Gregg Berhalter bemoaned his workforce’s loss of a world-class finisher because the United States have been knocked out of the World Cup by means of the Netherlands on Saturday.
The US failed to complete off promising assaults in all 4 in their video games on the World Cup, and plenty of have pointed to the workforce’s loss of a scientific striker as the explanation they did not development. Jesus Ferreira, Haji Wright and Josh Sargent led the road at other instances for america in Qatar however none of them posed any actual danger to opposing defenders.
“What I would say is, when you look at the difference, to me there was offensive quality that the Netherlands had that we’re lacking a little bit,” stated Berhalter after the fit.
“It’s normal. We have a young group, players beginning their careers and we’ll catch up to that, but we don’t have a Memphis Depay right now, who plays at Barcelona and has played in the Champions League for years. Those are not excuses, that stuff is going to come.
The Dutch, on the other hand, were ruthless when presented with chances during their 3-1 victory. The US defense had been solid this World Cup but they were less robust on Saturday. Berhalter said the lapses cost the US.
“It’s just moments that the players were [switched] off a little bit here and there and it ends up in the back of the net,” he stated. “When you play at this level, against high quality opponents, that’s what happens. It’s unfortunate that it happens in the knockout game, but it did and we’ve got to learn from it.”
Despite the team’s defeat the USA coach said he was pleased with his team’s progress.
“When you look at our team, there’s a very clear identity of what we’re trying to do. You have a group that’s extremely committed to each other in what they’re trying to accomplish,” he said. “We have a very young group, we have players that are beginning in their careers and they’re going to catch up to that. It’s not to make an excuse for this group, they’re still very resilient. That stuff will come.
The US will co-host the World Cup in 2026 and Berhalter said there are good things to come with players such as Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie making up a strong young core for the Americans.
“I think this group is close,” he stated. “To be fielding the youngest starting XIs in the World Cup four times in a row, to still play the way we are, the American public should be optimistic.”
Berhalter would no longer be drawn on whether or not he would trainer america in 2026.
“I’ve only been focused on the World Cup, achieving things with this group,” he stated. “In the next couple of weeks, I’ll clear my head and think about what’s next.”