Tag: Gregg Berhalter

Why did Berhalter tell USMNT players Bolivia had scored?

It may not have been the decisive moment in the team’s Copa America exit, but it certainly was a baffling one

It may not have been the decisive moment in the U.S. men’s national team’s stunning early exit from the Copa América, but it certainly was a baffling one.

The USMNT entered Monday’s game against Uruguay knowing that it would advance to the quarterfinal if it could equal or better Panama’s result in a simultaneous match against Bolivia.

Midway through the second half, the USMNT and Uruguay were still scoreless in Kansas City when a major update arrived from Orlando: Bolivia had equalized against Panama, making it 1-1.

With both matches tied, the USMNT was poised to go through if the two results stayed as they were.

USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter opted to inform all of his players of the huge change in their situation. Rather than needing a goal, the USMNT would now advance with a draw. That would, however, also require Bolivia to hold on against Panama for another 20 minutes plus stoppage time.

Less than 30 seconds later, though, the USMNT was behind. Mathías Olivera scored a controversial goal off a set piece, putting the U.S. provisionally out of the tournament.

A few minutes later, Bolivia’s brief resistance was broken. Panama found a go-ahead goal, and would add another late in a 3-1 win. The USMNT, unlike its Concacaf rival, could not score, and crashed out with a 1-0 defeat.

Berhalter didn’t stick to his word

Berhalter’s move was somewhat baffling because not only did it seem to backfire, but it was also directly in conflict to what he said the day before in his pre-match press conference.

“We’re not gonna need to do live updates during the game,” the coach said. “At halftime, if something needs to be said, we’ll say it. If not, we’re really focused on winning the soccer game.”

Why did Berhalter go back on his word? The coach explained after the game that he felt his side needed to know that circumstances had changed.

“We updated them at halftime. We said, Panama’s winning, we’re gonna need a goal. Even if they score again, we’re still gonna need one goal,” Berhalter explained.

“And then in the course of the game, when Bolivia equalized, it was getting that information out — that we wanted to be smart, solid. Panama is tied in the game. And, um, yeah.”

[lawrence-related id=77210,77059,77113]

One moment from the USMNT’s loss showed exactly why U.S. Soccer must move on from Gregg Berhalter

It was the weakest mentality from a coach.

The U.S. men’s national team had a prime opportunity heading into this summer to raise the program’s profile and take a major step forward ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Instead, the USMNT’s Copa America run ended in an embarrassing elimination in the group stage — a disappointment that falls squarely on head coach Gregg Berhalter.

But one moment, in particular, from Monday’s 1-0 loss to Uruguay will be impossible to overlook. It showed exactly why Berhalter is not the person to lead the most talented generation in the USMNT’s history beyond that match.

Just take a look:

Following the USMNT’s shocking loss to Panama on Thursday, the team needed either a win (and maintain a goal-differential lead on Panama) or some major help from bottom-feeding Bolivia in its match against Panama. Now, the USMNT should have gone into its matchup with Uruguay with the sole focus on winning. If anything, the coaching staff and players should have ignored the Bolivia-Panama game entirely. It would have taken a miraculous result to make the match relevant.

Yet, in the 65th minute, word started to spread around Arrowhead Stadium that Bolivia had equalized against Panama, meaning the USMNT would have been through if both scores held at the time. Berhalter appeared to signal that Bolivia scored to his players right before Uruguay lined up for a free kick. And, of course, Uruguay scored seconds later on a goal that should have been ruled offside by VAR.

The fact that Berhalter even acknowledged the Bolivia score during the match was a huge problem, though. It showed the weakest mindset of relying on others instead of pushing forward to win on the USMNT’s own right. Heck, even Ted Lasso knew to ignore other score lines and never play for a tie. That’s how far the USMNT have fallen with Berhalter’s rehire. Dude is getting out-coached by fictional characters.

And worst of all: It made no sense to even communicate the score to the players because Bolivia-Panama still had 30 minutes left to play. It wasn’t like Bolivia had pulled off the tie. And Panama would respond with two more goals to make the USMNT in need of a win that it should have been playing for all along.

After 2026, the USMNT won’t get another opportunity to host a World Cup with a competitive talent pool for decades. And if Berhalter continues at the job, U.S. Soccer would have willingly wasted that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. While Berhalter’s body of work is disqualifying, that single moment should have been the final straw.

U.S. fans are ready for a change — that’s for sure.

