United States men's national team (USMNT) legend Alexi Lalas has said coach Gregg Berhalter's position should be at risk because the country “cannot afford to be embarrassed” at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mathias Olivera scored one goal in Kansas City as the US lost to Uruguay in the final group stage match of the 2024 Copa America, becoming the first hosts to fail to reach the knockout stages since the introduction of the group stage in 1975.
“I know there is sport in firing coaches in all professional sports, and I know the knives are out – and rightly so, because this is not fair to Gregg Berhalter,” former defender Lalas told Copa America Tonight.
“Since 2026 is tearing down the pike… we can't afford to waste it. We can't afford to be shy, and we can't get to the summer of '26 with a team that hasn't improved, hasn't changed, hasn't improved. “
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– US Men's National Soccer Team (@USMNT) July 2, 2024
USMNT Copa America results
The club's management has begun to take stock after a campaign that was marred by a 2-1 loss to Panama in their second group game in the US, and a 2-0 win over Bolivia in their opener.
Berhalter's record has been unchanged since his re-appointment in June 2023, failing to guide the team ranked 11th by Fifa to defeat any of their top 15 opponents in ten attempts.
The 50-year-old has guided the US into the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup with one win in four games, and is considered the most gifted team they have had.
Captain Christian Pulisic plays for Italian giants AC Milan, while the likes of Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson have settled in the Premier League.
Gregg Berhalter: 'The problem is moving forward'
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Gio Reyna was one of the players who appeared to defend Berhalter after their Copa America campaign ended.
“I don't think this tournament really had anything to do with the personnel or the tactics or the way we play,” said Reyna. “It was individual mistakes. Workers can only do so much. “
Lalas, who represented America in the 1994 World Cup, was not satisfied. “I'm sure if Gregg Berhalter was here, he'd say, 'Oh, but you don't see what's going on inside,'” Lalas said. “I don't explain what happens inside.
“I don't care about flexibility. I don't care how much your players love you. I don't care how 'Kumbaya' it is. All I care about is seeing the US men's national team be better than ever. We haven't seen that, and that's a problem going forward.”
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