The 2024 Copa America journey officially comes to an end for the USMNT. A narrow defeat against Group C rivals Uruguay in the final group stage match has ended the host nation’s dream of winning the trophy. As the news of their disappointment spreads, former player Clint Dempsey has put manager Gregg Berhalter in court chambers, slamming him for ‘wasting’ the golden generation of US Soccer.

Analyzing his nation’s upset loss against Uruguay on Fox Sports, the former Tottenham Hotspur star wasn’t able to describe Christian Pulisic and Co.’s overall performance. He said, “I’m at a loss for words. It’s so frustrating to see. You have a team you rotten on and you wanna do well and at the same time, where have we come since 2022?” Dempsey claims that even though the Star and Stripes managed to qualify for the World Cup, the progress has been plateauing since then.

“Where have we progressed? We haven’t. This is the most frustrating part. This is our golden generation, looks like we are wasting it. With 2026 coming up, you never gonna get this opportunity again,” added the former striker.

The pundit also made them realize that after a squad like 1994, this generation remains the only hope for the US men’s soccer team to achieve something. Either way, it’s clear that Dempsey isn’t impressed with the result, despite USMNT giving their all on the pitch.

Interestingly, the first half saw them create chances, with the game being played roughly from both sides. However, just after the hour mark, Berhalter and Co. lost their control over the game as Uruguay finally broke the deadlock. Though fingers are being raised on Berhalter, this USMNT star feels otherwise.

Matt Turner backs Gregg Berhalter despite criticism over Copa America heartbreak

Following the USMNT’s loss to Uruguay, Matt Turner reflected on the team’s overall performance in the tournament. When asked about Gregg Berhalter, he responded, “I see no issue with the direction we’re heading.”

Expressing his support for Berhalter, Turner added, “When you have a fight like that on the pitch in every single game we’re in this tournament, it speaks volumes to how the manager prepare us.”

Instead, Turner placed the blame on himself and his teammates for failing to secure the win, despite being in a position to do so. While Turner’s endorsement of Berhalter seems clear, fan and pundit sentiment may not share his confidence. Nevertheless, it remains uncertain how this result will affect Berhalter’s tenure in the future. For now, the blame game won’t settle this easily.