The USMNT’s journey in the Copa America ended in heartbreak, leaving fans and experts pointing fingers. But was it really Gregg Berhalter’s fault, or did the players’ decisions seal their fate? Now, a USMNT legend steps up, expressing not to blame the coach but to Sympathize with him, while suggesting it was the players’ management on the field that led to their downfall.

Picture this: the U.S. team, reduced to 10 men early in the first half, still managed to take a 1-0 lead. Hope was alive. But by the 83rd minute, Panama turned the tables, scoring twice to snatch the game 2-1. And just like that, the crucial group stage match slipped away. The next clash against Uruguay was a must-win, but the team couldn’t find the back of the net, losing 1-0. With that defeat, the U.S. bowed out of the tournament. The result? Gregg Berhalter was shown the door, his tenure ending on a sour note.

On the final episode of 2024’s Call It What You Want: A CBS Sports Golazo Network Podcast, USMNT legend Jimmy Conrad didn’t hold back. While sympathizing with Gregg Berhalter, he aimed his criticism squarely at the players for their Copa America collapse. “Are you telling me we don’t have a team good enough to with 10 players to manage a game with a 1-0 lead. But then five minutes later, we give up the 1-1 goal.“ In frustration, he continued to express “Imagine we could get to halftime at 1-0 that then we could really approach it in a different way. In that moment, Greg Berhalter, Mauricio Pochettino, Pep Guardiola. There’s nothing they can do from the sideline when we’re up a goal in the middle of a game that has to be managed by the players.”

He didn’t stop there, “And so that still pisses me off. And then we saw some evidence of it in the post-Pochettino. We’ll get into that once we get into. I just there’s game management issues that that still need to be addressed for me with this particular group, quote-unquote, our golden generation.”

Since Berhalter’s firing, Mauricio Pochettino has taken over, and the results have been promising—four games, undefeated. Yet Conrad’s point lingers: does it matter who’s coaching if players fail to handle key moments? What do you think? Is it fair to blame the players, or should the coach bear the responsibility for preparing them better?

Now with the 2026 World Cup at home, the U.S. Soccer technical director had his say on the planning part – but what plan?

After Copa America exit U.S. Soccer technical director reveals Masterplan for 2026 World Cup

The USMNT is staring down the road to the 2026 World Cup, with a chance to shine on home soil. But after a tough Copa America outing, questions still linger. Where it highlighted gaps that need addressing. Technical director Matt Crocker didn’t sugarcoat it: “Our tournament performance fell short of our expectations. We must do better.”

He then added, “We will be conducting a comprehensive review of our performance in Copa America and how best to improve the team and results as we look towards the 2026 World Cup.“ Now, under Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT is starting to turn heads. With an undefeated run since his arrival, the team is showing potential and giving fans hope. Could this be the spark they needed to create something special for 2026?

So what do you think? Has Pochettino brought the right energy, or is there still more to prove?