USMNT, Gregg Berhalter Slammed by Twitter in World Cup Tuneup Draw with Saudi Arabia
Sep 27, 2022
MURCIA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 27: Christian Pulisic of The United States warms up prior to kick off of the International Friendly match between Saudi Arabia and United States at Estadio Nueva Condomina on September 27, 2022 in Murcia, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
This is not the United States men's national team fans wanted to see in the final tuneup before the World Cup.
Days after losing 2-0 to Japan, the United States managed only an uninspired, scoreless draw against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday afternoon.
The USMNT had two shots on target in the contest. Against a Saudi Arabia team that didn't utilize its full first-choice roster. After zero shots on target against Japan on Friday.
So yes, the angst online was evident, with manager Gregg Berhalter and his system of choice as one of the prime targets:
If the USMNT, who are young, physical and technically limited, go to a midseason World Cup and try to play pretty soccer instead of bully soccer, I am going to lose my mind
— Ryan Rosenblatt, World Series Champion (@RyanRosenblatt) September 27, 2022
Other side of the world, in an empty stadium, neutral venue, vs a sub par opponent..
And itโs been an underwhelming 70 minutes.
On the back of that sobering 0-2 defeat to Japan.
This is how youโll be seen before Qatar? The lasting impression #USMNT
The United States certainly has the talent to produce an exciting and successful World Cup. In its final tune up matches, however, it provided almost nothing that would suggest that will occur.
Basically every point of concern for USMNT fans played out on the pitch against Saudi Arabia. The forwards remained lackluster, with both Ricardo Pepi and Jesus Ferreira offering very little in the way of positive impact.
Christian Pulisic, long viewed as the savior for this program, went invisible for long stretches.
The team's inability to break down a low block was apparent, highlighting a lack of elite, creative playmakers. That was even further evident when Gio Reyna, forever seeming to battle injury, left the game after 30 minutes as a precaution with muscle tightness.
UPDATE: Gio Reyna was experiencing muscle tightness and came out of the match as a precaution. https://t.co/GET8j1zGc1
And of course, the questions about whether Berhalter puts his players in the best position to succeed persist. There are talented young players on this roster; that much has never been in question. But are they best suited to play the type of possession football Berhalter seems to crave?
On Tuesday, the answer was a resounding no. And with just 54 days until the World Cup begins for the United States against Wales, the time for finding answers grows short.
The USMNT made the World Cup this cycle. That, alone, makes it an improvement on the last cycle. But this team doesn't seem particularly likely to get out of the group stage, and given the young talent assembled, it would be hard to see that as anything short of abject failure.
USMNT vs. Saudi Arabia: Top Storylines and Predictions for 2022 Friendly
Sep 26, 2022
DรSSELDORF, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 23: Jesus Ferreira #9 of the United States warming up before a game between Japan and USMNT at Dรผsseldorf Arena on September 23, 2022 in Dรผsseldorf, Germany. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
The United States men's national team needs a positive performance in Tuesday's friendly against Saudi Arabia.
The match in Murcia, Spain is the second of two games for the Americans in the September international window. But they fell flat in a 2-0 loss to Japan on Friday.
Only goalkeeper Matt Turner came away from the defeat with a good review, and the result did more harm to the USMNT's hype going into the 2022 FIFA World Cup than help.
Gregg Berhalter's team needs an impressive outing against its fellow World Cup qualifier to ease some nerves within the fanbase that the team can live up to the minimum expectation of getting out of Group B, which also includes England, Wales and Iran.
The USMNT chose to play Saudi Arabia so it could get used to how a Western Asian team plays in preparation for Iran. The same could be said about Saudi Arabia and a North American squad since it will face Mexico in its final Group C game in Qatar.
USMNT vs. Saudi Arabia Info
Date: Tuesday, September 27
Start Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, UniMas
Live Stream: FoxSports.com and Fox Sports app
Top Storylines to Watch
USMNT Needs Bounce-Back Performance
The 2-0 loss to Japan was frustrating in so many ways for the Americans.
