Berhalter Stands Firm Amidst Disappointment as U.S. Men's Soccer Faces Scrutiny
The recent elimination of the U.S. men’s national soccer team from their group has cast a spotlight on head coach Gregg Berhalter, who remains steadfast in his belief that he is the right person to lead the squad. The team's performance has been underwhelming, finishing third in Group C with only three points and just one win, which has prompted a review by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
"Yes," Berhalter responded unequivocally when asked whether he still considered himself the right fit for the job. His confidence, however, is being heavily tested. The U.S. team found itself lagging behind Uruguay and Panama, with Uruguay topping the group with nine points and Panama securing second place with six points.
Panama's 2-1 victory over the U.S. was a critical blow. Reflecting on the match, Berhalter noted, "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." The match was further marred by the red card shown to Timothy Weah in the 18th minute, compromising the team's efforts early on.
Berhalter admitted to defensive shortcomings, particularly in crucial moments. "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 said. This acknowledgment of defensive fragility marks a stark contrast to his usual assertions of the team's solidity. "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."
Despite these setbacks, Berhalter praised the team's effort and commitment. "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." This resilience, while commendable, underscores the thin margins that separate victory from defeat at this level of play. "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," said Berhalter.
With the squad featuring a significant number of players from the 2022 World Cup and three key players aged 30 and older, the team's collective experience was expected to be a formidable asset. However, experience wasn't enough to steer the team through the turbulent waters of their recent matches. Berhalter emphasized the depth and potential within the squad, stating, "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."
The upcoming review by the U.S. Soccer Federation will be pivotal in determining the road ahead for the national team. Berhalter, now in his fifth year as head coach, faces scrutiny but remains optimistic about the future. "That's not up to me," he said when pressed about his position and potential changes.
The U.S. men's national team now stands at a crossroads, their next steps heavily dependent on the insights gleaned from the forthcoming review. Under the scrutinizing eyes of fans and analysts alike, Berhalter's leadership will continue to be a focal point, as the team endeavors to rebuild and realign with their goals.