DOHA, Qatar — The USMNT lost to the Netherlands 3-1 in the World Cup Round of 16 on Saturday. The U.S. exits the tournament, while the Netherlands advances to the quarterfinals to meet Argentina or Australia.
This was a worst case scenario outcome. The Dutch outplayed and out-coached the US comprehensively. By 15 minutes into the game, the Dutch looked like they had sorted the US tactics. Both the Dutch goals exploited US weak points. And I think Grant is completely on target when he notes that the team just looked tired, physically and mentally.
I think this is hard lesson for these players, that there's a big difference between what it takes to get out of a group and what it takes to progress in this tournament. I think it'll make them more competitive in the next cycle.
Keeping Gregg for another 4 years would be a criminal waste of talent. There are many reasons why he should not continue but thinking Ferreira should have been on the field in a knock out game (over Gio who is an infinitely more talented player) against a quality side should remove all doubt. Ferreira and Wright and Moore are so obviously out of their league - yet Greg stubbornly played them. We have enough talent to significantly progress over the next four years. But the real question is do we have the leadership in US Soccer?
The bigger issue is lack depth to compete at this high level. All of the group stage games were very close, and the starters were forced to play way too many minutes. Three matches in nine days took a heavy toll. And then the Dutch game up with the perfect game plan.
Is Berhalter the answer for 2026? I don't know. I believe he was the right guy to get the most out of so many young buys and build a very cohesive group.
Big picture could we really expect more? In qualifying we avoided the playoff on goal differential. Then we tied a mediocre Wales team, had a great game vs England and snuck by Iran. At some point you’re going to get exposed for what you are.
The thing for me is that I think we could have been more today. If berhalter had trusted his players a little more and gotten some guys some rest in the group stage, I think it might have been more competitive today.
I don’t think the potential is really there . We have 11 guys who can compete. But behind them, the ice gets thin and we fall into the pond. Until the replacement for an injured Sargent, or Jedi or Adams is as good or better than they are, there is no potential for advancement. Getting out of the group stage is our peak performance, and it requires some luck at that. And older players means improved players only for a few. We are lacking in world class talent and need to find it fast. We have 4 years .
Berhalter. What a divisive topic. I have come to believe he did a fantastic job in certain ways. He recruited spectacularly. He built a family of guys who loved playing with and for each other. I think in this World Cup he put his players in positions to succeed.
But I have always believed that he coaches scared. He coaches to prevent bad things from happening more than he coaches to help his team soar. And I think in the end it was his undoing. That type of coaching has a pretty low ceiling, and I think the US bumped into it hard today, in terms of tactics and the exhaustion that stemmed from not having rotated players enough in the first three games.
I work in youth development, and the same kind of debate exists in my field. Do you focus on remediating problems, or on leveraging strengths? My field has moved pretty strongly in the direction of being strengths focused. I think the US needs a coach that does that, too.
The second half vs Iran cemented to me that he coaches scared. One thing to pack it in for the final 10, he tried to do it for 40 mins. And not taking Pepi (who probably saved his job) or Pefok was criminal.
Ultimately 3 goals in 4 games is not enough (and one being completely lucky)
I agree. He built a great foundation. With a lot of things, just because you built a great thing, doesn’t mean you have the skills to execute on it. We see thing in business all the time with startups or restructurings.
Many countries that try to “run it back” with the same manager for two cycles often underachieve or fail the second cycle (Arena, Klinsmann, Belgium). It’s a one term job IMO
I think that's a good point. He really did create a great foundation. you see this in other sports, too. Like in the NBA, there are coaches you bring on to make your team stop stinking, coaches you bring on to take a mediocre team to competitive, and coaches you bring on to take a competitive team to championship caliber. I think we need an next level coach for this group of talented young players.
I’d give him a B- , got out of group stage in a good group, played competitively in knockout stage, qualifying was way too hard for this talent level and only missed the playoff by goal difference, struggled to score for most of the last 2 years. Feel like I’ve seen the same game way too many times - US with good possession and the “better team” but walking away with draws and one goal defeats
Yeah, at some point they just have to make those chances pay. The thing that kills me is that, before they had to scrap all tactics and basically play backyard ball in the second half, the US was probably about even unexpected goals.
They made THREE mistakes in the first half. Pulisic couldn’t miss Noppert. Tyler got caught and let Memphis get behind him. Dest lost Blind. That’s about it. Unfortunately, down 2-0 at halftime with a *mountain* to climb in the 2nd half. The guys who scored those 2 goals are VERY experienced, and have been on their national team for years.
