Berhalter Under Scrutiny as U.S. Men's National Team Fails to Advance
The U.S. men's national team head coach, Gregg Berhalter, is standing firm in his belief that he remains the right man for the job despite a disappointing exit in the recent tournament. The U.S. team managed just one win, landing them in third place in Group C with a mere three points, behind Uruguay and Panama. Uruguay dominated Group C with a flawless performance, securing nine points, while Panama clinched the second spot with six points.
Panama's critical victory over the U.S. with a narrow 2-1 margin was a significant blow, compounded by the early red card shown to Timothy Weah in the 18th minute, which hamstrung the team's efforts. Reflecting on this pivotal match, Berhalter acknowledged the sting of the defeat: "Obviously, the loss against Panama really hurt. I think when you talk about being, 80th minute, in a good position to get a draw and get something out of the game, we didn't get it."
Berhalter highlighted specific areas that needed improvement, particularly the team's defensive strategy. "When you look at that moment specifically, there's some issues there. I think in that game in particular, a low block defending, needed to improve in that moment," he stated. This acknowledgement points to potential tactical adjustments that may be necessary moving forward.
There will be a thorough evaluation of the team's performance as announced by the U.S. Soccer Federation. "We're going to do a review of the whole tournament and see where we fell short. The margins are so small and there's very little separating any of these teams and you have to treat every game as the same," Berhalter said. This comprehensive review is expected to scrutinize all aspects of the team's play to pinpoint areas for improvement.
Berhalter, now in his fifth year as head coach, insists he has seen growth and potential within the squad. He emphasized the team's work ethic and determination, particularly noting their efforts in recent games. "When you see the effort tonight that we put in, it's incredible. The guys did a great job. They worked extremely hard, put in a great effort against a really good team but that needs to be the standard every time we step onto the field."
Despite the recent setbacks, Berhalter remains optimistic about the team's defensive capabilities and overall performance metrics. "Defensively, we're a very good team. Most games, we have higher expected goals than the opponent. We create chances, we move the ball well. To me, the whole thing is, you want to keep moving the team forward and I feel like we have," he asserted. This highlights a balanced perspective, acknowledging both strengths and areas needing development.
Looking to the future, Berhalter stresses the importance of squad depth and continual improvement. The current roster, which included several players from the 2022 World Cup, showcases the experience and potential within the team. The presence of three players aged 30 and older underscores the blend of experience and youth in the squad. "You think about the depth of the squad, the number of players that have played in games, so there's certainly improvement and we need to keep going. In my opinion, it's not something you say, 'Okay, this program's doomed.' It's not the case at all. It was a poor performance, we didn't get the results we expected and we need to get better," Berhalter commented.
The ultimate decision regarding Berhalter's future lies with the governing bodies, as the coach himself acknowledges, "That's not up to me." As the U.S. Soccer Federation conducts its review, the future leadership of the team hangs in the balance. For now, Berhalter’s focus remains on learning from the recent setbacks and driving the team towards future successes.