Berhalter Confident Despite U.S. Men's National Team's Early Exit
In the aftermath of the U.S. men's national team's disappointing early exit from the tournament, head coach Gregg Berhalter remains confident in his ability to lead the squad. The U.S. team finished third in Group C, accumulating just three points and managing only one win.
"Yes," Berhalter responded emphatically when asked if he still considered himself the right fit for the job. Despite his confidence, the recent performances have left fans and analysts questioning the team's direction under his leadership.
Uruguay finished at the top of Group C with a perfect record, securing nine points. Panama followed in second place with six points, thanks in part to a crucial 2-1 victory over the U.S. team. The defeat against Panama was particularly hard to swallow, given that Timothy Weah received a red card just 18 minutes into the match, leaving the U.S. at a disadvantage for the majority of the game.
"Obviously, the loss against Panama really hurt," Berhalter reflected, noting how the U.S. team was in a good position to secure a draw until late in the match. "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 a comprehensive review of the team’s performance. Berhalter acknowledged that specific areas need improvement, 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 admitted.
Berhalter also emphasized the small margins that separate teams in such competitive tournaments. "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," he said.
Despite the setbacks, Berhalter praised the effort put forth by his players. "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 remains optimistic about the squad's potential, citing their defensive capabilities and the quality of play. "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."
Berhalter is in his fifth year as head coach, a tenure that has seen its share of both successes and challenges. The current squad includes several players who competed in the 2022 World Cup, underscoring a mix of experience and youth. The roster also features three players aged 30 and older, highlighting a blend of seasoned leadership and fresh talent.
While Berhalter acknowledges the need for improvement, he rejects the notion that the program is in dire straits. "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."
The future of Berhalter’s tenure may be uncertain, as decisions of this magnitude extend beyond the coach’s purview. "That's not up to me," he stated plainly, acknowledging that the U.S. Soccer Federation will have the final say on his role moving forward.
As the review process begins, both fans and stakeholders await the findings and any subsequent changes that could shape the future of the U.S. men's national team. For now, Berhalter continues to stand firm in his belief that, despite recent setbacks, he remains the right person to lead the team into the future.