Copa America Failure: Two Changes the USMNT Need Before the 2026 World Cup

[@khogg3581]

Spot on.👏

[@pitchsidepub]

Thank you!

[@iancran6651]

Look at Croatia and belgiums golden generations, they have best at their position type players, we just don’t have that yet, our golden generation hasn’t come yet

[@pitchsidepub]

Agreed that name alone set expectations they were always unrealistic

[@harrynamkoong3361]

It's golden generation not b/c they are Messi/CR7/Modric/De Bruyne but because they are better than the previous US generations. I don't even agree with that statement but it's not a delusional statement to say this USMNT generation is the best in terms of talent vs the past USMNT.

[@pitchsidepub]

@@harrynamkoong3361 I’d argue those were the expectations but this far that hasn’t been the on-pitch results. Previous USMNT teams have gone farther in the Copa America and World Cup tournaments. Yes, this team may be more talented but so far it hasn’t amounted to as much as previous teams.

[@harrynamkoong3361]

@@pitchsidepub The way I see it, USMNT is doing just about what it is capable of doing though in some case it did fail - like 2018 WC qualifying. Since then it qualified and even made it out of the group stage at WC2022 and lose to NED. To me, that's the level for the USMNT. Now,, at this year's Copa they should've beaten Panama but the red card put the monkey wrench into it. They beat Bolivia and lose to Uruguay and that's the USMNT level. Having said all that, Gregg Berhalter is way over his head and it wouldn't hurt to get a real coach who knows what he's doing in international futbol. A real coach would be tactically sharp enough to get 1-1 draw or even 1-0 win out of the Panama game once USMNT were 1-0 up with 10 men.

[@jonathonedwardmiller]

I disagree about expectations. If the US pool seriously takes their careers seriously, they can and will be stars. Johnny, Malik Tillman, Jedi, Gio, Pulisic, Dest, Balogun.... that's 7 guys that have the potential to see their values skyrocket to where, in 2-3 years, they can all be top 10 players at their positions. What we need is a coach who can push them to figure their club careers out.

[@jonathonedwardmiller]

Btw there's still guys that I think can also get up there: Musah, Pepi, Pukstas, Paredes, Tessman, Wiley, Luna, Slonina, Richards all can get there as well if their careers pan out.

[@pitchsidepub]

They can, absolutely. I just think they’re missing that truly impact, star player beyond Pulisic, and he’s just a notch below being able to carry a team of role players on his own. It’s what makes them good but not truly competing for World Cup titles.

[@jonathonedwardmiller]

@@pitchsidepub Keep in mind that Jedi's considered to be playing at the level of the best FBs in EPL rn. Also Dest is 2000, Johnny and Balogun are 2001, Gio and Malik are 2002. They have 3-5 years to get where Pulisic is now.