The US Men’s National Soccer team needed to return to the World Cup. There was no doubt about that. It was a huge accomplishment to get this program back on track and back to where it belonged among the world’s elite teams.
Despite sub-par play from Wales and inspirational play from Iran, USA rightfully made it to the round of 16 because they were more talented and worked harder than 2 other teams in their group.
It’s hard to argue with the talent this current team has. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Sergio Dest showed us how good things would be within the next 4 years. It’s also hard to argue with what such a young team was able to achieve. However, they could have and should have done more.
The Netherlands is no doubt one of the best teams in the world. They are top ten fixtures almost every year. When the USA clinched and drew them as opponents in the round of 16, every fan knew how hard it would be to not only compete but play and not get embarrassed.
Gregg Berhalter’s biggest mistakes at the 2022 World Cup
Before we get into coach Gregg Berhalter’s biggest blunders, we have to talk about how he was out coached for most of the this world cup.
Let’s take the game versus the Dutch for example since it’s still fresh in our minds. Holland’s biggest strength is their midfield and their ability to play man on man while creating a defensive trap game that basically lulls your offense to sleep. On their counter attacks, they have a massively talented striker in Memphis Depay, while wingers Denzel Dumfries and veteran Daley Blind push the pace.
They don’t hide their game plan its kind of out there for the world to see. Armed with that knowledge Berhalter laid an egg when it came to making adjustments, lineups, substitution, and overall game plan. Instead of inserting players who create pace like Gio Reyna and Brendan Aaronson he continued to keep them on the bench to start games. There are enough players in the USMNT system to combat what Holland threw at them on Saturday, Berhalter just didn’t believe in them and in turn he and the team paid for it.
From here on out the question becomes: Berhalter was good enough to get team USA back into the World Cup but can he do more? The answer is no. This is as far as he goes. He’s done a commendable job. Kick him upstairs and and let him continue to contribute to the future of the program but let a better coach take it from here.
Why Gregg Berhalter could leave the USMNT
- Perhaps our most promising young striker was left off the team. Yes I’m talking about Ricardo Pepi. He hasn’t had a great start at his current club team FC Groningen, but he’s 19. A recurring theme seemed to play in the last year, that Berhalter just didn’t trust his youngest players. That explains why Jesus Ferriera, who was probably his most effective striker coming into the World Cup, was benched. In his place was 22 year old Josh Sargent, who has more clout with Berhalter because he plays with Norwich City in England’s Championship. So Berhalter kept Ferriera on the bench and suddenly started him in the round of 16 against the Netherlands? The move felt desperate, but it also felt like a move by a coach without a plan. How do you expect someone whose confidence has been deflated over the first three games to suddenly be “the guy”. Any casual soccer fan knows strikers need to get into a rhythm.
- Talent typically wins out, or at least gets you far enough. Not playing your best players –or saving them for later – never made sense in this World Cup. If Berhalter wasn’t feeling good about his striker options, adjust and play with a false 9. Team USA has the talent to pull it off. Reyna, Pulisic, Weah, Aaronson could have all played the role. Rotating those four names up front would not only have put the best offensive players on the field but it just might have confused their opponents enough to open up some opportunities. We saw how good Pulisic could be with space. He needed more of that. He needed another playmaker to create lanes, and vice-versa.
- I don’t necessarily have a problem with Tyler Adams receiving the captaincy, but theway it happened seemed a bit puzzling. So right before the World Cup you decide strip your best player (Pulisic) of the armband and give it to someone younger and less experienced? What was his reasoning behind it? Tim Ream was the oldest player on the roster, with clearly the most experience. He plays in the world’s top league. Berhalter insisted on starting him despite better options, but there he was, a stalwart in the back four. Naming Ream the captain would have made sense – and nobody would be wondering why. I don’t think the choice caused a ripple effect of negativity on the team, but it once again showed some indecisiveness, and indicated that the head coach was someone who really didn’t have a plan.
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