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If you can’t beat them… join them? A video of USA forward Ricardo Pepi pole dancing in a NETHERLANDS jersey appears after they eliminated the USA in the World Cup, with the striker missing from Gregg Berhalter’s squad for Qatar.
Ricardo Pepi appeared to be the victim of losing a bet over the weekend after the US was beaten 3-1 by the Netherlands in the World Cup.
Pepi, 19, was a surprise omission from the US roster for coach Gregg Berhalter’s tournament and plays his club soccer in the Netherlands with Groningen.
And it looks like Pepi could have placed a bet on who would win the World Cup knockout match and, as the underdog, missed out.
Ricardo Pepi appeared to be the victim of losing a bet with the Netherlands defeating the United States 3-1
Pepi was filmed pole dancing while wearing a Holland jersey after beating their USA team.
Images that have surfaced on social media show the striker donning a Holland shirt while cheering people can be heard in the background and shouting “Pepi!”.
After putting on his Holland jersey, Pepi, who appears to be in a club, goes up on stage and pole dances in his Holland jersey, much to the amusement of the people filming him.
Groningen now does not play until January 8 due to the World Cup pause in the European soccer calendar.
For Pepi, he has had a good moment of form for his club team despite the fact that he was left out of the World Cup.
Pepi has scored six goals in nine games for Groningen after joining the Dutch team on loan from German side Augsburg.
It meant it was a surprise that he wasn’t on Team USA, especially since Berhalter’s team lacks a good striker option.
Pepi is currently playing his club soccer in the Netherlands with the top-tier Dutch team Groningen.
The USMNT are heading home after the Netherlands knocked them out of the tournament on Saturday.
“Disappointing because I felt I gave myself the best chances to be on the World Cup roster,” Pepi said in November after the team came out.
‘I felt like I had a chance, but at the same time it didn’t disappoint because, as I said, I did my thing, I went out, I played a lot of minutes, I scored my goals. I am very happy with that situation.
‘At the end of the day, it’s a manager’s decision that I can’t control. I feel like once he told me, I wanted to turn the page as soon as possible and focus on the game now. I can’t keep thinking about why I didn’t make it or why I did.
Pepi has been capped 12 times for the USA and has scored three goals.