This was how Twitter/X reacted

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=4855122]

USMNT fans have had it with Gregg Berhalter after his team’s brutal Copa América elimination

USMNT fans are not happy with coach Gregg Berhalter.

Fans of the United States men’s national team are ready to see a changing of the guard at head coach after the team’s awful Copa América 2024 exit. 

Indeed, the team’s 1-0 loss to Uruguay on Monday night in Kansas City has fans sick and tired of the way coach Gregg Berhalter has led the program since returning to his post in 2023 after a brief departure in 2022. 

USMNT great Clint Dempsey questioned the state of the team on Fox Sports after the Uruguay loss, as he felt the team has regressed since its 2022 World Cup appearance.

While Berhalter shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for the way USMNT has played as of late, it is his team that is underachieving and making fans livid.

USMNT fans expressed a healthy share of disdain for the coach, some feeling it was time he was replaced by a more suitable candidate for the 2026 World Cup, one set to take place in part on home soil. 

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=4855122]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USMNT vs. Uruguay Copa America lineup: Turner starts despite injury worry

Turner is fit to play as Berhalter makes just one change to the side that lost to Panama

The U.S. men’s national team, facing a fight to stay alive at the 2024 Copa América, is making as few changes as possible for Monday’s clash with Uruguay.

With Matt Turner a major injury worry and at least one change assured thanks to Tim Weah’s red card against Panama, coach Gregg Berhalter had a chance to freshen up a side that has not exactly impressed in Group C.

Instead, the USMNT will take the field at Arrowhead Stadium having made just one alteration to the 11 that started against both Panama and Bolivia.

Turner’s place in the lineup was the biggest question mark looming for Berhalter, but the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper got the nod to take on La Celeste.

Turner was injured in a collision with Panama forward César Blackman in Thursday’s 2-1 loss, eventually coming off at halftime.

Berhalter told reporters that Turner was a “limited” participant in training heading into this group-stage finale, and ultimately the USMNT staff must have seen enough to gamble on his fitness.

Meanwhile, Berhalter’s lone change is to bring Yunus Musah in for the suspended Weah. In all likelihood, Gio Reyna will move up to the front three, with Musah coming into a midfield role.

However, it is possible for the USMNT to set up in a diamond 4-4-2, with Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun playing as a front two ahead of Reyna in a No. 10 role.

No matter how the team shapes up, a win is likely required for the USMNT to advance to the knockout stages.

Technically, the U.S. must simply match or better Panama’s result against Bolivia in a match that will be played simultaneously at Inter&Co. Stadium in Orlando.

The right result would put the USMNT into the quarterfinals, but scoreboard watching is a must for the team and fans. A one-goal U.S. win, for example, would still not be enough if Panama were to beat Bolivia by a margin of three or more.

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa, meanwhile, made no changes to the side that crushed Bolivia 5-0 on Thursday. Only a very unlikely scenario involving a four-plus-goal U.S. win would put Uruguay in any danger of missing out on the knockout stages.

USMNT lineup vs. Uruguay

(4-3-3): Matt Turner; Joe Scally, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah; Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic (capt.)

[lawrence-related id=77006,76945,76876]

Will Matt Turner start USMNT’s do-or-die match against Uruguay?

The USMNT goalkeeper suffered a leg injury in last week’s loss to Panama

Matt Turner’s status appears to be very much unknown ahead of the U.S. men’s national team’s crucial match against Uruguay on Monday night.

The USMNT will face La Celeste with its Copa América fate hanging in the balance. Gregg Berhalter’s team likely needs a win to avoid elimination, but even three points won’t guarantee a spot in the quarterfinal.

Having starting goalkeeper Turner healthy for the match in Kansas City would be a major boost. But in his pre-game press conference on Sunday, Berhalter said his team’s No. 1 hasn’t been a full participant in training.

“Matt did limited training yesterday and then limited training again today,” said Berhalter. “We will continue to monitor him to see his status.”

Turner suffered a leg injury in the USMNT’s 2-1 defeat to Panama on Thursday night.

The Nottingham Forest goalkeeper took a heavy blow from Panama midfielder César Blackman 11 minutes into the game. As Turner went up to claim an aerial ball, Blackman collided with with Turner’s leg and the goalkeeper landed hard on his shoulder.

Turner managed to stay in the game for the next 35 minutes, but was replaced at the break by Ethan Horvath.

Horvath would go on to concede Panama’s late winner, as the 10-man USMNT was unable to hold on for what would have been a vital point.

