The USA Men's National Soccer Team failed again to win international glory after being eliminated by Uruguay in the group stage of the ongoing Copa America 2024.
It is not like the USMNT hasn't won anything in the last decade. They remain the team to beat in the CONCACAF Nations League, having won back-to-back titles.
However, in the more prestigious Copa America, they still haven't come close to a podium finish.
This year's edition was more embarrassing for the U.S. soccer team as it comes less than two years before the U.S., Canada, and Mexico host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
They need to put up a competitive team before the global competition. If their outing in Copa America is any indication, American fans might not even see a playoff round for their team.
Manager Gregg Berhalter is now the scapegoat. He took over the team last year after being the manager in 2022. Before that, he mostly managed Major League Soccer clubs.
Former USMNT players want Berhalter fired
The current squad includes some of the best players in American soccer history, with pedigrees and roles with top European clubs. Among them are Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Weston McKennie.
The fact that they did not make it to the knockout stage is where it hurts the most for fans and former players.
Former USA players have joined calls for changes in the coaching staff.
"I don't think anybody would bat an eye. Most teams and federations, it would be a fait accompli," former U.S. defender Alexi Lalas said on Fox, where he is now working as an analyst.
"At a time where we need to be energized and excited about the leadership going into the next two years, I think we find ourselves questioning and negative and cynical and divided, let's be honest, relative to what can be in 2026."
Tony Meola, the starting goalkeeper at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, did not explicitly say that Berhalter should be fired, but he raised the argument that if this is other countries, the pink slip is given to the current USA manager right away after that Copa America 2024 exit.
Prominent Champions League-winning coach eyed
Berhalter has insisted that he remains the best man for the job despite the early exit in Copa America.
That does not stop supporters and media from shopping for a new national team manager.
The biggest name that emerged from the search was former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who had just ended his nine-year stint with the English club.
He is out of a job right now, but that does not mean he will walk away from the sport.
According to Sam Hughes of The Athletic, Klopp wants to take a national team role instead of handling a club.
"The only national job he'd take would be Germany. Or maybe, USA," Hughes wrote.
The USMNT has a history of hiring German managers. The most prominent was Jürgen Klinsmann, who led the team to a CONCACAF Gold in 2013 and coached it in the 2014 World Cup.
If Klopp gets hired, the younger players should feel excited. He is known for developing players into full-grown threats on the field.
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