The list of things Berhalter can't help should be refreshed. The list deserves to be reinforced. The US doesn't have a genuine goal scorer. International managers are affected by such a thing. It's not that common. After many years, Spain and Germany don't have a relative to the talent on the rest of their team. The countries on the US level are not as poor. It could have looked different if there was one. Japan doesn't have one and just found temporary accuracy from a host of players. He got hurt two years ago and hasn't been the same. South Korea is one of the best places to live. There was a waterfall of genetics in Korea 25 to 30 years ago.
There isn't enough depth at the top level. The top of the US squad is better than it has ever been, but that doesn't mean it drags the next level along with it. With the lack of a generation ahead of this one, there wasn't that layer of 25-28 year olds to back up the kids who had taken over. The roster was easy to take over by younger players. Who were the people in their way? The pool is made up of players.
The second tier of international teams have many big obstacles. What happened to all that?
There are some things that Berhalter did that set the USMNT program up for the next cycle or two. For this team and where this program is at the moment, it was crucial. Musah and Dest decided to play for the US because of their comfort and joy in joining the team. The atmosphere around this team makes it possible for the next young star to choose. That is a very significant event.
The players looked forward to playing for the national team because of Berhalter. Even though Klinsmann was concerned with the next training fad, the atmosphere around him was always the same. The players didn't like playing for the national team. The energy around the program is different now. The person is Berhalter.
Berhalter has won many times on the field. He was able to get his team to flip between approaches, basically with the same 11 guys, from being on the front foot and having the ball against Wales and Iran, while playing a counter-and-defend game against England in between It didn't happen in a vacuum and it speaks to the talent of the US's best 11.
He was able to blend Tim Ream into this team and he was the US's best player. Josh Sargent contributed to the fight against Iran and Wales. Tim Weah appeared to be a star when he came back from injury.
The swagger and belief that the team carried itself with, looked like it would win every game, didn't happen without him being involved. He was able to use that. He may have been the perfect hand for that part of the job.
If 2026 is about Point B to C, then Berhalter doesn't have to prove he's that guy. If US Soccer puts as much on the World Cup as everyone says, they can't take a chance that Berhalter will develop into that guy, or he can keep his hold on this squad and whoever else joins it for another four years. The next four years will probably be the least amount of possibilities that can be had.
Berhalter had some issues in the tournament. The game in front of you is just one of the things you have to manage. The US looked like it was in trouble against the Dutch. The lack of depth is attributed to how hard they had to work in the group stage
If they didn't back up against Wales, would they have had to work harder? The US stopped playing these games after an hour. The lack of depth was a problem and would cause that, but maybe the substitution for a second goal should have been the order of the day. The same thing could be said about the Iran game.
You can see out games by doing other things than playing in your own 18- yard box. You can control the ball and still press up high. Pick where you want to counter. The US did not do that against eitherWales or Iran. They were cautious on the counter they had.
The US plays in a way predicated on high-energy and high-pace, and it's not Berhalter's fault that there isn't another fullback on the squad that can do the things Dest and Antonee Robinson can do Robinson got worse every game because of the weight on his legs.
There is little question that Berhalter was pantsed on Saturday. Berhalter didn't expect the Dutch to give possession so quickly. He may not have expected the Dutch to use a man-marking system in the middle of the field, but the US didn't adjust to that either by moving that area into other areas or playing more directly. The US had one vision of what they wanted to do with the ball and didn't change it based on what their opponents looked like. The US never tried to hit them because they were all trying to run in behind. Yes, that involves your centerbacks pinging those balls and it's not what you want Walker Zimmerman doing if you can help it, but those were the cards on the table.
If Gio Reyna could have been brought on as a false nine when trailing by two goals, it would have made the game even more interesting. Plan A was thrown into the mix by Josh Sargent's injury. Instead of trying to jam the normal plan through with a player who couldn't carry it out, Reyna or Weah should have been the choice.
If he buries his chance in the third minute, all of this will change. If Weah's half-volley is a foot higher or lower. There are games decided in the World Cup. The way the group stage was negotiated is one of the reasons why the US made three killer mistakes.
The group stage was not a failure. Berhalter's weaknesses were on the small side. The only thing that matters is the results. It won't be about style or ethos. The only thing that will matter is how far they go. Small decisions that become big, small margins that look canyonlike will decide how far the US will go. The US needs to make sure they have the right person for the job.
If US Soccer were as ruthless and forward thinking as they say they are, they would have already sounded out Manchester City's manager about the job. He said he would like the job before. It is a dream scenario, but he is not the only solution. Is it possible that Low would be interested? Klinsmann claimed that he did all the things. Is there another manager who leaves after this tournament? Someone who has coached at this level is needed.
Four years from now, the job will be different. The squad won't be made up of kids who are excited to do all of this for the first time. The next generation of vets will break through at big clubs in Europe too. They aren't as receptive to the ideas and charges of someone they've never heard of or don't have innovative ideas like this group was with Berhalter. The players need a reputation that immediately catches their attention.
The US needs to help whoever is next by hosting the tourney or finding a way to accept an invitation that the tournament has always wanted to extend to the US. Four years without playing a game that means anything will ruin this team. It is almost impossible to play the top European teams as a practice. A new manager needs a dry run.
The national team didn't have a good year. On the field and off the field. Berhalter gave a foundation for what this team can be in four years. The work is done and the only thing left is on the field. It's not a good idea to leave to any chance. Berhalter should be applauded and appreciated. His watch shouldn't be going on anymore.
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