By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 7, 2018) US Soccer Players - Neither his former team nor his new one is directly involved in Saturday’s MLS Cup final. Still, Gregg Berhalter’s name was on the lips of many here in the lead-up to the big game between Atlanta United and the Portland Timbers. With the long-awaited confirmation and introduction of the USMNT’s new coaching hire finally arriving . . .
Berhalter takes over
The soccer news starts with Gregg Berhalter officially introduced as the new coach of the USMNT. Berhalter discussed his plans for the team in a media event in New York, but the process to get to this point stayed front and center. US Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro offered a chronology that would be familiar to USMNT fans. The focus on the World Cup bid. The hiring of Earnie Stewart as general . . .
US Soccer officially announces Gregg Berhalter as new USMNT coach
US Soccer officially named Gregg Berhalter as the new coach of the USMNT on December 2, 2018. With Berhalter strongly linked with the job, the announcement wasn't a surprise. Berhalter leaves the Columbus Crew, where he took over in 2013. As a player, Berhalter had 44 appearances for the USMNT. He won the 2011 MLS Cup as a member of the LA Galaxy, taking Columbus to MLS Cup in 2015 as a . . .
What to watch as the USMNT moves forward
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Nov 26, 2018) US Soccer Players – The recent defeat to Italy in stoppage time officially drew the curtain on the USMNT’s 2018 schedule. There remain plenty of "what ifs" with this squad, but there is also no doubt that the US has steadily progressed in the right direction over the past 12 months. That interim coach Dave Sarachan laid the groundwork for the future . . .
Shade trees and hard lessons: Mulling the way forward for the USMNT
By Charles Boehm – WASHINGTON, DC (Nov 22, 2018) US Soccer Players - An old Greek proverb states that “society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.” Those words come to mind when considering Dave Sarachan’s time in charge of the USMNT, which reached its end with Tuesday’s 1-0 friendly loss to Italy in Genk, Belgium. Taking over the team in a caretaker . . .
What the 2018 USMNT Player of the Year nominees tell us
By Jason Davis – WASHINGTON DC (Nov 21, 2018) US Soccer Players - There’s only so much to take away from 2018, a year that saw a World Cup come and go without the United States participating for the first time since 1986. A period of transition saw a new president of the US Soccer Federation elected, a general manager installed to oversee the men’s national team program, and in large part because . . .
The end of the November window
We start the soccer news with the end of the November international window and the return to the club schedule. For the USMNT, the losses to England and Italy is the latest prelude to an announcement of the new coach. For the players, it's once again assuming that club performance will predict national team opportunity. In Europe, that puts the pressure on players who aren't getting time with . . .
Italy 1 – USMNT 0
The USMNT finished their 2018 schedule with a 1-0 loss to Italy in Genk, Belgium. Ethan Horvath was in goal for the USMNT, making several saves to keep the USMNT in the game. Matteo Politano scored for Italy four minutes into stoppage time. Romain Gall made his senior team debut for the USMNT. For the USMNT, the focus now shifts to US Soccer announcing a coaching hire. The USMNT returns to action . . .
Soccer History: USMNT vs Italy
By Clemente Lisi – NEW YORK, NY (Nov 19, 2018) US Soccer Players – It's possible to calculate the USMNT's progress and success through a series of games and milestones tied to various nations around the world. The rivalry with Mexico has defined the US’s growth and success over the past two decades. Games against others such as England, Colombia, and Costa Rica have also come to define the program . . .
Preview: Italy vs USMNT
The November friendlies conclude for the USMNT against Italy on Tuesday (2:30pm ET - FS1) in the unlikely setting of Genk, Belgium. Italy's decision to play at a neutral site aside, the game is the likely swansong for interim USMNT coach Dave Sarachan. We've heard this before, of course, with US Soccer indicating their permanent hire would be in place by November 1. Instead, it's another window . . .