Were they exhausted? No doubt! But they had to go 90 hard minutes each group game just to get out. It would’ve been nice if they’d held on to beat Wales and managed to beat England - wholesale rotation would’ve been possible. But that didn’t happen and they had to scramble every single minute all the way. NOTHING came easy. That takes its toll.
The only starter who probably won’t be there in ‘26 is Tim Ream. The core will be in their primes. Guys, the future is brighter than it’s ever been. They need to find a way to get into multiple Copa Americas. CONCACAF isn’t enough. They ALL need super-competitive tournaments against classy competition - players, coaches, staff.
Absolutely, Bob. Lack of chances on set pieces really hurt. Might as well have taken 100% short corners for all the ones in the box accomplished. It’d be nice if anyone in the squad actually took them for their club.
I agree that the criticisms are harsh. Both teams had a tactical vision for this game, but the Netherlands executed theirs better. The USMNT tactical plan of attack generated chances as well. How different would the game have played out if Pulisic scores that early goal? At this level, the margins are very thin.
I love this core, and it will be very interesting to see how these men develop over the next four years. That No. 9 that we (and other countries) are looking for may yet develop. Every striker in the pool are young and with potential. Let's see who grabs their chance.
I think Coach showed us what we already knew. That our”quality” depth is paper thin. Ferreira isn’t close to what Josh Sargent is, and Aaronson is the only threat off the bench ( assuming that Reyna is on the pitch). Missing Miles Robinson drained the CBs and there was no rest for Jedi or Durst . Not to mention that we depended upon a 38 year old ( Tim Ream) in three straight matches. Gregg’s choice of over working the starters is proof that he had no faith in 80% of the back-ups. The energy was gone, as you point out. And Pulisic’s shots were lame all day. But, even at far less than 100%, he was better than any other choice.
Dutch have better coach, had better strategy and have more quality. US needs much more quality up front; CBs will age out by 2026. Is USMNT on the right track? Yes. But the steps become much steeper when you approach the summit.
We have young talented center backs who would have been on the field here if healthy. But definitely need more up front, and more depth everywhere. Players needed way more rotation.
While the goals today were mostly due to poor defending/marking, our style or tactics and lack of forward play put so much on our outside backs to play the full 120 yards that they were spent in this game. Hard to kill Robinson and Dest when they have to play fullback, mid, and forward each game
The team looks like it’s heading in the right direction. It’s not a finished product, but much better than it has been in a while. I’m not convinced Berhalter is going to improve this team. As you mentioned, the strategy and substitutions are baffling to me.
I agree with you about Reyna ... but seriously, what did he do with the 45 minutes he was given today? I felt he was a complete non-factor, so maybe there just wasn't a compelling reason to get him on the field.
Actually, I thought Reyna showed exactly why he should have been on the field in earlier games. Time and again he turned out of pressure and retained possession through skill that only a few guys on the team have. And with a player like Reyna you don't just ask how he looks moment to moment. A player like that is valuable. Expressly because he can look just okay for 89 minutes and win you a game with a moment of brilliance. Berhalter was so focused on preventing bad things from happening that he squelched the possibility that a player like Reyna offers. Benching Reyna through this tournament would have been like the classic Bulls teams benching rodman cuz he didn't fit the team tactics.
Sorry - I wasn't clear in my comment and your push back makes sense.
Given his usage and his performance in this game I now see WHY he wasn't on the field. It occurred to me during the game that I just think GGG had a very rigid system of "these are my midfielders, these are my #9s, etc."
I think Gio was probably competing in camp with Pulisic, McKennie and Musah and Weah and I see why GGG didn't choose him over them. On the other hand, he's a MUCH better player than Sargent, Ferreira, or Wright, but GGG just didn't see him in that slot or have him competing there.
My view is that in international play, you figure out the best 11 and you just get them on the field as much as possible. Dempsey and Donovan (as an example) both frequently played #9 for the US even though that wasn't their position for their club and it really worked. It occurs to me that GGG just didn't think that way.
We can call that a flaw in his tactics for sure. On the other hand, we don't know to what extent that competition in the camp actually helped the midfield be better. I think Grant's idea of putting Weah up top and having Gio in the midfield was probably the best one, but with GGG in charge, I think it was just never going to happen.
All in all, GGG did his job. He qualified and got to the R16. This was the best cycle we've had since 2014 and although the Nations League and the Gold Cup are kind of silly, they are trophies. Was it perfect? No. Could a different coach have gotten further? Yes. Could a different coach have fallen earlier? Yes.
