— Nashville
I suppose it’s a bit tedious to enter each match against every opponent on earth (even friendlies) with one singular, preoccupying question: are we among the best yet?
But that is, and has been, the goal.
The US met Germany last Saturday in hopes they’d answer that question positively, hanging convincingly with the top-ranked sides as they prepare to host them— first in next summer’s Copa America, then in the World Cup in 2026.
Germany is a historic powerhouse in recent poor form, and the US has (arguably) never been more talented.
We were etching out scenarios of victory, feeling fully capable of at least a draw.
But they fell flat, losing 1-3.
They did look capable for fleeting parts of last Saturday’s test against Die Mannschaft.
But their individually talented attacking lines conjured among the lowest expected goal tally (0.09 from open play) of Gregg Berhalter’s tenure.
And defensively, as every player and Berhalter agreed in the aftermath, the team was pulled ruthlessly apart.
In the mixed zone right after, Matt Turner rued the individual errors and defensive lapse that led to their defeat, comparing it to the USA’s 3-1 loss to the Netherlands in the Round of 16 in Qatar:
“I think it's frustrating because it's just little moments… I sort of alluded to this recently, about how little moments could have made a big difference for us in the World Cup, and it's kind of like the same story. So it kind of had that same feel to that Netherlands game in some ways. Now I'm thinking about it, where, you know, just the game was defined by small moments and inches of detail.”
Before yesterday’s training in Nashville, Gregg arrived late to the press conference, apologizing for his tardiness saying they’d just wrapped up watching film of the game.
With a few days distance from loss, the coaching staff provided more expansive feedback, Gregg said, and the players did too.
Chatting with a few of them ahead of training, I asked what that sober, 3-days beyond defeat feedback looked like from the players perspective.
According to Chris Richards, it was that they were, in fact, right there:
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