Gregg Berhalter questioned by ex-USMNT stars as Copa America closes in after US needed a 96th-minute own-goal equalizer to avoid huge upset against Jamaica

Alexi Lalas led the former USMNT stars who tore into the national team and head coach Gregg Berhalter’s leadership after they salvaged a win over Jamaica at the death Thursday night. 

The USA narrowly escaped humiliation at the hands of Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League semifinal after Cory Burke’s own goal in the sixth minute of injury time drew them level to force extra time.  

The No. 13 Americans were on the verge of losing their third straight match after Greg Leigh scored 30 seconds in for the 57th-ranked Reggae Boyz. 

However, Burke’s own goal followed by Haji Wright’s strikes in the sixth and 19th minutes of extra time salvaged a win for the USA. 

Despite the USA sneaking through to the Nations League final for a third straight time, Lalas blasted the national team for its performance – particularly during the first half – and appeared to question Berhalter’s position. 

Former USMNT  stars appeared to be turning on head coach Gregg Berhlater on Thursday The USA narrowly escaped humiliation in the Nations League semifinal against Jamaica Alexi Lalas led the criticism of the performance and questions over Berhalter’s position

‘That was a horrible half of soccer from #USMNT. I wish I could go down to the locker room and tear ‘em all a new one. #USAvJAM,’ he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, at halftime. 

 He directly targeted Berhalter Friday afternoon when he insisted the coach merited blame for his team’s display. 

‘You can do whatever you want,’ he posted. ‘But I can say it was a horrible performance and, as coach, Berhalter deserves criticism for his team’s utter lack of urgency, ruthlessness, or energy. But he also made the necessary changes in players/tactics to find the win in a knock-out setting.’ 

While Lalas clearly feels Berhalter deserves criticism, he doesn’t believe it’s yet enough for US Soccer to fire him. 

Despite the USMNT’s recent poor performances, which have included two losses to Trinidad and Tobago and Slovenia, Lalas remained convinced Berhalter is not in the hotseat – yet. 

‘Meh. Matt Crocker (USSF Sporting Dir.) hired Berhalter when he had every justification not to,’ he later tweeted in response to a fan asking if the US coach would be facing the risk of being fired. 

‘To fire him means Crocker admitting he made a colossal mistake on his most important decision. Barring epic Copa America fail and/or undisputed upgrade available, Berhalter continues.’ 

While Lalas believes Berhalter isn’t going to be shown the door any time soon, it appears if he were in Crocker’s shoes he would and already has an ideal replacement lined up. 

When asked by another social media user who he thought would be a good fit for the USMNT job, Lalas named Jim Curtin. 

Curtin has been the head coach of MLS side Philadelphia Union since 2014 , being named Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2022. 

The former US defender blasted the team’s first half performance on social media However, Lalas believes Berhalter isn’t in the hotsteat yet ahead of the Copa America He did, however, name his ideal candidate to replace the head coach Taylor TwellmanTab Ramos

But Lalas wasn’t the only former American soccer star to appear to turn on Berhalter following Thursday night’s lucky escape. 

While former USA players such as Taylor Twellman and Tab Ramos previously have been passive about Berhalter’s role as USMNT head coach after he was rehired when his contract expired following the 2022 World Cup, the tide appeared to be changing. 

Although they didn’t directly hit out at Berhalter, they delivered scathing analysis of the performance with some hinting the coach is at fault. 

‘Unfortunately, the final product of this team continues to be so much less than the sum of its individual parts….. year after year,’ Ramos posted. 

Meanwhile, Twellman fired off a couple of tweets questioning Berhalter’s tactical decisions. 

‘He wasn’t initially called in fwiw…..,’ he wrote, referring to Wright after his winning extra-time goals. 

Earlier on Thursday night, the Apple TV MLS commentator was seemingly left baffled by the decision to play midfielder Weston McKennie as a right back. 

‘McKennie as a RB now……..,’ he posted alongside shoulder-shrug and raised-eyebrow emojis. 

‘Own goal. Fitting. #USMNT,’ he added after Burke helped pull the US level. 

Former US stars, including Herculez Gomez and Eric Wynalda, also chimed in with criticism

Retired-forward-turned-coach-and-commentator Eric Wynalda chimed in, writing: ‘This US team is getting harder and harder to care about. The whole thing just feels weird.’

‘If they don’t score the own goal where are we today? What’s the conversation – is there a conversation?’ he later asked, replying to a fan who branded Berhalter’s second tenure as ‘stale’.

Thursday’s underwhelming performance comes just three months before the USA hosts the Copa America and offered a worrying insight into their chances of success.

The Copa America also serves as a warmup for the 2026 World Cup, which the US will co-host with Canada and Mexico with the final taking place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey – Berhalter’s home state.  

Source link : https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13228283/amp/gregg-berhalter-ex-USMNT-stars-question-copa-america-jamaica.html

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Publish date : 2024-03-22 03:00:00

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