Berhalter: I'm still the right coach for USMNT despite Copa failure

https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/635414/w1080xh810_GettyImages-2159666101.jpg?ts=1719895657

07/02/2024 12:59 AM

Beleaguered coach Gregg Berhalter believes he's still the right person to lead the United States men's national team despite the Americans' failure to advance beyond the group stage at the Copa America.

A contentious 1-0 loss to Uruguay on Monday, combined with Panama's 3-1 win over Bolivia in a simultaneous fixture, condemned the U.S. to third place in Group C and knocked the host nation out of the tournament.

Asked after the dispiriting setback if he's the right voice to take the current group of players to the next level, Berhalter replied with a simple "yes," according to Greg O'Keeffe of The Athletic.

"We know we're capable of more and in this tournament we didn't show it, it's as simple as that," Berhalter said, adding that the players were "bitterly disappointed with the result" against Uruguay.

"We look at the stage with the fans and the high level of competition and we should have done better. We'll do a review and figure out what went wrong, but it's an empty feeling for now for sure."

The USMNT had never previously been eliminated in the group stage of a major tournament - World Cup, Copa America, or Gold Cup - that it hosted.

Some U.S. fans could be heard chanting "Fire Gregg" during the second half of Monday's loss at Arrowhead Stadium, according to Jeff Kassouf of ESPN.

For a brief moment in the second half Monday, the U.S. jumped into second place in the live standings when Bolivia equalized against Panama in the other Group C contest.

Berhalter, upon receiving that information, appeared to be relaying it to his players on the field. Uruguay scored its winning goal moments later.

"In the course of the game when Bolivia equalized it was (a case) of getting that information out that we want to be smart and solid because Panama is tied in the game," he explained.

The 50-year-old bench boss, whose previous contract was allowed to expire after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was rehired in 2023. His current deal runs through the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting with neighbors Canada and Mexico.