[lawrence-related id=76963,76867,76755]

Lalas: If USMNT doesn’t advance, Berhalter will be fired — and rightfully so

The USMNT coach is under huge pressure after a damaging loss to Panama

Alexi Lalas believes that Gregg Berhalter will be coaching for his job on Monday night.

The U.S. men’s national team fell to a shock 2-1 defeat against Panama on Thursday night, leaving the team on the brink of an unthinkable group-stage exit at the Copa América.

Berhalter’s side will enter Monday’s Group C finale against Uruguay likely needing to win to reach the quarterfinal. That won’t be easy: La Celeste is ranked fifth in the world per the Elo Ratings and has won its past three games by a combined score of 12-1.

Though it’s only been a year since he was re-hired by U.S. Soccer, Berhalter is under intense pressure after some subpar displays by his side in 2023 and 2024.

For ex-USMNT defender Lalas, Monday’s game in Kansas City is now make-or-break for the embattled boss. But he didn’t necessarily view that as a negative, given the match also provides the coach with an opportunity to achieve a long-awaited signature win.

“I mean, this one hurts, obviously” Lalas said on FOX following Thursday night’s defeat.

“But there’s a strange part of me that said, ‘You know what? All chips in, all right?’ We talked so much about this tournament being an assessment of this team, an assessment of head coach Gregg Berhalter relative to getting out of the group and playing against the likes of Colombia and Brazil. But you know what? That challenge and that assessment — that ultimate assessment — is now going to happen in the third game against Uruguay.

“They better be up for it. Because if they do not go through, Gregg Berhalter is going to lose his job, and rightfully and fairly so. But this is a situation that this team, including Gregg Berhalter, have created for themselves. Now, find a way to get out of it.”

Should the USMNT beat Uruguay, it would be Berhalter’s first win against a top-25 team in the Elo Rankings outside of Concacaf.

Watch Lalas’ take on Berhalter

[lawrence-related id=76867,76744,76761]

USMNT vs. Panama Copa America lineup: Unchanged side for Berhalter

Berhalter is backing the 11 that beat Bolivia to meet or exceed that result vs. Panama

The U.S. men’s national team will look to build on a winning start to the 2024 Copa América, with Gregg Berhalter opting for an unchanged side to take on Panama on Thursday.

Berhalter’s side barely conceded a shot in a 2-0 win over Bolivia, but will looking for more of a biting edge in the attack.

Per U.S. Soccer, this is the first time in nearly three full years that Berhalter has fielded an unchanged lineup. The last such selection came in the 2021 Gold Cup, when Berhalter made no changes between the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds.

Fans will be interested to see whether Berhalter urges Gio Reyna to get closer to the front line, or if there are tactical changes within his 4-3-3 formation designed around creating more high-quality chances.

A win would put the USMNT on the brink of a place in the knockout rounds. Should the U.S. take three points against Panama in Thursday’s earlier match in Group C, an Uruguay win or draw later in the evening would assure the USMNT of a place in the Copa América quarterfinals.

USMNT lineup vs. Panama

(4-3-3): Matt Turner; Joe Scally, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie; Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic (capt.)

[lawrence-related id=76678,76519,76319]

The Jesse Marsch vs. USMNT showdown is coming in September

The USMNT will face Canada, New Zealand and Panama in three friendlies announced on Tuesday

The U.S. men’s national team has announced three fall friendlies, with matches against two Concacaf foes and one from Oceania.

The USMNT will face Canada on Sept. 7 at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, and will then take on New Zealand on Sept. 10 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The USMNT also announced that it will face Panama on Oct. 12 at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, with one more October match expected to be announced at a later date.

With the games set for FIFA windows, the USMNT will have the ability to feature its strongest team.

The USMNT has never lost a match at any of the three venues where the matches will take place.

Marsch vs. USMNT the highlight

The highlight of the fall windows is likely to be the game against Canada, which is now led by American manager Jesse Marsch.

Last month, Marsch accused U.S. Soccer of not treating him well when he interviewed for the USMNT job last summer.

Though the game itself won’t have high stakes, there will certainly be heightened interest in the showdown between Marsch and Gregg Berhalter, a coach that Marsch didn’t hesitate to criticize during his time as a pundit.

Berhalter has been under pressure since re-joining the USMNT as head coach last summer, when he beat out Marsch and other candidates to secure his former job.

The Marsch vs. Berhalter matchup could theoretically not happen if the USMNT flames out at the Copa América and Berhalter loses his job — a fate that appears less likely after the U.S. began the tournament with a 2-0 win over Bolivia.