I didn’t think he had a huge impact today, but going against a well-coached Dutch team up 2 goals that are mostly clogging up things is hard platform to succeed from
If anything Reyna showed us what GGG saw. He wasn't great today at #9. And I don't think he was good enough to displace the midfielders or the wings at his native position. So he was a guy without a home. You could argue that (as Grant has) that he should have played Weah up top and Reyna on the wings, but GGG wanted to stick guys at their "home" positions.
Calling the team exhausted is lazy. The US was outcoached. Obviously the Dutch saw a weakness in the cutback cross and they exploited it. We have absolutely zero game plan in the attacking third and it shows.
I think we should try and move on from Berhalter, but I'm not convinced a different coach would have made all that much of a difference. It's also pretty harsh to compare him to a coaching staff of Louis van Gaal, Danny Blind and Edgar Davids. Those guys will outcoach damn near anyone.
Yes, this is the most talented US squad with the most potential we've ever had, but none of these guys are world beaters yet. Pulisic barely plays for Chelsea. Weah hasn't scored a single goal in France this year coming back from injury. Reyna can't keep himself healthy. Our midfielders are great in possession, but none of them have more than 1 goal for their clubs this year. And we expected that lineup to all of a sudden learn how to put the ball in the net? These guys need to learn how to score.
I know US soccer twitter wants to say otherwise, but Memphis is WAY better than Christian. Cody Gakpo is one of the brightest young stars in the game and better than anyone we have. Their fullbacks are seasoned pros who are way clear of ours. It wasn't a bad loss, and it's not that big of an indictment on our coach. We simply got beat by a much better team.
1. The vitriol from US fans about the roster. Especially bench, who rarely play. Jordan Morris is an example..played a whopping 3 minutes
2. We need a real striker. Pulisic is a floater and a piece, but not the sole answer. We had no real physical presence on Corner of Free kicks. We looked like a bunch of midgets.
Thanks for your coverage of the team, and the Cup as a whole, Grant!
This was a worst case scenario outcome. The Dutch outplayed and out-coached the US comprehensively. By 15 minutes into the game, the Dutch looked like they had sorted the US tactics. Both the Dutch goals exploited US weak points. And I think Grant is completely on target when he notes that the team just looked tired, physically and mentally.
I think this is hard lesson for these players, that there's a big difference between what it takes to get out of a group and what it takes to progress in this tournament. I think it'll make them more competitive in the next cycle.
Keeping Gregg for another 4 years would be a criminal waste of talent. There are many reasons why he should not continue but thinking Ferreira should have been on the field in a knock out game (over Gio who is an infinitely more talented player) against a quality side should remove all doubt. Ferreira and Wright and Moore are so obviously out of their league - yet Greg stubbornly played them. We have enough talent to significantly progress over the next four years. But the real question is do we have the leadership in US Soccer?
The bigger issue is lack depth to compete at this high level. All of the group stage games were very close, and the starters were forced to play way too many minutes. Three matches in nine days took a heavy toll. And then the Dutch game up with the perfect game plan.
Is Berhalter the answer for 2026? I don't know. I believe he was the right guy to get the most out of so many young buys and build a very cohesive group.
Big picture could we really expect more? In qualifying we avoided the playoff on goal differential. Then we tied a mediocre Wales team, had a great game vs England and snuck by Iran. At some point you’re going to get exposed for what you are.
The thing for me is that I think we could have been more today. If berhalter had trusted his players a little more and gotten some guys some rest in the group stage, I think it might have been more competitive today.
Lots of potential but not the finished product
I don’t think the potential is really there . We have 11 guys who can compete. But behind them, the ice gets thin and we fall into the pond. Until the replacement for an injured Sargent, or Jedi or Adams is as good or better than they are, there is no potential for advancement. Getting out of the group stage is our peak performance, and it requires some luck at that. And older players means improved players only for a few. We are lacking in world class talent and need to find it fast. We have 4 years .
Berhalter. What a divisive topic. I have come to believe he did a fantastic job in certain ways. He recruited spectacularly. He built a family of guys who loved playing with and for each other. I think in this World Cup he put his players in positions to succeed.
But I have always believed that he coaches scared. He coaches to prevent bad things from happening more than he coaches to help his team soar. And I think in the end it was his undoing. That type of coaching has a pretty low ceiling, and I think the US bumped into it hard today, in terms of tactics and the exhaustion that stemmed from not having rotated players enough in the first three games.
I work in youth development, and the same kind of debate exists in my field. Do you focus on remediating problems, or on leveraging strengths? My field has moved pretty strongly in the direction of being strengths focused. I think the US needs a coach that does that, too.
The second half vs Iran cemented to me that he coaches scared. One thing to pack it in for the final 10, he tried to do it for 40 mins. And not taking Pepi (who probably saved his job) or Pefok was criminal.