Japan took the game to the USMNT and might have scored four or five goals if Turner had not excelled in net.
The center-back pairing of Walker Zimmerman and Aaron Long gave away possession too easily on many occasions, and the midfield lacked the cohesion to keep the ball and generate chances.
The one key chance the Americans had was hit over the bar by Jesus Ferreira, and that naturally spurred an argument as to whether any of the other strikers in the talent pool would have finished the chance.
Friday's defeat was a wake-up call to the USMNT in a rare match outside of CONCACAF. The formation of the Nations League and World Cup qualification over the last two years have kept the Americans within their own region for a majority of their contests.
They are expected to beat all teams in CONCACAF, and to their credit, they have for the most part. But they need a result against a nation outside North America to quell the skepticism that emanated from the fanbase after the Japan loss.
Saudi Arabia is 53rd in the FIFA World Rankings, while the USMNT comes into the match in 14th place.
Saudi Arabia has not scored in its last three friendlies, all of which came against South American opposition. It played to a scoreless draw with Ecuador on Friday and lost 1-0 to both Colombia and Venezuela in June.
The Saudis have not scored multiple goals in any of their games in 2022, but they also haven't been blown out in any match this year. Their largest loss was a 2-0 defeat to Japan in February in World Cup qualifying.
Berhalter's squad needs a strong performance, and likely a win, to ease any of the concerns that came out of Friday's match.
The USMNT could be in for a grind based on Saudi Arabia's recent results, but that could be a good thing for a team that has four multi-goal victories in 2022.
Striker Situation Still Unresolved
Ferreira, Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent appear to be the USMNT's strikers headed for Qatar.
Jordan Pefok, who has played well with Union Berlin in the Bundesliga, is out of the picture, so it is down to the trio on the current roster to put goals in the back of the net.
Ferreira had a golden chance to score in the first half against Japan, but he sent a header over the crossbar. The missed opportunity did not help Berhalter's decision at the position since Pefok is strong in the air.
Ferreira, Pepi and Sargent have 15 goals between them on the international level. Until recently, Ferreira was the only one with a stable situation at the club level.
Sargent started to get playing time up top in the English Championship with Norwich City and Pepi got a loan move to FC Groningen in the Netherlands from Augsburg in the Bundesliga to help him get games.
Ferreira was not helped by the lack of chances created by the midfielders on Friday, but the argument against him is that he has to finish the one clear-cut opportunity he gets because that may be the case in the World Cup.
The USMNT midfield missed the injured Yunus Musah and Christian Pulisic. Their absences hurt with buildup play in the middle of the park and chance creation.
Every part of the American lineup has to play better on Tuesday, but if any of the strikers fail to score again, it will leave doubt as to whether the right players will be headed to Qatar.
Prediction: USMNT 1, Saudi Arabia 1.
Most of Saudi Arabia's games this year have been low-scoring affairs and a similar result is likely on Tuesday.
The USMNT has an imperfect product up top, but it should focus on sharpening its defensive abilities first after gifting Japan plenty of scoring opportunities on Friday.
The American defense is not perfect and a goal concession seems likely. A goal can be scored as long as the USMNT possesses some type of attacking buildup play and find a rhythm moving forward.
After all, nothing can be worse than the 2-0 loss to Japan in which the Americans looked far from a World Cup qualifier.
Gregg Berhalter: USMNT Has 'Work to Do' After 2-0 Friendly Loss to Japan
Sep 23, 2022
DUSSELDORF - Brenden Aaronson of United States men's national team during the Japan vs. United States International Friendly match held at the Dusseldorf Arena on September 23, 2022 in Dusseldorf, Germany. ANP | Dutch Height | Maurice van Steen (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
The United States Men's National Team did not look like a team ready to contend for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Friday's 2-0 loss to Japan in an international friendly match in Germany, and manager Gregg Berhalter realizes there is work to be done.
"We've got work to do. We clearly need to improve, but overall really good experience for this team," Berhalter said following the loss, per ESPN's Jeff Carlisle.
