The result was better than the performance for the United States national team following a 3-2 win over Mexico on Sunday. The Nations League Final showed the character of the United States, something much ballyhooed about after the trophy was lifted.
But what did we learn about Gregg Berhalter, the United States national team coach, after Sunday night’s win? The Americans got a result and a Nations League trophy…but questions still surround this unit and this head coach.
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After the disaster that was Couva, the United States went through some much-needed soul searching. Questions from top to bottom were asked – and some were answered. It is Berhalter’s job to get this team on track and start getting results. Sunday’s win over Mexico was the first real, substantive proof that just that is being done.
Results, especially in CONCACAF, is the name of the game. Given the failure to qualify for Russia in 2018, lifting a trophy that kinda, sorta means something is substantial and a sign of development. Let’s not poo-poo the trophy or the result, especially in light of what happened in Couva.
But while this is the dawn of a golden generation at the senior level, the United States national team will only go so far as Berhalter will take them both tactically but also on an inspirational level.
The question of legitimacy will always cloud Berhalter until he does something big – and even qualifying for Qatar may not be enough to erase some of those questions about if he was the right choice for the job. His tactical approach is still growing at the international level, as evidenced in the win over Mexico. But as a player for the United States national team and in several top European leagues, Berhalter must show the necessary an adaptability in moments like this.
The continued experiment of Sergino Dest on the left side, the use of Christian Pulisic centrally rather than in a wide station and the questionable handing of the centerback situation as well as his forwards…not to mention not cap-tying Yunus Musah…will all raise questions about Berhalter the head coach.
See, the issue with Berhalter isn’t one about his potential or even his current ability but rather his resume. In MLS, while he certainly outpunched above his weight with the Columbus Crew, Berhalter never won an MLS Cup or a Supporters Shield. Doing more with less is admirable the signs of a good head coach. But without the bling to back things up, it is difficult to know if Berhalter can take the national team the next level or two that is needed.
In 1998, Bruce Arena came in off two MLS Cup wins the past three seasons in an era when the United States national team was dominated by players from the league. His successor, Bob Bradley, had an equally strong track and earned the job after a time as interim head coach. Jurgen Klinsmann was the face of Germany’s World Cup run in 2006 and a tremendous international player.
Berhalter, with no hardware in MLS, just doesn’t have the same cache as the three previous head coaches.
None of this is to undermine the result on Sunday, Berhalter as a head coach or the progress being made. In fact, the United States national team is in a better spot then it was three years ago. Berhalter does deserve credit for this.
And while the United States national team is improved, vastly so, in terms of overall talent, the credit for this lies in the club situation for many of the influential American players in this pool. At no time in history have as many Americans been playing in top leagues with top clubs. Berhalter benefits from this unlike any other United States national team head coach.
Where he can take credit, is in bringing together the multiple, divergent pieces that are defining this team’s core.
What is telling about Sunday night is the emotion surrounding the team after the win, Berhalter getting mobbed and hugged in the postgame celebration. There was a connect, an obvious one – between the mostly young players on this talented roster and their head coach. One that might tell a story different than the narrative about Berhalter these days.
He wasn’t just their coach. He wasn’t just an obligatory hug. There was emotion – raw, unfiltered joy – when players celebrated with their head coach. A connection is being made and formed, one that doesn’t care about resumes or his last name.
And that there might be the most compelling piece to emerge from Sunday night. For sure, he might need to simplify things at the national team level, a criticism among players in the pool, given that he has the squad for limited times throughout the year. With a club team, the players get into a system every day but for international duty, players get plucked for a couple days at a time and very often, the best system is the simple one.
And tactically, the United States looked lost at time in the Nations League semifinal and then Sunday’s final. But again, that can be expected given the lack of cohesion and shot time training together as a unit.
Honduras on Thursday night and Mexico a couple days later, both had moments of confusion in their Nations League matches.
Where Berhalter can make strides – and appeared to do so – came on Sunday night. His team found resilience and character, a major positive for the head coach of a team that was easily the youngest of the four semifinalists. They learned lessons about CONCACAF, playing at altitude and the little things needed to play in this very unique confederation.
To his credit, Berhalter showed adaptability as the match went along. Tactically, he shifted formations, his substitutions were game changers and his personality was a calming and assuring one. These are marks of a coach who is learning and growing on how to manage the game that he played.
They also learned that their head coach is coming into his own, building in confidence as the match wore on. Berhalter wasn’t intimidated by the moment or his coaching peer on the other side of the midfield line, a legendary coach in not just MLS but in the world’s game.
In fact, Berhalter looked like the veteran international coach in demeanor and poise rather than the antics of his counterpart on El Tri.
On Sunday in a memorable win, the United States national team might have gotten their catalyst for this new era. It also may have found a coach willing to learn and grow.
This, more than a new trophy, might be the biggest victory to emerge from Sunday’s performance.
Follow Kristian Dyer of ‘MLS Multiplex‘ on Twitter @KristianRDyer