After digesting everything we saw at Mercedes Benz Stadium last night in Atlanta, Georgia, we must pick apart all the issues that came before us. Let's take a deep dive and look back at the disaster that was the US Men's National Team against Panama in Copa America. Before we look directly at the USA end of the situation, we must look at referee Ivan Barton. While I won't directly blame him like Gregg Berhalter did. But there are some decisions he made that were a head-scratcher.
When Cesar Blackman ran for the ball with two USA defenders on him, he never changed directions to stay clear of Matt Turner. Blackman stayed straight and intentionally cleaned out Turner who was in midair and grabbing the ball simultaneously. Barton should have issued a yellow card to Blackman to inform both sides these types of challenges would not be tolerated.
The challenge against Christian Pulisic by two Panamanian defenders taking him down inside their area should've been whistled down for a penalty. VAR should've informed Barton to head to the monitor and show him that it was a penalty, but neither side looked good during that moment. The fourth official should also be blamed for allowing four minutes of stoppage time added in the second half. With; the amount of time during a VAR review for a false penalty awarded to Panama, and the time-wasting by Adablerto Carrasquilla when and after he received the red card on his vicious challenge on Christian Pulisic late in the game.
Yes, the officiating was poor, but that was not why the US lost this game. The majority of the issues directly fall on the feet of the players and the head coach of the US Men's National Team. First is Tim Weah, who had a moment that I know he would want back, but also cost the game plan of Berhalter. What we thought was a yellow card foul by Weah in the seventeenth minute was much worse when VAR called in Barton to the monitor. Seeing Weah taking a swing and connecting to the head of his defender was horrifying, and sad. Without a doubt, you knew what would happen, when he changed the card color from yellow to red and put the USA down to ten men.
During the press conference, Berhalter explained that Weah was being bumped and checked off the ball, he didn't like it, so sadly he had to take his frustrations out. That's not how you handle an opponent looking for the right player on the opposition to choose to get out of the game. Now I never saw his father George Weah play for any club or the Liberian National Team, but I believe he was smart and knowledgeable not to get suckered into something like this. After seeing Sergino Dest acting like a petulant child during a CONCACAF Nations League 2nd Leg Quarterfinal, at Trinidad & Tobago, Weah has one-upped that incident.
On Gregg Berhalter's part of this performance, I have said I'm not an apologist for him. But when a player pulls off a dumb moment like Weah did, I can't completely blame Berhalter for attempting to make changes and halftime and to go five in the back for the entire second half. Did he sub in the wrong players? Yes, he did, but again, what would've happened if Panama continued to take advantage of the flanks and deliver killer crosses? Those must be stopped as well.
When it comes to Tyler Adams and having him return to the National Team from injury, I want him to be out there as well, but honestly, if he's on a minutes count, he should be coming off the bench instead of starting. It's so frustrating to have him start the game, and then come off if he's not healthy. I understand why Gregg is starting him, but he's more of an advantage defensively than offensively. Berhalter took a risk bunkering in, and it's fair to say he might have done it very early to start the second half, but again if Weah never did that, it's a different situation.
The post-match press conference was a complete joke from Berhalter explaining that our players had to make sure not to put themselves into a position to have the referee influence his calls against them. That's not what you're supposed to do. You're job as the head coach of the US Men's National Team is to form a game plan against your opponent on the other side of the field. He failed his players by not properly game-planning against Panama that's what other National Teams do against lesser teams they lose to and don't play to their strengths. Originally, he didn't answer that question. But he went toward it a few reporters later.
You can also say Berhalter doesn't respect Panama. In world football, you must be aware of how these other teams play. How they are managed by their head coach. Since Thomas Christiansen took over the Canal Boys, he has improved the team by leaps and bounds. It's not just a bunch of scrappers and they have technical ability and can get a result against the USA. It's the third time they have defeated the US Men's National Team at home for a World Cup Qualifier, the Semi-Finals of last year's Gold Cup, and now the Copa America. Panama is well-structured and has the confidence to play the game.
I have made multiple observations about Berhalter's tactics and poor selections to start a match, then fixed them to right the ship. Or he got it right in the first half, but couldn't make any adjustments for the second half, and lost the game. He's too stubborn to adapt to the opponent, and when everything doesn't go his way, he can't handle the criticism from pundits in the media. Before Jesse Marsch took the head coaching job with Canada, he was with CBS Sports and the Call it What You Want podcast with Jimmy Conrad and Charlie Davies. Once he gave his thoughts on Berhalter's tactics and said he doesn't have a signature win, that got Berhalter all upset and lashed out after that horrible performance against Jamaica in the Semi-Finals of the CONCACAF Nations League.
The final group stage match against Uruguay in the Copa America should be his last chance to get a result. But to be honest, he's going to face a master tactician in Marcelo Bielsa. In the past our National Team has battled hard and found ways to get results against great sides like Argentina in the Copa America, Portugal, and then a full-strength Mexico squad in the World Cup. The one-goal clean sheet win in the Gold Cup against Brazil. Past head coaches like Bruce Arena, Steve Sampson, Bora Milotinovic, Bob Bradley, Jurgen Klinsmann, and even interim managers like Dave Sarachan and B.J. Callaghan have signature wins or results than Berhalter. That's how pathetic this is.
But all of this will be for nothing if US Soccer doesn't make a move after the final group stage match, because right now I have no faith in what Berhalter will do to put a replacement in for the suspended Tim Weah, and he will never break away from his tactics like a stubborn mule. While we have a golden generation, it looks like it's tarnishing right before our eyes under Berhalter.