In 2017, after the USMNT had failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Taylor Twellman ranted against the USMNT and its continual failings. “What are we doing,” he yelled after watching the team fail to score against an island nation. He ended his rant hoping that the loss to Trinidad and Tobago would be a turning point for the Federation akin to Germany or Belgium. Fast forward to last night, and the USMNT is still pitiful. The USMNT is still meandering around the soccer world trying to find some identity while relying on a jingoist arrogance rooted in absolutely nothing but delusion. Now, it’s somehow even worse. And that has led to a continued Gregg Berhalter coaching reign, and his worst loss as USMNT coach.
The United States is entering the two most important years for the sport in the country. The last time the United States hosted the World Cup, soccer did not have the foothold in the cultural zeitgeist it does now. Thanks to a variety of factors, there is enough hype and interest in soccer that a deep run by a USMNT in the World Cup could take that interest to the next level. Instead of continually asking what would happen if our best athletes played soccer, it may actually become a reality. But if the team keeps getting results like this, and the Federation fails to fix some very obvious issues, the chance is dead before it even begins.
With the Copa America beginning next week (also hosted in the United States), it’s time to start talking about the very real problems. To start – Gregg Berhalter.
USSF Decisions
USSF had the opportunity to fix this problem last year. As Berhalter’s contract expired and a coaching search began, everyone assumed the long, national nightmare was coming to an end. Finally, a coach who isn’t so tied to his system that the players aren’t hampered. I had hope because the Federation had made smart decisions with the USWNT and its coaching. There’s a reason the USWNT continually remains on top, even as generations rotate. But not the USMNT – there must be mediocrity.
Coming out of the World Cup, we had only left the group stage because of a Christian Pulisic death surge against Iran. Sure, maybe Wales got lucky, but the team should have put Wales away, but that’s a moot point. The US wins CONCACAF tournaments because most teams are terrible and Canada is still behind and Mexico sucks now. Our quote-unquote Golden Age intersects perfectly with Mexico’s Age of Disaster.
Berhalter has become a terrorist to the interests and progress of US Soccer. In other countries, Berhalter would be constantly on the lookout for hitmen. But, because cooler heads prevail in terms of murdering coaches in this country, he gets a new contract and gets to blame his players instead. It’s like when John Calipari decided to blame his players on the way out of Kentucky. Of course, in Calipari’s case, he’s blaming 19-year-olds.
One of the main issues I have with Berhalter is his dedication to his tactics. One of the main attributes a federation should look for in a national coach is their ability to adapt to the players while retaining a systematic core. The inability to do this has killed Bob Bradley, it has killed Jurgen Klinsmann, and it is killing Berhalter.
Berhalter holds some core tenets to his coaching philosophy. He likes to play out from the back, which requires skilled dribblers and passers in the back; it’s why he puts Gio Reyna so far back. He is also very defensive-minded and uses his defense to set up his offense and attack. It’s been his bread and butter, and for all the hate fans have given him, it’s worked. The USMNT isn’t some leaky team getting killed by bigger teams. It’s why America so often ties or wins by a goal or two. He’s a Mike Vrabel or Ron Rivera. Even if the team plays more counter-attacking now, the US is still a possession team.
He also just loves crosses. I didn’t realize this fully until yesterday when his halftime interview included a note about crosses. Was that the biggest issue, Gregg? Really we needed to cross more and not, you know, create important passes on the field. Or even let Reyna move up more and actually play as a playmaker. But, no, we needed 5’10 Balogun taking crosses.
The worst part of the defeat was that the US team looked normal. They didn’t play dreadfully. That French newspaper wasn’t giving anyone zeroes. Colombia just outplayed the US by sitting back and waiting for mistakes. And even in possession, it looked like Colombia actually knew the game plan and where to go. Every Colombian transition felt dangerous. The US lacked depth and control and, really, everything. And the system doesn’t work for the European players that Berhalter is bringing in; how do they look great on another continent and pitiful here?
And that’s the crux of the issue with Gregg – he doesn’t know what he wants. He wants to play Total Football with an American twist, only to bring in players that don’t have the capacity to play that style. And when he brings in players, he refuses to adjust the system without years-long tweaks. There’s no consistency in what he wants, so the US suffers. You know the saying, “give them bread and circuses and they’ll never revolt”? Well, apparently it’s also, “beat Mexico and the USSF never let you go.”
USSF needs to make a decision on this. It’s too late to do anything about the Copa America – we’re going to get killed there. But it’s not too late. The USSF just needs to decide if its too afraid to make an actual change and put some thought into soccering decisions.
Berhalter and An Immature USMNT
We’re supposed to be in a Golden Age of USMNT players. And, in reality, we are. Just look at the individual players and how they’re playing in Europe (sans Turner and Reyna). The USMNT isn’t lacking in talent like Mexico. And it’s not like there aren’t a million new avenues of support for player growth and development. The US has finally achieved that vaunted goal of having our starters playing across Europe’s best leagues (that’s not a great thing, though). Yet, when they come back here there is nothing there. It’s like watching a US team of old having to hodgepodge a group together from players who may lack talent but make it up through grit.
This blog is about Gregg Berhalter, but watching his players speaks a lot to him as a coach. I’ve already spoken a bit about how his system just doesn’t work for his players, and how he refuses to change. There is a theory I’m working on called the “patriotic spirit” where the US only performs well against teams with some national pride at stake. The two teams that I have seen the USMNT play well against in the past two years are England and Mexico.
After the game last night, I kept hearing the word “immature” ring through every piece of commentary. “The players looked immature,” “They played immaturely,” and so on. This isn’t the first time the immature accusation has been leveled at the players. Hell, even the coaches after the Berhalters and Reynas got into a public accusatory match with each other. That’s part of why I was so surprised they brought Berhlater back.
I am starting to think the players hate Berhalter. Maybe not hate, but don’t care. After Tim Weah scored and there was some sort of hope, the players just gave up. Sure, Colombia looked great, but there was nothing from the US. The guys on the field were already planning their postgame meals with 30 minutes left. They were tactically and physically overpowered. And I was like whatever, but then I saw the following tweet, and it made me think.
I’m starting to think Berhalter isn’t just a horrible tactician. He may be a horrible man manager. Listen, the national team gets these guys for a few weeks at a time, and then for competitions during the summer. You don’t have time to make players hate you, because there is so little coaching time. Yet, the more I think about performances and how players treat Berhalter, the more I wonder if there is a bigger problem at play. A national coach can’t be losing guys over the couple of weeks he spends with them. They should, at most, be strained acquaintances. And that’s only if they get Jack Grealish-ed and left out of the team.
There has already been piles of evidence against Berhalter. When he was brought back there was hope something would change in the long term. Yet, 2023 saw failure and 2024 is shaping up to be worse. It’s a good thing the US is hosting in 2026, otherwise, there’s a genuine chance the USMNT wouldn’t qualify. The evidence has turned from pointed to bleak. There is no good ending if Berhalter stays around. He needs to go.
Or USSF can just wait a year to fire him and get another bald fraud.
Or bring in more MLS defenders who are more willing to kill on the pitch.
Either way, USSF needs to do something. Or this chance to grow the game is ruined. And I’m tired of watching a nation that can just pick up cricket and perfect it muddle away the best players we’ve ever had in soccer. Especially with the World Cup knocking on the door. And, in the end, I think that’s where a lot of the frustration is coming from.
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