USMNT Hall of Famer and TNT broadcast analyst DaMarcus Beasley hit out at fullback Sergino Dest over his 'baby behavior' against Trinidad & Tobago.
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Ex-USMNT star Beasley rips Dest red cardFullback sees red for two yellows in 20 secondsCalled 'unprofessional' by teammate postgameWHAT HAPPENED?
At halftime of the United States' match against Trinidad and Tobago, the ex-defender went in on the fullback on the TNT halftime show, describing his on-field antics as 'baby behavior.' The sending off, which saw Dest earn two yellow cards within 20 seconds due to dissent, was a moment of 'unprofessionalism', according to Dest's teammate Antonee Robinson.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The sending off doomed the USMNT as they fell 2-1 in Trinidad – again. It offered an undesired flashback to 2017 – their last visit to the Island nation – where they lost via the same scoreline, and missed the 2018 FIFA World Cup. It was a moment of madness for Dest, and one that could have lasting consequences, too.
With the 2024 Copa America on the horizon, the upcoming Nations League semifinals – for which Dest will be suspended – Gregg Berhalter will have a decision to make on whether or not he will include the PSV fullback in his squad.
WHAT BEASLEY SAID
“It’s crazy, it’s unacceptable,” former USMNT star Beasley said on the broadcast at halftime. “This is unacceptable. What he did just now to put his team, put the U.S. team under that kind of pressure going into the second half, going into a real game that matters. And now he misses the semifinal. I would love to know what made him that upset for him to kick a ball out of the stadium and then start yelling at his teammates as you’re going off the field.”
Beasley was asked what Dest’s teammates would say to him at halftime. “I’m just going to my O.G.s. If this was Gregg Berhalter when he was a player and he was going to meet Sergino Dest in the locker room, all hell would break loose,” Beasley said. “Same thing with Clint Dempsey. Same thing with Carlos Bocanegra. The captains of the national team. They are not going to let this slide.”
“I understand kicking the ball out of the stadium, you’re upset, but then you keep going and then you keep going, you blow kisses at the referee,” Beasley said. “For what? Because you didn’t get (a foul called on you). That’s baby behavior. I don’t understand that and I’m still upset about that.”
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR USMNT?
Berhalter's squad have no remaining matches on their schedule in 2023, and the CONCACAF Nations League doesn't return until March, so there will be a long time for the coach to deliberate the incident involving Dest. This is the second inexplicable red card from the PSV defender this year, with the other coming against Mexico in June. Regardless, Dest is suspended for the semifinal, but it's now up to the U.S. boss to determine if he chooses to extend Dest's absence.