Gregg Berhalter Defends Tenure Amid U.S. National Team Struggles
Gregg Berhalter, the head coach of the U.S. men’s national team, remains confident that he is the right person to lead the squad despite recent setbacks. The U.S. team faced disappointment as it was eliminated from the group stage with just one win, securing just three points and finishing third in Group C. Uruguay topped the group with a perfect nine points, while Panama claimed second place with six points, including a crucial 2-1 victory over the U.S.
Reflecting on the loss to Panama, Berhalter admitted the impact it had. "Obviously, the loss against Panama really hurt," he said. "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."
Crucial Moments and Tactical Adjustments
One of the pivotal moments in the match against Panama was Timothy Weah's red card in the 18th minute, which left the team at a disadvantage early on. Berhalter acknowledged the challenges faced during this critical juncture. "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."
Despite the early exit, Berhalter remains optimistic about the team's potential. "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," he emphasized.
Future Plans and Evaluations
The U.S. Soccer Federation has announced it will conduct a comprehensive review of the team's performance in the tournament. Berhalter is entering his fifth year as head coach, and while results in this Copa America have been disappointing, he continues to have faith in the team's direction and development. "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 highlighted the defensive skills of the U.S. team, despite their recent struggles. "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."
Depth and Experience
The 2022 World Cup cohort significantly contributed to the Copa America roster. The squad's depth is further underscored by the presence of three players aged 30 and older. Berhalter emphasized the importance of utilizing the team's depth and continually striving for improvement. "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."
When asked about his future with the team, Berhalter responded succinctly, "That's not up to me." Regardless of the upcoming review's outcome, Berhalter's commitment to leading the U.S. men's national team and driving its progress remains clear.
As the U.S. Soccer Federation undertakes its comprehensive review, the future direction of the team and Berhalter's role will undoubtedly come under scrutiny. Yet, the underpinnings of confidence and a call for consistent high standards might be the needed recipe for turning aspirations into achievements on the international stage.