The United States, the host of the Copa America, is experiencing an earthquake after being eliminated in the group stage, and after two years of hosting the World Cup, it finds itself facing a sports project in no man’s land and with the future of coach Gregg Berhalter. Up in the air.
Even his angry entourage is demanding big names on the bench, starting with Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola.
Monday’s defeat to Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City was evidence of the United States’ failure in what looked like an easy group to qualify in, as, with the exception of Uruguay, they were competing with Panama and Bolivia.
But Berhalter’s team’s journey ended with only three points, achieved in the first match against Bolivia, before losing 1-2 to Panama, and 0-1 to Uruguay.
The United States, a country used to dominating almost all sports, lived with great expectations this Copa America, which was organized in some exciting years for football, in which the American league managed to bring legends like Leo Messi and the Uruguayan Luis Suarez to the country.
There were more than 55,000 fans at Arrowhead Stadium to support Team USA, but aside from protests over some poor refereeing decisions against Uruguay, Berhalter’s team didn’t know how to show its face.
What was considered in the country a golden generation pushed the pressure, and with their lack of play, ideas and character, they were dismissed at the first opportunity.
He received a barrage of criticism on American television, including from former Team USA stalwarts Clint Dempsey and Alexi Lalas.
Gregg Berhalter admitted that the Copa America did not end with the desired result, but he considered that under his management the team has improved defensively and in ball circulation and responded strongly when asked if he thought he was the right person to lead the group to the World Cup.
“Yes,” he answered honestly.
On Fox, which has the rights to the Copa America in the United States, Dempsey and Lalas expressed their doubts and asked for a change.
“Go big or go home,” was the refrain on American television, as names like Klopp or Guardiola were asked to take over the team.
They were the fruit of frustration at seeing a team achieve less impressive results than previous generations, despite having many of its members competing in the major European leagues.
In the previous Copa America, hosted by the United States in 2016, the US team reached the semi-finals. In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, they surrendered in the round of 16, while in 2018 they did not qualify.
There are two key years opening up for the United States, which in 2026 will host the World Cup with Canada and Mexico and which is called upon to relaunch its sporting project, either with Berhalter or with a new coach on the bench.
With information from EFE/Image: EFE
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