Ultimately 3 goals in 4 games is not enough (and one being completely lucky)
That second half versus Iran was really hard to watch.
I agree. He built a great foundation. With a lot of things, just because you built a great thing, doesn’t mean you have the skills to execute on it. We see thing in business all the time with startups or restructurings.
Many countries that try to “run it back” with the same manager for two cycles often underachieve or fail the second cycle (Arena, Klinsmann, Belgium). It’s a one term job IMO
I think that's a good point. He really did create a great foundation. you see this in other sports, too. Like in the NBA, there are coaches you bring on to make your team stop stinking, coaches you bring on to take a mediocre team to competitive, and coaches you bring on to take a competitive team to championship caliber. I think we need an next level coach for this group of talented young players.
I’d give him a B- , got out of group stage in a good group, played competitively in knockout stage, qualifying was way too hard for this talent level and only missed the playoff by goal difference, struggled to score for most of the last 2 years. Feel like I’ve seen the same game way too many times - US with good possession and the “better team” but walking away with draws and one goal defeats
Yeah, at some point they just have to make those chances pay. The thing that kills me is that, before they had to scrap all tactics and basically play backyard ball in the second half, the US was probably about even unexpected goals.
A lot of you guys are being VERY harsh.
They made THREE mistakes in the first half. Pulisic couldn’t miss Noppert. Tyler got caught and let Memphis get behind him. Dest lost Blind. That’s about it. Unfortunately, down 2-0 at halftime with a *mountain* to climb in the 2nd half. The guys who scored those 2 goals are VERY experienced, and have been on their national team for years.
Were they exhausted? No doubt! But they had to go 90 hard minutes each group game just to get out. It would’ve been nice if they’d held on to beat Wales and managed to beat England - wholesale rotation would’ve been possible. But that didn’t happen and they had to scramble every single minute all the way. NOTHING came easy. That takes its toll.
The only starter who probably won’t be there in ‘26 is Tim Ream. The core will be in their primes. Guys, the future is brighter than it’s ever been. They need to find a way to get into multiple Copa Americas. CONCACAF isn’t enough. They ALL need super-competitive tournaments against classy competition - players, coaches, staff.
GOT to find a striker.
Curious if Zimmerman will be one of our best CBs sin 2026. We do get Miles Robinson back.
While we regularly applaud our wingers, their service on crosses has been weak. We can do better there.
Absolutely, Bob. Lack of chances on set pieces really hurt. Might as well have taken 100% short corners for all the ones in the box accomplished. It’d be nice if anyone in the squad actually took them for their club.
Brother Lou: I’ve been thinking the same thing the past 2 days!
I agree that the criticisms are harsh. Both teams had a tactical vision for this game, but the Netherlands executed theirs better. The USMNT tactical plan of attack generated chances as well. How different would the game have played out if Pulisic scores that early goal? At this level, the margins are very thin.
I love this core, and it will be very interesting to see how these men develop over the next four years. That No. 9 that we (and other countries) are looking for may yet develop. Every striker in the pool are young and with potential. Let's see who grabs their chance.
Great point, Terry. We’re not the only ones looking for a #9.
I think Coach showed us what we already knew. That our”quality” depth is paper thin. Ferreira isn’t close to what Josh Sargent is, and Aaronson is the only threat off the bench ( assuming that Reyna is on the pitch). Missing Miles Robinson drained the CBs and there was no rest for Jedi or Durst . Not to mention that we depended upon a 38 year old ( Tim Ream) in three straight matches. Gregg’s choice of over working the starters is proof that he had no faith in 80% of the back-ups. The energy was gone, as you point out. And Pulisic’s shots were lame all day. But, even at far less than 100%, he was better than any other choice.
Dutch have better coach, had better strategy and have more quality. US needs much more quality up front; CBs will age out by 2026. Is USMNT on the right track? Yes. But the steps become much steeper when you approach the summit.
Agree re CBs. Zimmerman's attempted bicycle kick was almost comical.
We have young talented center backs who would have been on the field here if healthy. But definitely need more up front, and more depth everywhere. Players needed way more rotation.
I suspect lack of rotation was due to GB realizing lack of talent
While the goals today were mostly due to poor defending/marking, our style or tactics and lack of forward play put so much on our outside backs to play the full 120 yards that they were spent in this game. Hard to kill Robinson and Dest when they have to play fullback, mid, and forward each game
The team looks like it’s heading in the right direction. It’s not a finished product, but much better than it has been in a while. I’m not convinced Berhalter is going to improve this team. As you mentioned, the strategy and substitutions are baffling to me.
