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America Soccer Federation (USSF) will conduct a complete evaluate after a disappointing Copa America match on residence soil “fell wanting expectations”.
The U.S. males’s nationwide workforce beat Bolivia 2-0 in its opening recreation however then misplaced 2-1 in opposition to Panama and have been overwhelmed 1-0 by Uruguay when combating to remain within the competitors.
That outcome, 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 below appreciable strain.
An announcement from USSF learn: “Our match efficiency fell wanting our expectations. We should do higher.
“We shall be conducting a complete evaluate of our efficiency in Copa America and the way finest to enhance the workforce and outcomes as we glance in the direction of the 2026 World Cup.”
After his facet’s elimination, Berhalter mentioned: “We all know we’re able to extra and on this match we didn’t present it, it’s so simple as that. We have a look at the stage with the followers and the excessive degree of competitors and we should always have executed higher. We’ll do a evaluate and work out what went fallacious nevertheless it’s an empty feeling for now for certain.”
Requested by The Athletic if he nonetheless believes he’s the best 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, partly owing to his interactions with winger Gio Reyna.
Reyna was almost despatched residence from the World Cup resulting from his habits after being knowledgeable he wouldn’t be a starter for the U.S. workforce within the opening recreation in opposition to Wales. Reyna’s lack of effort in subsequent coaching periods almost 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 Pictures)
After the match, the coach spoke about these points with out naming Reyna through the Q&A portion of a management convention that was working below Chatham Home guidelines, which generally meant any feedback have been off the report. These feedback have been printed, nonetheless, and The Athletic reported that Reyna was the participant about whom Berhalter spoke.
After these tales, Reyna’s mother and father — former U.S. nationwide gamers Claudio and Danielle Reyna, longtime mates of Berhalter and his spouse, Rosalind Berhalter — reported to former U.S. Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart an incident in 1992 by which Berhalter kicked Rosalind throughout an argument when the 2 have been freshmen on the College of North Carolina.
That prompted a U.S. Soccer investigation which finally 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 in opposition to Uruguay.
“We had a great begin and introduced quite a lot of vitality, however on the finish of the day simply not sufficient high quality,” Pulisic mentioned. “I felt like we gave it all the pieces, however we simply couldn’t discover the answer to attain.”
Requested the place the workforce go from right here, he mentioned: “It’s about getting some relaxation, regrouping and discovering an id once more.”
Pulisic couldn’t assist the USMNT advance (Michael Reaves/Getty Pictures)
Goalkeeper Matt Turner backed Berhalter and the present employees to get issues proper.
“I see no situation with the path we’re heading,” Turner mentioned. “When you may have a struggle like that on the pitch in each single recreation we’re in on this match, it speaks volumes to how the supervisor prepares us.”
Defender Chris Richards, talking to The Athletic, too believes progress is being made.
“Each recreation is step ahead whatever the outcome. You may be taught rather a lot from each recreation,” he mentioned. “I feel folks like to provide us quite a lot of criticism due to who we’re and we take that and we hold shifting.
“We attempt to not hear an excessive amount of to outdoors noise. They will say what they need, however each recreation, each coaching is a step ahead whatever the outcome.”
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Midfielder Weston McKennie is open-minded about subsequent steps however can be comfortable to proceed enjoying for Berhalter if that’s the path 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’ve with him is what’s vital, in having a coach that gamers that may run by way 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 comfortable, rise up, mud off, be taught and hold shifting ahead. That’s the one factor you are able to do now.
“You may’t actually attempt to dwell previously, not assume too far sooner or later, simply making an attempt 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, in opposition to Canada in Kansas Metropolis on September 7 earlier than assembly New Zealand in Cincinnati three days later.
(Prime picture: John Dorton/ISI Images/USSF/Getty Pictures for USSF)
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