The US Soccer Federation (USSF) will conduct a complete evaluate after a disappointing Copa America event on house soil “fell wanting expectations”.
The U.S. males’s nationwide workforce beat Bolivia 2-0 in its opening recreation however then misplaced 2-1 towards Panama and were beaten 1-0 by Uruguay when combating to remain within the competitors.
That end result, coupled with Panama defeating Bolivia, despatched them crashing out on the group stage.
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With the 2026 World Cup within the U.S., Canada and Mexico simply two years away, coach Gregg Berhalter’s place as head coach is now beneath appreciable strain.
An announcement from USSF learn: “Our event efficiency fell wanting our expectations. We should do higher.
“We can be conducting a complete evaluate of our efficiency in Copa America and the way greatest to enhance the workforce and outcomes as we glance in the direction of the 2026 World Cup.”
After his facet’s elimination, Berhalter stated: “We all know we’re able to extra and on this event we didn’t present it, it’s so simple as that. We have a look at the stage with the followers and the excessive stage of competitors and we should always have executed higher. We’ll do a evaluate and work out what went mistaken but it surely’s an empty feeling for now for certain.”
Requested by The Athletic if he nonetheless believes he’s the correct man and voice to steer the group, Berhalter replied: “Sure.”
Berhalter, 50, led the USMNT to the final 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar however his contract was allowed to run out on the finish of that 12 months, partially owing to his interactions with winger Gio Reyna.
Reyna was practically despatched house from the World Cup as a consequence of his conduct after being knowledgeable he wouldn’t be a starter for the U.S. workforce within the opening recreation towards Wales. Reyna’s lack of effort in subsequent coaching classes practically led to his dismissal from the workforce, however Berhalter opted to maintain Reyna in Qatar.
Berhalter and Reyna’s relationship was explored within the post-World Cup evaluate (Ercin Erturk/Anadolu Company through Getty Photos)
After the event, the coach spoke about these points with out naming Reyna in the course of the Q&A portion of a management convention that was working beneath Chatham Home guidelines, which usually meant any feedback had been off the file. These feedback had been printed, nevertheless, and The Athletic reported that Reyna was the player about whom Berhalter spoke.
After these tales, Reyna’s dad and mom — former U.S. nationwide gamers Claudio and Danielle Reyna, longtime pals of Berhalter and his spouse, Rosalind Berhalter — reported to former U.S. Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart an incident in 1992 during which Berhalter kicked Rosalind throughout an argument when the 2 had been freshmen on the College of North Carolina.
That prompted a U.S. Soccer investigation which ultimately discovered Berhalter was cleared to be re-hired.
Captain Christian Pulisic, who scored within the opening win over Bolivia however couldn’t assist in the 2 blunt performances that adopted, was left ruing not discovering a “resolution” within the remaining third towards Uruguay.
“We had a superb begin and introduced numerous power, however on the finish of the day simply not sufficient high quality,” Pulisic stated. “I felt like we gave it every little thing, however we simply couldn’t discover the answer to attain.”
Requested the place the workforce go from right here, he stated: “It’s about getting some relaxation, regrouping and discovering an id once more.”
Pulisic couldn’t assist the USMNT advance (Michael Reaves/Getty Photos)
Goalkeeper Matt Turner backed Berhalter and the present workers to get issues proper.
“I see no difficulty with the course we’re heading,” Turner stated. “When you’ve gotten a battle like that on the pitch in each single recreation we’re in on this event, it speaks volumes to how the supervisor prepares us.”
Defender Chris Richards, chatting with The Athletic, too believes progress is being made.
“Each recreation is step ahead whatever the end result. You possibly can be taught lots from each recreation,” he stated. “I feel folks like to present us numerous criticism due to who we’re and we take that and we maintain shifting.
“We attempt to not hear an excessive amount of to exterior noise. They will say what they need, however each recreation, each coaching is a step ahead whatever the end result.”
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Midfielder Weston McKennie is open-minded about subsequent steps however can be joyful to proceed taking part in for Berhalter if that’s the course that’s determined.
“I imagine all of us have a consolation with Gregg and all of us perceive him and we’ve had him for a very long time,” he instructed The Athletic. “He’s progressed the workforce very removed from the place we began off 4 or 5 years in the past.
“I feel the connection that we now have with him is what’s vital, in having a coach that gamers that might run by means of a brick wall for him, gamers that hearken to him. And so I feel no matter occurs, occurs, however I feel if he’s the coach, we’re all joyful, rise up, mud off, be taught and maintain shifting ahead. That’s the one factor you are able to do now.
“You possibly can’t actually attempt to reside prior to now, not assume too far sooner or later, simply attempting to be within the current and enhance little by little and see the place it takes us.”
The USMNT are subsequent scheduled to be in motion in September for a pair of friendlies, towards Canada in Kansas Metropolis on September 7 earlier than assembly New Zealand in Cincinnati three days later.
(High picture: John Dorton/ISI Images/USSF/Getty Photos for USSF)