Marsch’s Canada side fell 2-0 to Argentina in the tournament opener, but Les Rouges put together an encouraging performance that will give them confidence ahead of upcoming matches against Peru and Chile.

The U.S. and Canada could also square off before September if they meet at the Copa América — but that matchup could only happen if it were the final.

[lawrence-related id=72656,70932,76435]

USMNT vs. Bolivia Copa America lineup: Adams starts for first time since March

Adams is a go as the USMNT looks to start the Copa América off with a good result

The U.S. men’s national team will start the 2024 Copa América off against Bolivia with Tyler Adams on the field.

Head coach Gregg Berhalter inserted the defensive midfielder, widely regarded as among the very best USMNT players, into his starting 11 for Sunday’s match in Arlington, Texas.

Adams has not started a match for club or country since going a full 90 minutes for Bournemouth in a 2-1 win over Everton in the Premier League on March 30.

Since then, back spasms have sidelined the 25-year-old, who played just nine minutes in the remainder of the Cherries’ season. Adams also played 14 minutes off the bench in the USMNT’s recent 1-1 draw with Brazil.

Berhalter’s other notable lineup choices include sticking with Matt Turner in goal despite some wobbly recent form, and starting Folarin Balogun over Ricardo Pepi in the No. 9 role.

Otherwise, there are few surprises in Berhalter’s 4-3-3, which includes Gio Reyna in the midfield. Between Adams and Reyna doing enough to earn starts, Yunus Musah starts the tournament on the bench.

After much speculation over who would take Sergiño Dest’s spot at right back after the PSV defender tore his ACL, Berhalter has opted for the conventional choice. Joe Scally, who started in tournament tune-ups against Colombia and Brazil, maintains his spot in the starting 11.

USMNT lineup vs. Bolivia

(4-3-3): Matt Turner; Joe Scally, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie; Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic (capt.)

[lawrence-related id=76103,75818,75489]

USMNT Copa America roster: Sargent makes the cut, Timothy Tillman dropped

Timothy Tillman was dropped from the squad, while two players with injury questions made the cut

Following two warm-up friendlies, the U.S. men’s national team has announced its 26-man roster for the Copa América.

All 26 players have come from the team’s 27-man roster for the matches against Colombia and Brazil. LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman is the one player who was dropped from the squad.

That means there were places on the squad for Tyler Adams and Josh Sargent, two players who entered this camp with injury question marks.

Sargent was unable to play in either friendly as he continues working his way back from a foot injury, which stems from an ankle surgery over the winter.

USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter said prior to the Brazil match that the Norwich City forward was “progressing well” but still wasn’t ready for game action.

After being held out against Colombia, Adams came on as a second-half sub against Brazil. The midfielder had played just 10 total minutes since March, when he returned from a long-term hamstring injury only to be sidelined for seven of Bournemouth’s last eight games with back spasms.

After a heavy defeat against Colombia and a draw against Brazil, the USMNT will now look ahead to its Copa América opener on June 23 against Bolivia.

Following that match, Berhalter’s side will face Panama on June 27 and close out group play against Uruguay on July 1.

Full USMNT Copa America roster (club; caps/goals)

Goalkeepers (3): 18-Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City; 9), 25-Sean Johnson (Toronto FC; 13), 1-Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest; 41)

Defenders (9): 2-Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic; 17/0), 23-Kristoffer Lund (Palermo; 3/0), 24-Mark McKenzie (Genk; 13/0), 16-Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; 19/1), 13-Tim Ream (Fulham; 58/1), 3-Chris Richards (Crystal Palace; 18/1), 5-Antonee Robinson (Fulham; 43/4), 12-Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 29/3), 22-Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach; 11/0)

Midfielders (7): 4-Tyler Adams (Bournemouth; 39/2), 15-Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis; 13/0), 14-Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo; 21/0), 8-Weston McKennie (Juventus; 53/11), 6-Yunus Musah (AC Milan; 37/0), 7-Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund; 28/8), 17-Malik Tillman (PSV; 11/0)

Forwards (7): 11-Brenden Aaronson (Leeds; 41/8), 20-Folarin Balogun (Monaco; 12/3), 9-Ricardo Pepi (PSV; 25/10), 10-Christian Pulisic (AC Milan; 68/29), 26-Josh Sargent (Norwich City; 23/5), 21-Tim Weah (Juventus; 39/6), 19-Haji Wright (Coventry City; 10/4)

[lawrence-related id=75396,75322,75325]