"Give Japan a lot of credit. I think they played a good game and they gave us a hard time. I think at times we were well in the match and performing well, but overall, over 90 minutes, we could have been better. [It] wasn't good enough."
The USMNT were outplayed from start to finish on Friday as they had no answer for the pressure brought on by Japan.
The Samurai Blues took a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute on a goal by Daichi Kamada following a turnover by the Weston McKennie. Hidemasa Morita found a wide-open Kamada inside the 18 for the go-ahead goal.
Japan scores the goal that had been coming, with VAR review confirming Daichi Kamadaโs go-ahead strike. 1-0! #USMNT
Japan extended their lead in the 88th minute on a goal by Kaoru Mitoma, who cut through the inside of the U.S. defense before curling a shot into the bottom corner past Matt Turner's outstretched arms.
Japan finishes off the #USMNT, as Kaoru Mitoma cuts inside and delivers the dagger. 2-0!
While the Americans led in possession, Japan led the U.S. 16-4 in shots and 8-0 in shots on target.
The U.S. is ranked 14th in the world by FIFA, while Japan is ranked 24th. If they can't defeat a team that is below them in the rankings, how can they be expected to compete at the World Cup?
Berhalter admitted last week that he knows his squad won't be the most talented going into Qatar, but he stressed the importance of the group playing as one unit:
โI know we're not going to be the most talented team at the World Cup, and we're going to have to compensate for that by being a cohesive unit, by working for each other, fighting for each other and having a great team spirit. We're going to have to do that if we want to be successful at the World Cup.โ
The USMNT will look to get back on track against Saudi Arabia on Sept. 27. They open play in the World Cup on Nov. 21 against Wales.
The USMNT kicked off their World Cup warmup tour with a 2-0 loss to Japan. Given the injuries to several key starters, this September camp has given Gregg...
Gregg Berhalter's 'Horrid System' Criticized on Twitter After USMNT Loss to Japan
Sep 23, 2022
AUSTIN, TX - JUNE 10: Head Coach of United States Gregg Berhalter looks on during CONCACAF Nations League match between Grenada and United States at Q2 Stadium on June 10, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Head coach Gregg Berhalter was the
focus of intense criticism as the United States men's national team
suffered a 2-0 loss to Japan on Friday in one of its final warm-up
matches ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Daichi Kamada and Kaoru Mitoma scored for the Japanese side, as the USMNT struggled mightily to generate any
consistent attacking pressure inside Merkur Spiel-Arena in
Dรผsseldorf, Germany.
The United States' use of Aaron Long and Walker
Zimmerman as the center-back tandem in the first half failed to pay
dividends, as it couldn't to build out of the back against a high
press, and Japan continued to control the pace of play throughout a
majority of the second 45 minutes.
Here's a look at some reaction to the
performance from social media:
The Berhalter of it all is building. They should have fired him a dozen times before this point. Going to send a really good team to Qatar only to watch it waste away in this horrid system. Unacceptable on all levels.
For better or worse, #USMNTโs successful qualification largely came down to Gregg Berhalterโs halftime adjustments each match. Today, the adjustment hasnโt let to many chances on frame.
Desperately need to start their games in a better way by the time November arrives.
Hopefully this result serves as a wake-up call for the #USMNT. Shocking performance for some key players and lot of questions for Berhalter too - including how he's set the team up!
Berhalter has been in charge of this same squad for years. His starting XI hasnโt changed much.
-we still canโt break through a midblock -we still get burned in transition -we still operate way too quickly in possession and settle for bad chances
Berhalter just got outcoached and these players just got humbled. Defense is gonna be a problem at the WC, we struggled to create anything, we couldn't get our forwards service. This is not just on Berhalter, the players are to blame too. IDK what we need to do, just not ready
The squad fielded by Berhalter on Friday wasn't
the one that'll likely take the pitch when the USMNT opens the World Cup in November, including star Christian Pulisic
being a late scratch from the matchday squad with an injury picked up in
training.
That said, it was still an uninspired
performance that raises further questions about whether the Americans
are trending in a positive direction with just two months until
Qatar.
