United States’ Folarin Balogun colliding with Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet. — AFP
IN tournament football, just a few blinks can change the narrative around a team.
On one end of the spectrum is Jude Bellingham’s overhead kick that saved England against Slovakia. Now, England are making a push for the European Championship.
On the other end is Tim Weah’s punch at Panama defender Roderick Miller, which resulted in a red card in the 18th minute and contributed to the United States’ 2-1 loss in Copa America.
“That’s just one simple second,” the US captain, Christian Pulisic, said after the Panama defeat.
One second that set a team in motion toward an unexpected and unwanted result. And in tournament play, where the margins are thin, the walls closed in even more on the United States.
The Americans could win regional titles – three Concacaf Nations Leagues in a row – but how would they look against a top global side? After the loss to Panama, the stakes went up even more.
In the end, the United States fell short, losing, 1-0, to Uruguay in Kansas City, Missouri.
For the first time in 20 continental and global tournaments played at home, including 17 Gold Cups, two Copa Americas and one World Cup, the US went out in the group stage.
Uruguay defender Mathias Olivera (not pictured) scoring the winner past United States goalkeeper Matt Turner. — AFP
The narrative for this team has been built around the idea that they are capable of doing more on big stages than any other US team so far. The prospect of going out in the group stage was not acceptable.
And while those “simple seconds” played a huge part, by the end it felt as though the United States had found ways in each game to earn an early exit.
In the 2-0 win against Bolivia, the Americans failed to kill off the opponents in the second half. In the loss to Panama, they sat deep to protect a 1-1 draw but failed to do so. Against Uruguay, they could not generate the chances or the goals to stay alive.
The reality is, the US team did not do enough.
Asked if he believes he is still the right man to lead this team forward, coach Gregg Berhalter responded with one word: “Yes.”
Whether he gets that chance will be determined in the coming days. US Soccer said the tournament performance “fell short of our expectations” and “we must do better.”
The elimination left the team trying to figure out what went wrong and what it might mean for the future. This summer was seen as a critical measuring stick.
If the 2022 World Cup cycle had been about building a team out of a pool of young players and giving them experience on the world stage, the next four years were about progressing that team into real contenders.
As one of three hosts of the 2026 World Cup, the Americans will be hard-pressed to schedule competitive games against top opponents.
The United States scheduled friendlies against Colombia and Brazil in June in the lead-up to the Copa America, which was supposed to be a World Cup dress rehearsal.
When the Americans lost, 5-1, to Colombia, the scrutiny on Berhalter only increased.
An encouraging draw with Brazil in Orlando, Florida, changed the mood.
In Arlington, Texas, a few days before the first Copa game, against Bolivia, US players seemed at ease and confident. There was discussion about the impact of a strong US performance on growing the game and showing the team could compete with the best in the world.
“Of course we’re trying to advance in knockout games,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. “I think that’s super important for our team, showing that, under big pressure situations, we come through is important.”
In the background, though, was the understanding that what happened against Colombia left a scar and, despite the Brazil boost, the discussion over Berhalter’s future was not letting up.
Against Bolivia, there was both a healthy attendance (47,873) and a proportion of fans firmly behind Berhalter’s men, exemplified by the booming noise that greeted Pulisic’s third-minute goal.
Tim Weah receiving the red card against Panama. — AFP
The Americans got a second from Folarin Balogun for a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break, but they could not build on that advantage.
Afterward, Berhalter faced questions about his team’s inefficiency in front of goal despite goal differential serving as the first tiebreaker in the Copa America. It may have felt like nitpicking in the moment. It became a more critical detail a few days later.
The eyes of the country were on Atlanta on Thursday night – but for different reasons. About three miles separated the US presidential debate from the US-Panama game.
A crowd of 59,145 roared just five minutes into the game when McKennie tucked a shot into the net against Panama. A video review quieted the celebration as the goal was wiped off the board.
Ten minutes later, the game, and the US team’s tournament, turned.
Weah punched at Miller after a seemingly innocuous collision near midfield. After initially being cautioned, he was given a red card after a review by the video assistant referee.
It was a shocking moment, in part because Weah was largely seen as one of the calmer personalities on the team.
The United States scored first a few minutes after the red card, breathing life into their chances, but then gave up a goal from distance four minutes later. Berhalter moved to five at the back at half-time to play for a tie, but Panama scored the winner in the 83rd minute.
The loss to Panama upended the path to the knockout stage. The US team suddenly faced a knockout game against a Uruguay team that won their first two games by a combined 8-1 score.
As the Uruguay game approached, the questions were more urgent.
Was this team capable of living up to their reputation? Was there pressure on the coach to succeed?
Monday’s game hardly lacked drama. It had controversial referee calls and exciting moments. A Bolivia goal in Orlando against Panama briefly changed the outlook of the game in Kansas City. Berhalter was captured by cameras raising his fingers to inform players of the score only seconds before Uruguay netted their winner from a set piece.
When the final whistle sounded, players dropped to the ground in exhaustion and disappointment. The United States were out.
Pulisic thought about the missed opportunities. He expressed frustration at the referees but said it did not serve as an excuse. Finally, he was asked about Berhalter.
“I mean, look, we have a good relationship with him,” Pulisic said.
He paused. The reality of the tournament, its failures and the potential consequences to come had started to settle in. He let out a deep sigh.
“And whatever the next step looks like,” he said, “it’s not my job to decide.” — NYT
