United States hangover persists
– Two years after the seismic shock of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the United States men’s football team is struggling to shake off the hangover.
The reign of US manager Gregg Berhalter (right) plunged to a fresh nadir on Tuesday as the Americans were beaten 2-0 by Canada in their Concacaf Nations League qualifier.
It was the first time Canada had defeated the United States since 1985, and their first victory over their neighbours in a competitive fixture since 1980.
The loss piled pressure on Berhalter just 10 months into his tenure, the latest in a series of unconvincing performances since the former US international’s first game in charge in January.
Although Berhalter appears at first glance to have a respectable record from his 16 games – nine wins, two draws and five defeats – the bulk of those victories have come against teams ranked well below the Americans.
In matches that matter, Berhalter’s men have been found wanting.
A 1-0 defeat against Mexico in the Gold Cup final in July was followed by a 3-0 hammering by El Tri in a friendly last month.
Although the US comfortably swatted aside Cuba 7-0 last week, they were well-beaten by a sharper
Los Angeles
Canadian team in Toronto on Tuesday.
It is all a far cry from the heady days under former head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who successfully navigated the USA through the “Group of Death” at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, qualifying for the knockout rounds ahead of a Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal and African heavyweights Ghana.
While several stalwarts of the Klinsmann era have retired, Berhalter has faced scrutiny over his tactical rigidity.
The 46-year-old favours a high-pressing, play-fromthe-back style, despite mounting evidence that the players at his disposal are ill-suited to that approach.
The sort of patience from fans and pundits that Berhalter is seeking however is in short supply. The dust had barely settled on the
At first glance, Italy’s 5-0 win over a Liechtenstein side ranked 182nd in the world by Fifa wasn’t a noteworthy result.
Tuesday’s victory in Vaduz, however, marked an historic moment for a team that has undergone a radical transformation in the 17 months since Roberto Mancini took over as manager.
It was their ninth win in a row, a run of form that equalled an Italian record set by the great Vittorio Pozzo’s team 80 years ago.
“Matching Pozzo’s record is nice, but I’d rather match his record of winning two World Cups,” Mancini said after the game.
That feat may be out of reach for now, but the former Manchester City boss has nevertheless given the Italian public plenty Canada defeat before “BerhalterOut” was trending on Twitter.
For many observers, Berhalter’s substitution of Christian Pulisic was emblematic of a national team that has lost its way.
Pulisic, who has struggled to rediscover his best form this season after joining Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund, was yanked on Tuesday after an hour.
The 21-year-old forward, hailed as the biggest talent in US football, was later seen looking distraught on the bench, plainly frustrated at Berhalter’s decision to withdraw him.
Any decision, however, to axe Berhalter could end up needing to be approved by none other than the coach’s brother, Jay Berhalter, who is in the running to succeed Dan Flynn as the new chief executive of US Soccer. – of statistical gems to pore over during the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.
Italy’s 2-0 win over Greece at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday assured them of qualification with three games to spare.
It was the earliest qualification they have ever achieved, and the outlook of Group J following the win in Liechtenstein made for more happy reading.
Italy top the group with eight wins from eight, 25 goals scored – averaging more than three per game – and just three conceded.
Mancini’s side have hurdled every obstacle, coming from behind to win against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Armenia and finding a late winner against surprise package Finland during a 2-1 victory in September.
It was crucial that the manager got to work quickly when he was named as the successor to Gian Piero Ventura in May 2018.
Ventura became public enemy No 1 in Italy after their humiliating World Cup play-off defeat to Sweden at the end of 2017, a result that confirmed their first absence from the tournament since 1958.
Mancini took over in a period of profound darkness but, piece by piece, has rebuilt the fragile confidence of the team.
Success wasn’t immediate, as Italy went five games without a win after the manager’s debut friendly victory over Saudi Arabia.
But Mancini gradually found his strongest team and favoured formation, and the results soon followed.
The euphoric mood among the 60 000 fans in the Olimpico celebrating qualification to Euro 2020 at the weekend was the clearest signal yet of how far this team has come under him. – Reuters