It also brings the continued
international absence of central defender John Brooks, who recently
made his debut for Portuguese club Benfica, back into the spotlight
as the U.S. works unsuccessfully to find the anchors for its back line.
Berhalter and Co. will get another
chance to showcase some semblance of progress Tuesday when they face Saudi Arabia in a friendly at Estadio Nueva Condomina in
Murcia, Spain.
Another lackluster outing in the last
preparation match before the World Cup would raise serious doubts about the team's outlook as players return to their clubs next week.
USMNT vs. Japan: Top Storylines and Predictions for 2022 Friendly
Sep 22, 2022
United States' Josh Sargent goes for the ball during a qualifying soccer match against Honduras for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
The United States men's national team has just under two months until its first game at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Manager Gregg Berhalter still has a handful of vital decisions to make when it comes to his roster for the finals in Qatar, which start on Nov. 20.
Most importantly, he needs to find a striker he trusts to find the back of the net.
Berhalter will use Friday's friendly against Japan to further evaluate Josh Sargent, Jesus Ferreira and Ricardo Pepi. The first two come into the USMNT's European camp in good form, and Pepi has hit the ground running since joining FC Groningen on loan from FC Augsburg.
Most of the focus Friday will be centered on the play of the forwards, but other positions are still up for grabs as well.
Berhalter must finalize who will start in goal and which depth players will join the squad in Qatar. He will use Friday's match against Japan and Tuesday's clash with Saudi Arabia to get answers to those questions.
USMNT vs. Japan Info
Date: Friday, September 23
Start Time: 8:25 a.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app
Top Storylines to Watch
Which Player Takes Hold of Starting Striker Spot?
Sargent, Ferreira and Pepi were the three strikers called into the September camp.
There was plenty of deliberation as to whether Jordan Pefok should be a part of that group as well. The 26-year-old is off to a great start at Union Berlin with three goals and three assists that have helped his team to the top of the Bundesliga.
Instead, Berhalter opted to go with three forwards who have been used in his system for most of the last two years.
Ferreira has scored 18 goals with FC Dallas in Major League Soccer and has five for the USMNT this year, though four of them came against Grenada in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Sargent has five international goals, but he has not found the back of the net at this level since 2019. The hope here is that his form at Norwich City turns into a strong camp.
The 22-year-old has scored six goals in 10 league games for the English Championship side.
Pepi made an ill-advised transfer from FC Dallas to Augsburg at the height of his hype nine months ago after scoring three goals in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
The 19-year-old failed to make an impact at Augsburg, but he did produce a goal and an assist for Groningen in the Netherlands following a loan move.
Ferreira and Sargent are in strong form and Pepi regained some confidence before the international break, but all three are imperfect options at the international level.
Berhalter seems committed to taking those three players to Qatar, so at least one of them needs to step up and turn in a solid showing against Japan to instill more belief in the forward group.
Berhalter Filling Out Roster Depth at Certain Positions
A case could be made that at least half of the USMNT World Cup roster is already set.
Christian Pulisic, Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie are locks in midfield. Sergino Dest and Walker Zimmerman are going in defense. Matt Turner and Zack Steffen appear to be on the plane at goalkeeper.
Add in the three forwards called in for the September friendlies and a healthy Gio Reyna, and you don't have many more roster spots up for grabs in the coming weeks.
Friday's friendly against Japan should serve as a chance for fringe World Cup players to prove their case to Berhalter and his coaching staff before they lock in on a 23-man squad.
There are opportunities at center back with Miles Robinson still out because of a long-term injury, John Brooks not in the picture and Cameron Carter-Vickers not in this camp.
Mark McKenzie, Aaron Long and Erik Palmer-Brown are the candidates to start next to Zimmerman. Whichever one of those players earns the nod could put himself ahead of others for a ticket to Qatar.
Berhalter should also have a close focus on the midfielders. Luca de la Torre, Johnny Cardoso and Malik Tillman are among those fighting for roster spots.
