Berhalter Stays Confident Amid U.S. National Team Scrutiny
Amid a storm of criticism following the U.S. men's national team's early exit from the Copa America, head coach Gregg Berhalter remains steadfast in his belief that he is the right figure to lead the squad forward. Berhalter, who is in his fifth year at the helm, acknowledged the disappointing results but called for a measured perspective on the team's performance and future.
The U.S. faced an uphill battle in Group C, managing just one win and ultimately finishing third with three points. Uruguay emerged as the dominant force, claiming the top spot with a flawless nine points, while Panama secured second place with six points, largely thanks to a crucial 2-1 victory over the U.S.
"Obviously, the loss against Panama really hurt," Berhalter admitted. "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."
Indeed, the match against Panama was marred by early adversity. Timothy Weah received a red card in just the 18th minute, forcing the U.S. into an even more challenging situation. Despite the setback, Berhalter praised his team's effort and resilience.
"When you look at that moment specifically, there's some issues there," he said. "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 to analyze where things went wrong. Berhalter emphasized the importance of this introspection, highlighting the narrow margins that often separate victory from defeat at the highest level.
"We're going to do a review of the whole tournament and see where we fell short," Berhalter noted. "The margins are so small and there's very little separating any of these teams. You have to treat every game as the same."
Reflecting on the team's overall performance, Berhalter urged fans and critics alike to recognize the effort and commitment shown by the players, particularly against tough opponents.
"When you see the effort tonight that we put in, it's incredible," Berhalter stated. "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."
Berhalter further commented on the defensive strengths and attacking potential of his squad, underscoring the quality that has been evident in various matches.
"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 U.S. team’s roster included a significant number of players who competed in the 2022 World Cup, adding a layer of experience to the squad. Nevertheless, Berhalter acknowledged that there is always room for improvement, pointing to the depth and versatility of his squad as key areas of focus moving forward.
"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," he said. "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 continues its review, the spotlight remains firmly on Berhalter, who, despite the criticism, maintains that the current trajectory can still lead to success.
"Yes," Berhalter responded succinctly when asked if he believes he is still the right fit for the job.
While the future of the U.S. men's national team under Berhalter remains subject to ongoing scrutiny and evaluation, the head coach's unwavering confidence and articulate defense suggest that he sees a clear path to redemption and growth for his squad, even amidst the challenges faced in recent competitions.