What to know about state of U.S. men’s soccer team after hire of ‘new’ coach

After an eight-month seek for a brand new head coach for the U.S. Males’s Nationwide Crew, U.S. Soccer lastly discovered its man in June. The catch? He is not “new” in any respect. Gregg Berhalter, who coached the People from 2018-22, returned to the put up following the conclusion of U.S. Soccer’s investigation into his conduct.

Whereas Berhalter’s vindication is broadly seen as justified — the investigation was pushed by the mother and father of USMNT participant Gio Reyna and located to be powered by private animus — critics are not excited about his return. He’s a “secure” candidate as a substitute of 1 who might push the USMNT towards new achievements.

In an unique interview published in Vanity Fair this week, Berhalter aimed to allay critics’ considerations and make his ambitions clear.
 
“The aim,” Berhalter said, “is for us to go to a spherical [of the World Cup] that no U.S. staff has ever gone to.”

Listed here are 5 issues to know in regards to the state of the staff:

1. What is the goal? 

There’s just one World Cup around the USMNT has by no means reached: the ultimate, although followers could keep in mind the staff made the semis in 1950 and the quarters in 2002. Berhalter’s insistence on making it to that all-important recreation is daring. The USMNT has a lot to enhance upon earlier than it may be thought-about a official contender for that spot.

And people enhancements ought to start this fall, with Berhalter’s just-announced USMNT lineup for its September video games.