After lacking the 2018 World Cup, making it to the spherical of 16 in 2022 was a landmark second for the United States regardless of issues ending in lower than stellar style in a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands. It was a progress expertise for the staff however with Gregg Berhalter’s contract being up this December, it is honest to ask if he ought to return as coach of the nationwide staff for the 2026 World Cup cycle because the host nation.
There are causes to maintain Berhalter in cost as he has exceeded excessive U.S. expectations by profitable the Gold Cup, Nations League, and making it to the final 16 of the World Cup — one thing that should not be taken as a right after lacking out on the World Cup in 2018, nevertheless it’s honest to query if he may’ve achieved extra with the expertise at his disposal. Most choices, like leaving Zack Steffen out of the squad to make Matt Turner the primary keeper and making Tim Ream and Josh Sargent starters have been vindicated by their performances.
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But others, like his substitute patterns, leaving Jordan Pefok out of the squad when he would’ve been helpful in opposition to the Netherlands, and the anomaly round Gio Reyna’s taking part in time are all causes to discover a doable contemporary lens on the staff. Reyna’s scenario particularly is a bizarre one as Berhalter reported that Reyna aggravated a hamstring harm forward of the Wales match earlier than solely taking part in 9 minutes in opposition to England. Reyna mentioned that he was wholesome and out there for Wales though he did acknowledge the harm as properly. Reyna did play the second half in opposition to the Netherlands however he performed a part of it as a false 9 earlier than Haji Wright got here in permitting Reyna to maneuver to the wing and affect the sport — once more displaying Berhalter’s odd substitute patterns.
Margins are wonderful at a World Cup and Berhalter’s each determination was put beneath the microscope however he additionally handed expectations by making it out of the group stage. So whereas it is wonderful for sporting director Earnie Stewart and U.S. Soccer to look elsewhere, quite a lot of care must be put into who’s employed as a result of Berhalter has raised the bar for this staff by setting a brand new customary. Just being aggressive in Concacaf is not okay anymore because the staff has surpassed Mexico and now look to fend off Canada. It’s time to dominate the area.
“In the subsequent couple of weeks, I’ll sit down and clear my head and take into consideration what’s subsequent,” Berhalter mentioned when requested about his future.
According to ESPN, Berhalter will likely be set for contract talks with the U.S. Soccer Federation however he’s additionally eager about exploring European membership choices which may very well be a win-win for each U.S. Soccer and Berhalter. A second World Cup cycle can finish in stagnation however Berhalter has additionally earned the power to go away the job on his personal phrases on account of resetting the trajectory of the staff.
With the USMNT hoping to return to the Copa America in 2024 for the primary time since 2016, it is going to be likelihood for whoever the coach is to check themselves in opposition to high Conmebol opposition. In the 2016 version, the USMNT completed fourth, knocking off Ecuador within the quarter-finals earlier than dropping to Argentina and Colombia. Without needing to qualify for the World Cup in 2026 since they’re internet hosting, that is the type of competitors that they will have to face forward of 2026. Getting friendlies in opposition to European nations is hard on account of Nations League commitments, but when the Americas band collectively, there’s actually room for progress throughout.
If Berhalter will not be taking cost of those matches, let’s check out some doable candidates:
Hugo Perez, El Salvador
Currently teaching El Salvador after rising by teaching their youth ranks, Perez has performed a big position in growing the staff’s expertise stage as a result of recruitment of twin nationals. With a lot expertise in Concacaf that’s eligible for multiple nation, the recruiting arms race is a crucial one. He has had a versatile type with the staff and was additionally capable of lead the staff to a draw in opposition to the United States in Nations League play.
A former U.S. worldwide and U.S. youth coach, it seems like Perez would wish to at the very least to win the Gold Cup with El Salvador earlier than stepping up right into a job of this stature. Moving right into a entrance workplace or youth position with the United States could be extra doubtless proper now however together with his Concacaf connections, he cannot be dominated out.
Jim Curtin, Philadelphia Union
Turning the Union right into a power inside MLS, Curtin’s title has been rising by the teaching ranks yr after yr. Helping develop Brenden Aaronson and Mark McKenzie in addition to many different gamers coming by the youth ranks, Curtin could have a familiarity with a lot of the squad by 2026. Tactically versatile, Curtin’s type of urgent and runs off the ball can swimsuit a clean transition from Berhalter to a brand new type with no need an entire overhaul.
Players will even run by a wall for Curtin as he is a superb motivator and is sweet at connecting together with his staff. Nitpicking his recreation, he has related struggles to Berhalter with predictable substitutions that at occasions come too late in matches to make a distinction however with the expertise that has been at his disposal, it hasn’t stopped Curtin from profitable the Supporters’ Shield or making it to the MLS Cup Final.
Jesse Marsch, Leeds United
Marsch is a troublesome one. Like Curtin, he is somebody who might be capable of have a clean transition on account of his familiarity, however he doubtless would not be out there until he is fired from Leeds United. With the staff solely two factors above the relegation zone within the Premier League, that’s doable however Marsch has struggled to enhance the staff’s protection which has been a USMNT power beneath Berhalter. It’s to not say that Marsch cannot set up the protection as he is achieved that in Major League Soccer with the New York Red Bulls however the staff might be buying and selling points with Marsch. Scoring and substitutions could be higher however Marsch’s system can also be liable to particular person errors permitting straightforward objectives whereas Berhalter’s extra conservative method protects the staff.
If he is out there and the staff desires to make a change, Marsch needs to be thought-about the front-runner, however issues is probably not as clean as anticipated.
Roberto Martinez, Unattached
After crashing out of the group stage with Belgium, Martinez is now out there and can entice curiosity from totally different golf equipment. On one hand, he has led Belgium to a third-place end on the World Cup, however on the opposite, he underachieved with a roster that’s gifted. Martinez is an effective instance of why a second World Cup cycle does not work for many coaches however he was too loyal to growing older Belgian stars whereas paying the value.
Having already wasted one golden technology, it is powerful to again Martinez managing the United States with key gamers getting into their prime. Add in {that a} overseas coach has by no means received the World Cup and the intricacies of understanding Concacaf, then all of it traces as much as keep away from, keep away from, keep away from.
Brian Schmetzer, Seattle Sounders
Becoming the primary coach to guide an MLS staff to win Conacaf is kind of an achievement for Schmetzer. Doing so whereas additionally managing accidents and altering your formation consistently ascends Schmetzer to legendary standing. While he’ll lead Seattle to play within the Club World Cup in 2023, after that, what extra does Schmetzer have to perform in MLS? He has received MLS Cup twice together with Concacaf Champions League so technically he can go after an Open Cup title however there is not way more for him to do in Seattle. With normal supervisor Garth Lagerwey now in Atlanta as president and CEO, if there is a time for a reset out west, it is now.
The United States do not really want a coach till 2024 in the event that they play in Copa America, which aligns with when Schmetzer could be out there. A statically astute supervisor, if I needed to make one name for changing Berhalter, it could be a name to Schmetzer.
Big-time teaching candidates
If the United States desires to go the flashy route for filling a emptiness, Tite of Brazil, former Germany coach Joachim Low, and France supervisor Didier Deschamps may all be out there after this World Cup. Despite this not being a job that might usually curiosity managers of their stature, the expansion of the USMNT together with the draw of Copa America and managing a World Cup on American soil may very well be simply sufficient to deliver them in if they are not snapped up by membership groups earlier than getting the decision.
