Despite being in excellent form and scoring some incredible goals, Ricardo Pepi was left off the USA selection for the competition with a video of him viral
Pepi was seen doing a pole dance.
USMNT Striker Ricardo Pepi Pole Dances Wearing Netherlands Jersey After Defeat, Video Goes Viral
Mooi filmpje van Ricardo Pepi die in de binnenstad van Groningen op deze manier omgaat met het verlies van de VS. pic.twitter.com/T7KvCJSksA
— Stefan Bleeker (@StefanBleeker) December 3, 2022
After the Netherlands’ crushing 3-1 defeat of the USMNT in the world cup round of 16s knockout in Qatar, the team’s star striker Ricardo Pepi was recently spotted pole dancing and flashing his moves while wearing a Netherlands jersey. The 19-year-old striker, who represents Groningen in Dutch club football, appears to have lost a bet on the important knockout match.
An amusing video that’s going viral on the internet features Pepi donning an orange Netherlands shirt as fans cheer and shout “Pepi!” in the background. The striker then ascends a stage and does a pole dance while wearing an orange shirt. The crowd inside the Dutch nightclub had a blast as they laughed hysterically and recorded Pepi’s antics. Pepi had to wear the shirt because he had lost a wager, according to various comments on social media.
Mooi filmpje van Ricardo Pepi die in de binnenstad van Groningen op deze manier omgaat met het verlies van de VS. pic.twitter.com/T7KvCJSksA
— Stefan Bleeker (@StefanBleeker) December 3, 2022
Pepi was excluded from the USMNT squad.
Despite being in excellent form and scoring some incredible goals, Pepi was not included on the USA team for the competition by head coach Gregg Berhalter. The teenage player impressed with six goals in nine appearances for Groningen after being loaned out by German team Augsburg to the Dutch squad. It was unexpected that Pepi didn’t make the US roster given the fact that Berhalter’s team is without a reliable striker.
Pepi expressed disappointment in November after the World Cup squad was revealed, saying, disappointing since he felt like he gave himself the best opportunities to be in the World Cup lineup. He felt like he had a chance, but at the same time, he didn’t feel let down as he did his part. At the end of the day, he has no influence over the coach’s choice. After the coach informed him, he just went on to turn the page and concentrate on the game at hand.
Gregg Berhalter, the manager of the USMNT, defended his choice by saying, although he believes the Dutch league to be excellent, it lacks the physicality that the Premier League or the Championship do. That was a consideration in the selection.