2 days ago
A dreaded inquest into what went incorrect for USA astatine nan Copa America almost felt inevitable contempt coming a batch sooner than anyone expected. Yet nan mobility marks already lingering complete Gregg Berhalter and nan evident Golden Generation astatine his disposal person now turned to exclamation points.
Not nan benignant of exclamation constituent that signals excitement, either. It is simply a consciousness of warning, a consciousness of panic aft nan sheer disaster that played retired connected these shores complete nan past six days.
Monday nighttime astatine Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Berhalter's tenure arsenic USMNT caput coach reached its nadir arsenic an underwhelming show and 1-0 conclusion to Uruguay sealed their destiny successful a location tourney which should person been nan cleanable springboard 2 years retired from a World Cup heading to these shores.
The hosts were incapable to conjure up what would person been a awesome flight aft past week's shambolic 2-1 nonaccomplishment against Panama, a consequence which dented nan ego of a squad regarded nan finest successful nan country's history and shattered nan assurance of its adoring fanbase.
Gregg Berhalter faces immense questions complete his early aft USA's Copa America disaster
So, aft coming 2nd champion to a squad that trails them by 32 places successful nan FIFA World Rankings, and going retired pinch a whimper astatine a title successful their ain backmost yard, wherever connected world do USA spell from here?
Fan sentiment towards Berhalter had already soured earlier this summer's Copa America had moreover sewage underway, pinch a 5-1 mauling astatine nan hands of Colombia dampening nan belief that he is champion equipped to lead this group of players.
An opening 2-0 triumph complete Bolivia past yet proved a mendacious dawn, arsenic nan Panama debacle which followed near USA reeling and successful request of an upset triumph complete a well-oiled Uruguay instrumentality to bent successful there.
A number of supporters flocked to Arrowhead for that day of destiny pinch their minds made up astir Berhalter, signalling their guidance to his authorities pinch damning t-shirts and signs successful nan crowd. Even if he turned this around, moreover if he dragged them done to nan knockout stages by nan tegument of their teeth, they had seen capable to reason he is not nan man for nan job.
Monday's constrictive loss, arsenic Berhalter and respective of his players pointed out, was not wherever they mislaid a grip connected this tournament. It was by nary intends bully enough, pinch a agleam opening 20 minutes yet fizzling retired into mediocrity, but nan harm done against Panama was yet irreversible. And for Berhalter, that slip-up must surely beryllium nan straw that collapsed nan camel's back.
In a tourney connected location soil, nan USMNT went retired pinch a whimper successful a favorable group
Christian Pulisic and Co person been sent packing aft 2 consecutive group-stage defeats
Monday's nonaccomplishment to Uruguay must surely beryllium nan last nail successful nan coffin for Berhalter
If USA want to debar a akin humiliation erstwhile soccer's top show heads present successful 2026, maintaining religion successful nan existent coaching setup cannot beryllium nan answer. This was Berhalter's World Cup audition and he has grounded it successful sinking colors. There are small to nary positives that he, his squad aliases fans tin tie from what has played retired present this summer.
New activity and caller ideas are truthful desperately required to inject immoderate life backmost into a roster packed pinch much than capable talent to look from a group containing Panama and Bolivia. Yes, location are arguments to beryllium had astir whether it is arsenic talented arsenic nan Golden Generation tag implies. There are nary to beryllium had, though, astir whether it stacks up to nan squad who made it done to nan quarterfinals astatine their expense.
With 3 agleam options upfront successful Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Folarin Balogun, and nan likes of Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah successful nan mediate of nan park, location is simply a beardown instauration for immoderate imaginable caller coach to activity pinch going forward.
Defensively, Berhalter has been capable to thin connected Premier League and Bundesliga talents successful Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson and Joe Scally. Tim Ream whitethorn beryllium successful request of replacing astatine nan property of 36, but nan constituent to beryllium made is that this is simply a USA roster underperforming by a agelong way.
After Monday's bitter group-stage exit, Berhalter was asked if he believes nan squad has made advancement successful nan past 9 months. 'Yes I do, I deliberation successful a number of ways,' he said. 'Defensively we're a very bully team, astir games we person higher expected goals than nan opponent, we create chances, we move nan shot well.
'To maine nan full point is you want to support moving nan squad forward, and we have.'
The USA coach claims he is still connected nan correct way but it is difficult to return those words seriously
If being grouped by Panama wasn't disheartening enough, Berhalter's declare to beryllium connected nan correct way afterwards is possibly nan astir telling motion of each that a alteration is required.
While throwing a group of young players - pinch an mean of 25 years and 255 days - nether nan autobus aft specified a seismic nonaccomplishment whitethorn not person been a wise move, it is inconceivable for USA's leader to champion his activity successful nan aftermath of a complete failure.
Whether it's different American coach aliases a sanction from abroad, nan country's men's shot squad is crying retired for a caller imagination and a activity of caller aerial pinch a acheronian unreality now looming complete nan World Cup.
Keeping nan religion successful a authorities that has collapsed and burned astatine nan smallest of first hurdles this summertime is asking for problem successful 2026.
