Berhalter On Shaky Ground After US Loss to Panama
When the US had a rather pedestrian showing at the 2022 World Cup, it was believed by many that the national team would go in a different direction with a new coach. After all, head coach Gregg Berhalter had done very little to show that he was capable of stewarding the next generation of American soccer to success.
Yet, here we are two years later, with Berhalter still at the helm. The United States Soccer Federation has been comfortable with mediocrity, but how much longer will that last? The US' loss to Panama in the group stage of Copa America 2024 has fans wondering if the upcoming match against Uruguay could be the end of Behalter's tenure. A tournament that started with high hopes may end up being one to forget.
The Good
It would be unfair to act as though there is nothing positive to say about Berhalter's tenure as coach for the United States. Inept as US Soccer's braintrust has been, they have had a few reasons to keep the coach around.
When Gregg Berhalter took over the men's national team in 2018, they were in rough shape. Earlier that year, they had missed out on the World Cup in Russia thanks to an embarrassing loss at the hands of Trinidad and Tobago. He has brought a level of stability to the national team, bringing it into a new era with an exciting roster primarily composed of younger players.
So far, the US has not missed out on any major tournaments under Berhalter and has always at least made it past the group stage. That could change very soon, though, with the Uruguay match presenting a daunting challenge for the team.
Berhalter's success has largely come in CONCACAF competitions. He has won a Gold Cup and two Nation's League titles. American fans would undeniably like to see their team earn victories over more formidable opponents, but given the US's track record in this sport, this is a step in the confederation. It was not too long ago that Mexico was the "king of CONCACAF."
The US has been dominant against their rival to the south and has not lost to them in their seven matches played in the 2020s. This shift in the balance of power is in part because Mexico is struggling, but CONCACAF as a whole has never been stronger. The way that the US has performed against its CONCACAF peers is an accomplishment worth noting.
Whenever Berhalter does leave his post, the most important part of his legacy will be his ability to recruit dual nationals to the United States. In the past, those recruitment battles were usually lost if they were waged at all.
The US coach has been able to get the likes of Florian Balogun, Antonee Robinson, and Sergino Dest to play for the United States. Under Berhalter's leadership, there has been an apparent shift in how the US looks to fill out its roster, with more of an emphasis on scouting out dual nationals. This is something that will benefit the national team long into the future.
The Bad
While it is nice that the US has built a more talented roster, become the best team in CONCACAF, and staved off any repeats of the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, Berhalter is still a very flawed coach.
Berhalter has long struggled with creating a clear vision for his team. His lineups are not dictated by any direction of how he wants the team to play, but rather based on who his team will be lining up against. There is no sense of continuity. There is no drive to find a play style that works or a set lineup that has consistency. There is little that is done to help develop these young talents and get the most out of them.
Players are often missused or left on the bench. In some cases, they are not on the roster at all. Despite his ability as a recruiter, Berhalter does not appear to have the best grasp on talent identification. He also has a problem with being stubborn and unwilling to change. He came in and made alterations to the roster when he first arrived, but has been slow to take chances since then.
It is as if he has found guys that he is comfortable with and decided to just stick with what he feels works. After all, he is not one to take risks. The reality is that, even if the US talent pool is not elite, there are plenty of coaches that could make better use of it than Berhalter does.
His teams lack maturity and discipline, which is because of his lack of leadership. Players see him more as a friend than someone to look up to and respect. That is a problem. Especially with a young team, it is necessary to have someone in charge that can get the most out of the team and keep them in line. Past US teams pulled off upsets because of their grit and that is something Berhalter's team lacks.
The end result of Berhalter's philosophy could be seen in the loss to Panama. The team is inconsistent and can be embarrassed by an inferior opponent on any given night. In one match, they can look confident and skilled, while in the next, they can be disorganized and confused.
With no real plan or play style and without firm leadership, this is a team without direction. One need only look at Berhalter's so-called "crowning achievements" to see that something is wrong. His teams have failed to defeat anyone of true quality, and all he has to hang his hat on are draws against England and Brazil.
Final Thoughts
There was a time and place for Berhalter, but that time has passed. He was thought of as the safe option when he came in as coach, and that is what he has been. Berhalter got the team out of a tough spot and has helped move the program forward, but where the team is at is at its peak with him as the coach.
There is still a lot that can happen on the final day of the group stage at Copa America 2024, and regardless of what happens, Berhalter may or may not remain as coach. Either way, he has shown that he is no longer the right man for the job, and the US needs to look elsewhere if they want to be remotely competitive as World Cup hosts in 2026.
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