We wrote after the U.S.’s tie against Portugal that RSL Captain Kyle Beckerman’s strong performances for the Americans were becoming routine.
Now, with the U.S. through to Round of 16, Beckerman’s solid outings are more than just routine, they’re expected.
Beckerman was steady as ever for the U.S. in its 1-0 loss to Germany on Thursday, hardly putting a foot wrong in 90 minutes against Die Mannschaft. The heart-and-soul of the Claret-and-Cobalt, Beckerman was excellent defensively, tying for first on the team with two interceptions, leading all non-defenders with three clearances and tying for third on the team with a pair of tackles. His biggest defensive play probably came in the 79th minute, when he stripped forward Mario Gotze on the edge of the box to snuff out a dangerous German chance.
Click here for a social media recap of Beckerman's standout performance
Beckerman was nearly as good in possession, finishing second on the team with 38 successful passes and a 93 percent passing accuracy. Importantly, Beckerman consistently looked forward while on the ball, often turning out of trouble to find Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones or another teammate higher up the field.
Kyle will have another chance to shine on Tuesday, when the U.S. takes on Belgium in the Round of 16. Kick is at 2:00 p.m. MT in Salvador. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN.
