In the aftermath of the U.S. men's national team's elimination from a recent tournament, head coach Gregg Berhalter has expressed his confidence in his role despite the setback. The U.S. team exited the competition with just one win, finishing third in Group C with three points. The group was led by Uruguay, who secured a perfect nine points, with Panama taking the second spot with six points. A crucial 2-1 victory by Panama against the U.S. played a pivotal role in sealing the team's fate.
Timothy Weah's red card in the 18th minute of the match against Panama further complicated matters for the U.S. side. Reflecting on the match and the overall performance, Berhalter conveyed his thoughts on various aspects of the team's play and strategy.
Berhalter's Perspective
Despite the disappointing results, Berhalter remains steadfast in his belief that he is the right person to continue leading the squad. When asked directly if he is the right fit for the job, Berhalter responded with a succinct, "Yes."
He elaborated on the difficulties faced during the match against Panama, 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 coach pinpointed specific areas needing improvement, notably the team's defensive tactics during critical moments. "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 explained.
A Comprehensive Review on the Horizon
The U.S. Soccer Federation has announced plans for a comprehensive review of the tournament to understand where the team fell short. Berhalter acknowledged the importance of this review, emphasizing the fine margins that often decide the outcomes in competitive sports. "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.
Effort and Execution
Reflecting on the team’s effort, Berhalter praised the players' dedication and hard work, especially in the face of tough opposition. "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 noted.
The coach also highlighted the squad's defensive strengths and their 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," Berhalter explained, underscoring his belief in the team's potential and growth.
A Forward-Looking Approach
Berhalter’s tenure as head coach is now in its fifth year, and he remains optimistic about the future, citing the improved depth of the squad and the experience gained from international competitions such as the 2022 World Cup. "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," he remarked.
Ultimately, Berhalter acknowledges that the ultimate decision about his future isn't in his hands. When queried about this, he simply stated, "That's not up to me."
The U.S. team's performance will undergo careful scrutiny in the coming weeks, and the insights gained from the review will be crucial in shaping the path forward. Yet, even amidst criticism and disappointment, Berhalter’s words reflect a commitment to growth and resilience, aiming to transform setbacks into stepping stones for future success.