After the final whistle blew on the United States’ 1-0 loss to Uruguay, U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter went onto the field and shook the hand of each of his players, consoling those who had fallen to the ground in frustration with a quick word and moving on to the next. The defeat meant the United States’ run at the Copa America has come to a close. With it, the Berhalter era may end as well. Many fans are ready for Berhalter to move on after disappointment, and U.S. Soccer announced after the match it will evaluate the tournament, with the manager’s continuity on things in play.
Reasons for the Failure:
1. A Lack of Finishing:
The U.S. hasn’t been able to finish during most of Berhalter’s tenure, especially when it comes up against top teams. While Christian Pulisic fired the U.S. into an early lead in its opener against Bolivia, and forward Folarin Balogun added a second, several American attackers missed opportunities to extend that lead. The U.S. found one more goal over the next 180 minutes of soccer with Balogun scoring a long-range beauty in a 2-1 loss to Panama. Balogun going out in the first half of Monday night’s match because of an injury certainly dented the United States’ chances to go through, but this is a team that should have enough attacking depth to find the back of the net despite injury absences.
2. Lack of Chance Creation:
It’s not like the U.S. was providing its No. 9 with an abundance of opportunities. There were chances to go ahead by more in the opening match against Bolivia. After that, there were few clear-cut moments when it looked like the Americans would score. Despite having attackers in the squad who often spark plays for their clubs, they found themselves neutralized by Uruguay’s back line, or perhaps by what they were being asked to do within the attacking system on display.
3. Tactical Decisions That Went Wrong:
After going down to 10 men against Panama, Berhalter went defensive, which didn’t pay off. Several U.S. players expressed faith in Berhalter and his staff despite the disappointing results.
4. The Referee(s):
There were inconsistencies in officiating that may have impacted the U.S. performance in the tournament. Refereeing decisions, including missed calls and controversial goals, added to the challenges faced by the team.
5. Forgetting That Fight:
The U.S. team seemed to have lost the underdog mentality and fighting spirit that characterized past performances. While the team now has talent and prestige, it appears to have lost the fire and daring that defined previous generations of players.
In the end, the U.S. Soccer review may provide more insights into the team’s performance and future direction, but for now, it’s evident that changes may be needed to revitalize the team and bring back the fighting spirit that fans have come to expect.