USMNT 2023-2026

So group A won again after tying Jamaica, crushing St. Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago 6-0 respectively. Jesus Ferreira scores hat tricks agains the 2 “&” teams and is crowned the Pirate of the Caribbean…since that basically the only teams he can score against internationally have an “&” in their name. He was crap against Jamaica but then scores 6 in the next 2 games.

Still have lost only 1 group game in the history of the tournament. Mostly a B/C team with the exception of Matt Turner. Would’ve really liked to see Slonina play these games. So far, I’m impressed by Brian Reynolds (Westerlo on loan from Roma), Djordje Mihailovic (AZ Alkmaar), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy), and DeJuan Jones (NE Rev). They can provide some depth for the full team. Ferreira is still, at best, 3rd in line (behind Balogun and Pepi). If I was managing this particular roster, I’d still lean towards Brandon Vazquez. He’s more of a true 9 and a better natural finisher.

We’ll play the 2nd place team from Group D on Sunday in the Quarterfinals.

 

In the way that it happened was exciting but the game in and if itself was terrible. Our B/C team vs their mostly B team. This tournament is a running joke. Since it started in 1991, only mexico and US have won it, with the exception of Canada once in the late 90's. It's really more for the Carribean nations to give them something to play for. I'll be looking forward to next summer's Copa America.

 

Berhalter part deux starting off pretty much as part one did. Mediocre, playing down to the competition, sloppy, unorganized. 1-0 against Uzbekistan is embarrassing, period.

Tanner Tessman is terrible.

Oman on Tuesday.

Edit: 2-0 after a late Pepi goal (hey! Wasn’t against a pathetic Caribbean island team). Still, this should be a game we win 6 or 7-0.

Edit 2: Make that 3-0 after a later pk.

 

Into another Nations League Final, beating Jamaica 3-1 in overtime. Jamaica scored 30 seconds into the game and the US ties it with literally the last kick in regular time. Haji Wright then bangs 2 in overtime on Gio Reyna assists.

Shouldn't be this difficult against inferior sides. Berhalter is a terrible coach and he will set this program back even further than what Klinsmann and Arena did in 2017. He's a Try Hard. There's no imagination or creativity. They win on shear talent and in spite of coaching.

 

A group stage exit at this summer's Copa might do it. I'm glad we beat mexico...again...and won the Nations League. again. But when you're the only team in the region that can field an entire European based starting 11 and have only 2 MLS players on the entire roster, this is expected and the bare minimum. Plus, the mexican federation is in absolute shambles right now.

This international window was bad timing for us. We should be playing friendlies against actual competition. Not this farsicle tournament. We need games against top teams so that 2026 isn't an embarassment. There's nothing to be gained from beating up on CONCACAF teams in every window. This summer will tell us everything we need to know about the team and the coaching staff. We are in a group (Uruguay, Panama, and Bolivia) we should absolutely get out of, and I'd argue, win. This is the most talented US pool to date. Assuming full health, anything less than the semifinals is a failure.

The biggest concern, though, is Coach Mediocrity. He forces a system that isn't suited to the players on the field or designed to combat the tactics of the opposition. It's the definition of insanity. He needs to spend A LOT less time reading about and going to leadership seminars and more time studying the great coaches and their tactcs.