U.S. men's national team head coach Gregg Berhalter remains steadfast in his belief that he is the right person to guide the squad, despite their recent disappointing performance. The team was eliminated from contention with a single win, finishing third in Group C with a mere three points. In a group dominated by Uruguay, who amassed a perfect nine points, and Panama, who secured second place with six points, the U.S. team's shortcomings became glaringly evident.
Challenging Group Stage
The critical match against Panama ended in a 2-1 defeat for the U.S., a game that held significant implications for their standing in the group. Compounding the situation was the early setback of Timothy Weah receiving a red card in the 18th minute, placing the team at a noticeable disadvantage. Despite this, Berhalter reflected on the match by stating, "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 U.S. Soccer Federation has announced that a comprehensive review of the tournament will be conducted to identify areas where improvements are necessary. Berhalter acknowledges the need for a thorough evaluation: "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."
Reflecting on the Performance
Berhalter, now in his fifth year as head coach, maintains that defensively, the team is solid and capable. He stated, "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 squad's composition includes a significant cohort who competed in the 2022 World Cup, illustrating the depth and experience present within the team. This expertise, however, did not translate into the desired results in the Copa America. Furthermore, the presence of three players aged 30 and older underscores the team's blend of seasoned players and emerging talents.
A crucial moment in the match against Panama was highlighted by Berhalter: "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." His analysis points to specific strategic shortcomings that need addressing.
Future Prospects
Despite the setbacks, Berhalter's confidence in the team's potential remains unshaken. "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." His emphasis on consistent effort and performance speaks to his broader vision for the team's future.
Berhalter also commented on the importance of squad depth and continual 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."
As the U.S. Soccer Federation prepares for its comprehensive review, Berhalter's role as head coach appears under scrutiny. However, his commitment to the team's development and his vision for their future remain clear. "That's not up to me," he remarked when questioned about his future with the team, indicating that decisions regarding his tenure are beyond his control.
The U.S. men's national team now faces a period of reflection and adjustment, aiming to identify and correct the issues that led to their recent shortcomings. With a foundation of experienced and promising players, the focus will be on building a cohesive strategy that can translate their potential into consistent performance and success on the international stage.