Jürgen Klinsmann defends Wondolowski miss, says he told Wondo after game offside flag was raised

Over a decade has passed since the United States men’s national team’s heartbreaking loss to Belgium in the 2014 World Cup Round of 16. One moment of that game that haunts American soccer fans is the Chris Wondolowski miss in the final seconds of regulation.

With the score tied 0-0, the USMNT had a golden chance to pull off a monumental upset. A headed ball fell to Wondolowski who was just seven yards away from goal completely unmarked. With the goal gaping he somehow skied his shot over the bar.

In an interview 10 years later with CBS’ “Kickin’ It,” former head coach Jürgen Klinsmann opened up about the missed chance.

Jürgen Klinsmann Wondolowski miss

Klinsmann brings up a detail that many USMNT fans forget: the linesman did raise the offside flag. Had Wondolowski scored, the goal wouldn’t have counted due to an incorrect call from the linesman.

Remember, this was before the days of VAR.

Had Wondolowski scored against Belgium perhaps Mexico and USMNT fans could’ve held a shared experience of getting screwed in the Round of 16. El Tri suffered the terrible “No era penal” against the Netherlands. The U.S. could’ve had the saying “No era offside!”