochettino has done a great job and you need to be proud of Team USA because we didn’t expect that."

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The entire country was rallying behind one of the three host nations, as Mexico and Canada also led the way in hospitality. Karembeu, who participated in the World Cup in 1994 when it was on American soil, has been enthralled by what he called a "successful" tournament thus far.

But the 4-1 loss to Belgium, which saw some key blunders by the USMNT that led to goals, put a damper on the three wins the U.S. were able to come by in the tournament, including the Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Karembeu believes that the loss to Belgium should serve as a lesson for the U.S., as they look ahead to 2030.

"We learn every time, every day, every year. I think that through Pochettino, Team USA has improved a lot," he explained. "That’s why I said I don’t think it’ll be surprising in the next four years – they’ll be in Morocco, Portugal and Spain – Team USA will maybe go to the final. Because now they have seen what was missing maybe, but I think it was more a lack of experience. Otherwise, they have the potential."

Leading up to the Belgium match, the USMNT was in headlines around the globe after FIFA decided to invoke Article 27 of its disciplinary code and suspend the red card Folarin Balogun received in the Round of 32, which allowed him to play against Belgium . Many were furious, including the Belgian Football Federation, which released a scathing statement about the situation.

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Even President Donald Trump got involved, calling close friend and FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, to ask for a review of the red card.

Some argued it could've distracted the U.S. from focusing on the match, but no excuses were made. Pochettino and many others acknowledged their lack of effort and precision in the biggest moment of the tournament.

But again, Karembeu looks at the USMNT with a glass half full.

"I think you need to focus on the collective result and what they achieved before that. We need to be very focused on what they delivered," he said.

The U.S. could have the opportunity to make Karembeu's prediction come true, but they must first qualify for the World Cup now after getting an automatic bid for being the host country.

EVERY THROW-IN COUNTS AT THE WORLD CUP

Karembeu can’t get enough of Coca-Cola and FIFA’s new fan challenge during this World Cup, where "Every Throw-In Counts" gives fans a way to participate in the tournament beyond what goes down on the pitch.

With a mixture of soccer, lifestyle and community care activities, the initiative encourages fans around the globe to complete simple, everyday activities, upload photos and score "goals" for chances to win exclusive prizes. From recycling to using public transport, to choosing reusable items, more than 5,000 fans and 34,000 goals have been tallied to date. And there’s still more games to play.

"It is awesome. It’s fun, simple," Karembeu said. "Fans embrace it because it is simple. They can play with it with their families. It’s just perfect for everyone.

"I think this is a lesson and model for everyone. Therefore, when you have this great platform for the World Cup tournament, it’s good to share this initiative with the fans. To be responsible and to be sustainable."

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