Berhalter Backs Himself Despite U.S. Men's National Team's Disappointing Exit
U.S. men's national team head coach Gregg Berhalter remains confident in his ability to lead the squad, despite a disappointing exit from the recent tournament. The U.S. team, competing in Group C, managed just one win and finished third with three points, behind Uruguay and Panama.
Uruguay dominated the group with a flawless nine points, while Panama secured second place with six points. A pivotal moment in the tournament came when Panama edged out the U.S. with a 2-1 victory, a match that saw Timothy Weah receive a red card in the 18th minute, adding to the team's woes.
In the aftermath of the early exit, Berhalter affirmed his belief in his capability to steer the team forward. When asked whether he is the right man for the job, he responded succinctly: "Yes."
Reflecting on the loss to Panama, Berhalter expressed his disappointment: "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 highlighted the need for improvement, especially in defensive strategies: "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."
The U.S. Soccer Federation has announced a comprehensive review of the tournament's performance. Berhalter acknowledged the scrutiny, 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." This introspection aims to identify areas for improvement and ensure better results in future competitions.
Despite the setbacks, Berhalter praised his players' 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." He emphasized the need for consistency in performance as a hallmark of the team's identity.
Berhalter, now in his fifth year as head coach, remains focused on the positives and potential growth. He highlighted the team's defensive strengths and 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." He remains optimistic about the squad's depth and future trajectory.
The U.S. team's roster for the tournament included a significant number of players who competed in the 2022 World Cup, bringing valuable experience to the squad. Moreover, the presence of three players aged 30 and older underscores the blend of youthful exuberance and veteran savvy that Berhalter hopes to capitalize on moving forward.
Assessing the broader picture, Berhalter remarked, "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." His perspective stresses resilience and a commitment to continuous improvement rather than dwelling on setbacks.
Ultimately, Berhalter's future with the team may depend on the findings of the impending review and the decisions of the U.S. Soccer Federation. When asked about his tenure, he candidly responded, "That's not up to me."
The coming weeks will be critical as the federation conducts its review, and Berhalter prepares to address the identified shortcomings. With an eye on future competitions, the focus will undoubtedly be on learning from this setback and building a stronger, more cohesive unit capable of competing at the highest levels.