DOHA, Qatar — On Monday, USA Men’s national team manager Gregg Berhalter was asked to become, among other things, an economist, a customs agent, a military policy expert and a UN ambassador.
On Tuesday, he finally got what he wanted most: a coach who sent his team into the knockout stages of the tournament. World Cup.
After the United States held out Iran 1-0 at Al Thumama Stadium, Berhalter embraced his coaching staff in a collective hug in the technical area, their arms clasped around each other’s shoulders as they bounced up and down. He then jogged out onto the pitch to celebrate with his players and the passionate American fans behind goal.
Four years after taking over a show in disarray, Berhalter steered America past the biggest victory of his career.
“This is the first time in 92 years that we’ve lost two games at a World Cup,” Berhalter said afterwards, his face flushed. “So the boys are doing something right.”
It’s been a remarkable 24 hours for Berhalter, the kind of incredible combination that can only exist in international football — and with a match like the one between the United States and Iran, a country with History, both on its own and with the United States, is deep, complex, and messy.
That history is what drove the construction process. The U.S. Soccer Federation plays a big part in pre-match discomfort, as it – without Berhalter or his players’ knowledge – posted pictures on social media showing the flag of Iran without the logo of the Islamic Republic in an attempt to show support for Women in Iran are fighting for the most basic human rights.
With as good intentions as it could have been, it still creates a firestorm, and Berhalter was tasked with navigating it. At his press conference on Monday, Iranian journalists posed scathing questions on his part, asking him to explain why inflation might be contributing to his team’s failure to do so. be advocated at home or to justify the various visa requirements the United States has for Iranians who may wish to travel there. There is a question about American warships in the area.
Either way, it’s weird, but Berhalter – to his credit – handled it deftly. He apologized for any offense the social media posts may have caused at the same time expressing support for those who are fighting for a better life. He also tried his best to focus back on football. In many ways, this match is a day of judgment for Berhalter and his players after four years of resurgence, and Berhalter needs to do whatever he can to ensure his players are ready for the match.
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Steve Nicol and Craig Burley preview the USA’s round of 16 game against the Netherlands in the World Cup.
In short, they were. Castigating Berhalter is a small industry in the world of U.S. team followers — indeed it’s the life of an international manager — but one thing’s for sure: Berhalter has won a Gold Cup and a National Federation. He defeated Mexico three times (including in World Cup qualifiers). He has overseen an entire squad overhaul of young and talented international players, making difficult – and in some cases startling – choices about who to bring to Qatar and now. led that team to the Round of 16 at the World Cup.
Is he perfect? He is not. There is still reasonable criticism of his tactics or substitutions, but striker Joshua Sargent has been called back and delivered a strong performance against Iran, as has the defender. Cameron Carter-Vickers (who came for Walker Zimmerman). Tim Ram, a surprisingly late addition to the roster just ahead of the World Cup, was also solid in defence. However tense it may be, the US was able to take the lead late.
Berhalter even pushes his players, pushing them to meet the moment. Berhalter recalls earlier in the week how he witnessed the US lose to Iran in the infamous 1998 World Cup meeting, and he emphasizes what makes him stand out is the mismatch of emotional levels on the pitch. The Iranians really want the game, says Berhalter, and obviously Americans don’t feel the same way.
On Tuesday, that’s not a problem. Not even close. There’s fire, for sure. But also a confidence that the moment is not so great.
“There’s a calm about the team,” Ream said. “No one was breathing heavily or had panic in their eyes.”
It also helps the tactics to be applied. Christian PulisicHis goal was the result of a streak that Ream said Berhalter and the coaches had particularly emphasized during their scouting, pulling the play far aside to reveal the defender for Pulisic to attack. The goal was, as Ream put it, “perfect, perfect, perfect”, saving Pulisic’s collision with the Iranian goalkeeper that sent Pulisic out. Going to the hospital in the middle of the game for an abdominal scan.
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Herculez Gomez said that USMNT’s performance was “quite excellent” after they beat Iran 1-0 to advance to the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup.
If Pulisic can’t compete with Netherlands on Saturday (or limited), this will be another push for Berhalter to navigate. He has options — Giovanni Reyna still doesn’t stand out much, and Brenden Aaronson is a vibrant alternative — but, either way, group dynamics will be important again.
That’s what Berhalter wanted. He has never shied away from the risks of his mission. He has said over and over that the goal of this team is to change the perception of American football around the world. game against England helped with that. So is Tuesday.
Now comes another chance. Another chance. Berhalter will endure the arrows; all coaches do. He will shoulder the criticism. All he cares about is getting his players to see what he sees, know what he knows: That this team can do anything. On Tuesday, after hugs, screams and a video call to the hospital so Pulisic could join the fun, Berhalter went to another, more traditional press conference, and pondered what pleased him most. during the night.
“We believe in ourselves,” he said. “We believe in what we’re doing.”