The USMNT manager has to balance the chemistry of his first-choice team and the selection of fringe players for Friday's match. We could see Adams, McKennie, Pulisic and Aaronson on the field for 60 minutes or so before the reserves get their chance to shine.
The match in Dusseldorf, Germany, should be a good test for the USMNT players, no matter what their status is for Qatar.
Japan is preparing for its seventh consecutive World Cup. The Samurai Blue reached the round of 16 in two of the last three World Cups.
Prediction
USMNT 1, Japan 1
The USMNT will get a good test out of Japan after spending most of the year taking on CONCACAF opposition in various competitions.
The Americans beat Morocco by three goals and played to a scoreless draw against Uruguay in two friendlies in June that were outside of the CONCACAF tournament window.
Ferreira, Sargent and Pepi need to stand out, but their recent international track record suggests goals may be hard to come by.
The best chances could come from Pulisic, Aaronson and McKennie. The former could use a confidence-building performance after being on the bench so much at Chelsea early in the English Premier League season.
Japan should create some chances against an American back line that has been susceptible to mistakes this year.
The final score may not matter to Berhalter as long as he can get the proper evaluations on some players with question marks ahead of the World Cup.
Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie Make USMNT Roster for Final World Cup Friendlies
Sep 14, 2022
United States forward Christian Pulisic plays during the first half of a friendly soccer match against Morocco, Wednesday, June 1, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are among those on the United States men's national soccer team roster for a pair of friendlies prior to the World Cup.
The USMNT announced the entire 26-player group Wednesday.
The United States' 2022 World Cup appearance will start in Qatar on Nov. 21 against Wales in Group B play. They will also take on England and Iran.
By virtue of finishing third in the eight-team CONCACAF qualifying table, the United States is making its first appearance in the men's World Cup since 2014 after failing to make the 2018 competition. The U.S. has made the knockout round in three of their last four appearances, including a quarterfinals berth in 2002.
The 23-year-old Pulisic will take part in his first World Cup. He's starred for the national team with 21 goals in 51 appearances. The Chelsea winger/midfielder has scored 19 goals in 80 Premier League appearances for the Blues.
The 24-year-old McKennie will also be making his World Cup debut. The Juventus midfielder has scored nine goals for the U.S., including two during this year's qualifying round.
Report: Chelsea, USMNT Star Christian Pulisic Eyed by Manchester United in Loan Deal
Aug 17, 2022
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 14: Christian Pulisic of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on August 14, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Manchester United have reportedly asked about acquiring Christian Pulisic on a loan from Chelsea, according to James Olley of ESPN FC.
Andy Mitten of The Athletic also reported the potential move, noting the forward is "frustrated with his lack of starts" and would "prefer" a move to Manchester United.
There could still be competition for the American with Newcastle United, Juventus and Atlรฉtico Madrid all also linked with Pulisic.
The 23-year-old has been up-and-down with Chelsea since arriving on a ยฃ58million ($70m) transfer from Borussia Dortmund. He scored nine league goals during his first year with the team in 2019-20 before helping the squad win the Champions League title in 2021, but his playing time has been inconsistent over the past two seasons.
In 2021-22, Pulisic started just 13 Premier League matches while making 22 appearances. His 1,286 minutes ranked just 17th on Chelsea despite tying for fourth on the team with six goals.
The winger averaged 0.56 goals and assists per 90 minutes, which ranked third on the team with at least 10 appearances.
This production came despite moving around the lineup to get on the pitch, including some appearances as a wingback in manager Thomas Tuchel's 3-4-2-1 system. Transfermarkt listed six different positions for Pulisic over his 38 appearances in all competitions last season.
With just 30 minutes off the bench through two matches in 2022-23, it seems the forward may need a fresh start.
Manchester United could certainly use attacking help after a dreadful start to the year that puts them bottom of the Premier League table. The squad has just one goal in its two losses, which came from an own goal in their 2-1 defeat Brighton and Hove Albion.
Despite his struggles at times with Chelsea, Pulisic has proved to be an impact player with the United States national team, scoring 21 goals with 10 assists in 50 appearances. The next step is to carry this over to the club level.
