U.S. men's national team head coach Gregg Berhalter remains unwavering in his belief that he is the right man to guide the team forward despite a disappointing showing in their recent tournament. The squad's performance has drawn scrutiny following their elimination from Group C, where they secured only one win and finished third with three points.
Group C Struggles
In a challenging group, Uruguay emerged as the dominant force, claiming a perfect nine points. Panama finished in second place with six points, largely thanks to a pivotal 2-1 victory over the U.S. team. This match was marred by Timothy Weah's red card in the 18th minute, which significantly hindered the U.S. squad’s chances.
Reflecting on the loss to Panama, Berhalter admitted, "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." He acknowledged the team's deficiencies, particularly in their 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 noted.
Conducting a Review
The U.S. Soccer Federation has announced plans for a comprehensive review of the tournament to identify areas for improvement. Berhalter commented on the forthcoming evaluation, stating, "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."
Despite the setbacks, Berhalter praised his players' efforts and emphasized the need for consistent performance. "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.
Reflections and Future Prospects
Berhalter, now in his fifth year as head coach, remains optimistic about the team's potential. He highlighted the squad's defensive strengths and their ability to create scoring opportunities. "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."
The roster for the Copa America included several players who competed in the 2022 World Cup, showcasing the team's depth and experience. The inclusion of three players aged 30 and older further underscored the blend of youth and veteran presence within the squad.
Looking ahead, Berhalter remains focused on building upon the team's progress. "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," he asserted.
When asked if he believes he is still the right person for the role, Berhalter responded with a simple, "Yes." However, he acknowledged that the decision is not solely in his hands. "That's not up to me," he conceded.
As the U.S. Soccer Federation embarks on its review process, the focus will be on identifying and addressing the shortcomings that led to their disappointing tournament performance. With Berhalter at the helm, the emphasis will be on harnessing the team's strengths, rectifying its weaknesses, and ensuring that the U.S. men's national team is well-prepared for future challenges.