Berhalter: Confidence Amidst Copa America Setback
In the wake of the U.S. men's national soccer team's early elimination from the Copa America, head coach Gregg Berhalter has reaffirmed his belief that he is the right person to lead the squad. Despite a disappointing conclusion to the tournament, Berhalter remains steadfast in his vision for the team's future.
During the competition, the U.S. team managed only one victory, resulting in a third-place finish in Group C with three points. Uruguay dominated the group, achieving a perfect nine points, while Panama secured second place with six points, including a critical 2-1 win over the United States.
Reflecting on the defeat to Panama, Berhalter acknowledged the significant impact of the result. "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," he said. The match saw a critical moment in the 18th minute when Timothy Weah received a red card, putting the team at a significant disadvantage.
Addressing the defensive lapse, Berhalter conceded, "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." Despite these challenges, he expressed pride in the players' effort and commitment. "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."
Berhalter, now in his fifth year as head coach, has been instrumental in developing a squad that includes a significant cohort who competed in the 2022 World Cup. Emphasizing the depth and progress made under his tenure, he commented, "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."
The defensive prowess of the team remains a point of pride for Berhalter. "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," he stated.
Despite the setback, he cautions against a narrative of despair. "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," Berhalter affirmed. His response to whether he still considers himself the right fit for the job was concise: "Yes."
The U.S. Soccer Federation has announced that a comprehensive review of the tournament will be conducted. Berhalter echoed this sentiment, stating, "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."
As the review process unfolds, Berhalter's future remains in the balance. The question of his continued leadership might ultimately be out of his hands. "That's not up to me," he remarked, signaling his acknowledgment of the external factors that will influence his tenure.
The U.S. team’s Copa America roster was underscored by the presence of seasoned players, with three squad members aged 30 and older, further highlighting the blend of experience and youth within the team. This balance is seen as pivotal to the team’s potential and future endeavors.
While the early exit from the Copa America is a setback, Berhalter’s journey with the U.S. men’s national team continues to be one of resilience and hope. His belief in the team’s capability to grow and improve underlines his commitment to steering the squad through these turbulent waters, aiming for brighter shores in forthcoming competitions.