A move to Newcastle could also create more playing time for Pulisic, helping a team that failed to find the back of the net against Brighton in its last match.
Atletico Madrid and Juventus could offer Champions League football, with the latter providing a chance to reunite with USMNT teammate Weston McKennie. However, they could also create the same challenges for playing time on a weekly basis.
USSF President Says Equal Pay Settlement Lifts 'Dark Cloud' from U.S. Soccer
Jul 15, 2022
MONTERREY, MEXICO - JULY 14: Megan Rapinoe #15 of the United States gives a thumbs up during a Concacaf W Championship game between Costa Rica and USWNT at Estadio Universitario on July 14, 2022 in Monterrey, Mexico. (Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Achieving equal pay for the men's and women's national soccer teams two months ago lifted the "dark cloud" over the United States Soccer Federation, U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone told ESPN:
"Not only getting equal pay with the CBAs but solving the litigation has made this dark cloud that was hanging over all of our heads move along.
"It affected everything we did at the federation, so now to have a reset with our national team players on the men and women's side, to move forward together, to actually be aligned with each other and hoping each other succeed is really great.
"It has allowed me to sleep a little bit more at night, which I'm also appreciative for."
The USSF, United States Women's National Team Players Association and the United States National Soccer Team Players Association agreed to terms on collective bargaining agreements that achieved equal pay in May.
Parlow Cone said at the time:
"This is a truly historic moment. These agreements have changed the game forever here in the United States and have the potential to change the game around the world. U.S. Soccer and the USWNT and USMNT players have reset their relationship with these new agreements and are leading us forward to an incredibly exciting new phase of mutual growth and collaboration as we continue our mission to become the preeminent sport in the United States."
The CBAs for the men's and women's teams, which have identical economic terms, run through 2028. The teams will receive identical pay for every competition, including the men's and women's FIFA World Cups, and will also split a portion of U.S. Soccer's commercial revenue, including broadcast, partner, sponsorship and ticket sale revenue.
Members of the men's and women's national teams also receive equal benefits for child care and retirement, along with equal support for venues and field surfaces, accommodations, travel, staffing, scheduling predictability, safe work environments. Some USWNT players also receive insurance, parental leave and short-term disability.
The USWNT had been fighting for equal pay since 2016 when five of the team's star playersโHope Solo, Carli Lloyd, Becky Sauerbrunn, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoeโfiled a wage discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Three years later, the women withdrew their claim and instead filed a lawsuit against U.S. Soccer, suing the federation for gender discrimination. They said the discrimination affected their paychecks, where and when they played, medical treatments, coaching and travel.
In 2020, a federal judge rejected the USWNT's argument over receiving less pay than the men's team but preserved the claim of unequal working conditions. The women's players appealed, and in February, they reached a settlement with U.S. Soccer that included a pledge from the federation to equalize pay, which wasn't achieved until May.
Achieving equal pay was huge for the women's national team, who will look to win their third straight World Cup in 2023 in Australia and New Zealand.
USMNT Qualifies for Olympics for 1st Time Since 2008 After Win vs. Honduras
Jul 2, 2022
Paxten Aaronson of the US celebrates after scoring against Costa Rica during a Concacaf U-20 World Cup quarterfinal football match at the Francisco Morazan stadium in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on June 28, 2022. (Photo by Orlando SIERRA / AFP) (Photo by ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP via Getty Images)
The United States men's national soccer team has advanced to the 2024 Paris Olympics after defeating host Honduras 3-0 in the semifinals of the 2022 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship.
This year, the two finalists in that tournament received automatic bids to the Olympics. The United States grabbed the second one after the Dominican Republic defeated Guatemala in a penalty shootout earlier Friday.
The U.S. and Dominican Republic will play Sunday in San Pedro Sula to determine the CONCACAF Under-20 champion.
The Americans scored all three of their goals in the first half.
Paxten Aaronson, an 18-year-old midfielder who plays for the Philadelphia Union, scored in the third minute.