Hey Grant,
What are your thoughts on USSF prioritizing the 2024 Olympics?
I know there are issues with clubs not releasing players. But our U23 talent will be medal-worthy at the Paris games.
The Olympics would be a great springboard for 2026, too.
And we have enough talent to send another solid team to whatever CONCACAF or Copa America tournament is happening then.
I agree with you about Reyna ... but seriously, what did he do with the 45 minutes he was given today? I felt he was a complete non-factor, so maybe there just wasn't a compelling reason to get him on the field.
Actually, I thought Reyna showed exactly why he should have been on the field in earlier games. Time and again he turned out of pressure and retained possession through skill that only a few guys on the team have. And with a player like Reyna you don't just ask how he looks moment to moment. A player like that is valuable. Expressly because he can look just okay for 89 minutes and win you a game with a moment of brilliance. Berhalter was so focused on preventing bad things from happening that he squelched the possibility that a player like Reyna offers. Benching Reyna through this tournament would have been like the classic Bulls teams benching rodman cuz he didn't fit the team tactics.
Sorry - I wasn't clear in my comment and your push back makes sense.
Given his usage and his performance in this game I now see WHY he wasn't on the field. It occurred to me during the game that I just think GGG had a very rigid system of "these are my midfielders, these are my #9s, etc."
I think Gio was probably competing in camp with Pulisic, McKennie and Musah and Weah and I see why GGG didn't choose him over them. On the other hand, he's a MUCH better player than Sargent, Ferreira, or Wright, but GGG just didn't see him in that slot or have him competing there.
My view is that in international play, you figure out the best 11 and you just get them on the field as much as possible. Dempsey and Donovan (as an example) both frequently played #9 for the US even though that wasn't their position for their club and it really worked. It occurs to me that GGG just didn't think that way.
We can call that a flaw in his tactics for sure. On the other hand, we don't know to what extent that competition in the camp actually helped the midfield be better. I think Grant's idea of putting Weah up top and having Gio in the midfield was probably the best one, but with GGG in charge, I think it was just never going to happen.
All in all, GGG did his job. He qualified and got to the R16. This was the best cycle we've had since 2014 and although the Nations League and the Gold Cup are kind of silly, they are trophies. Was it perfect? No. Could a different coach have gotten further? Yes. Could a different coach have fallen earlier? Yes.
I didn’t think he had a huge impact today, but going against a well-coached Dutch team up 2 goals that are mostly clogging up things is hard platform to succeed from
If anything Reyna showed us what GGG saw. He wasn't great today at #9. And I don't think he was good enough to displace the midfielders or the wings at his native position. So he was a guy without a home. You could argue that (as Grant has) that he should have played Weah up top and Reyna on the wings, but GGG wanted to stick guys at their "home" positions.
Calling the team exhausted is lazy. The US was outcoached. Obviously the Dutch saw a weakness in the cutback cross and they exploited it. We have absolutely zero game plan in the attacking third and it shows.
Folarin. Balogun. (And maybe Jesse Marsch at some point too).
https://www.arsenal.com/men/players/folarin-balogun?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-great-game&utm_content=20221203&utm_term=The%20Great%20Game
I think we should try and move on from Berhalter, but I'm not convinced a different coach would have made all that much of a difference. It's also pretty harsh to compare him to a coaching staff of Louis van Gaal, Danny Blind and Edgar Davids. Those guys will outcoach damn near anyone.
Yes, this is the most talented US squad with the most potential we've ever had, but none of these guys are world beaters yet. Pulisic barely plays for Chelsea. Weah hasn't scored a single goal in France this year coming back from injury. Reyna can't keep himself healthy. Our midfielders are great in possession, but none of them have more than 1 goal for their clubs this year. And we expected that lineup to all of a sudden learn how to put the ball in the net? These guys need to learn how to score.
I know US soccer twitter wants to say otherwise, but Memphis is WAY better than Christian. Cody Gakpo is one of the brightest young stars in the game and better than anyone we have. Their fullbacks are seasoned pros who are way clear of ours. It wasn't a bad loss, and it's not that big of an indictment on our coach. We simply got beat by a much better team.
Agreed. We are *not* a good soccer nation in terms of producing talent, especially in depth.
I think there are two things
1. The vitriol from US fans about the roster. Especially bench, who rarely play. Jordan Morris is an example..played a whopping 3 minutes
2. We need a real striker. Pulisic is a floater and a piece, but not the sole answer. We had no real physical presence on Corner of Free kicks. We looked like a bunch of midgets.
We have zero aerial attack. None.