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USMNT save their worst for last with controversial loss to Uruguay, eliminated from Copa América

By David Moore July 1, 2024
Featured Image
Time to go Berhalter.
Getty Images

Gregg Berhalter and the United States men’s national team were eliminated from Copa América on Monday with a 1-0 loss to Uruguay. Controversial referee calls, ridiculous camera angles and a horrid performance sentenced the USMNT to a group stage exit.

The awful camera angles from the broadcast were an omen of things to come. Were we looking at Arrowhead Stadium or an ant hill? We couldn’t tell.

Every factor about the loss screamed “clueless.” One of the most clueless on the field was center referee Kevin Ortega who made a “worst referee fails” compilation video in one half. His craziest offense was carding Chris Richards while also letting Uruguay take a free kick quickly.

VAR got involved in the debacle with a controversial decision on Uruguay’s lone goal. Mathías Olivera looked offside during a Uruguay free kick, however a lengthy review determined the goal stood.

Blaming the referee and VAR is something many USMNT fans will do and is understandable. Still, Berhalter needs to carry a hefty amount of responsibility for the failure.

With their Copa América lives on the line the USMNT looked flat, disconnected and disinterested during the second half. One image that will stick with this writer in particular was Berhalter holding his fingers up to let the players know Bolivia had tied Panama 1-1. Moments later his side conceded.

In my eyes that paints the image of a coach more worried about how he can get help rather than focus on getting the result himself.

Berhalter should be fired this summer and if U.S. Soccer refuse to do so then they must accept the blame of squandering the most important years of men’s soccer in this country.

The USMNT have won only two matches (out of seven) in international tournaments not including the Gold Cup or Nations League since Berhalter’s appointment in 2018.

They came against Iran and Bolivia.

Simply not good enough.

The players aren’t innocent either. For all the blabber about “oh wow, all the USMNT starters play for their clubs in Europe!” they sure didn’t look the part.

The litany of poorly placed passes, miscommunication and lack of quality in the final third were abhorrent. 

What a disaster that leaves the fanbase and team in disarray. The next time the USMNT take the field will be in September for a pair of friendlies. God only knows what the team will look like and be coached by.

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