World Cup power rankings: Brazil & Belgium have big problems!

Hit or miss? 25 most expensive transfers of the 21st century

How it feels to beat Lionel Messi

Six stars City should target to cure Pep's biggest headache

How England should line up once Tuchel takes charge

Neymar told he’s ‘same level as Messi’ but ‘ruined career’

Felix dazzles but Ronaldo-less Portugal lack finishers

Ronaldo wants to make Guardiola the Selecao's new boss

Is 1,000 goals realistic? Ex-CR7 rival says he’ll ‘get there’

Messi sends special message at end of 'unforgettable year' 

Neymar's future decided? Al-Hilal star buys €50m penthouse

Pulisic: 'Trump dance' celebration was 'funny,' not political

Rooney enjoying ‘boozy nights & takeaways’ without wife Coleen

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Group stage exit suffered on home soil</li><li>Head coach facing difficult questions</li><li>Players have to shoulder share of blame</li></ul>

Gio Reyna launches fierce defence of Gregg Berhalter and USMNT coaching staff after nightmare Copa America campaign

Fingers of blame have been pointed in the direction of Berhalter and his coaching team on the back of a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/usmnt-gregg-berhalter-winners-losers/blted3d9a0194e80230" target="_blank">group stage exit from a major international tournament on home soil</a>. The positivity generated by an opening win over Bolivia was quickly countered by defeats to Panama and Uruguay.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The USMNT have plenty of excuses – including a reckless red card for Tim Weah and some <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/video-referee-snubs-christian-pulisic-handshake-copa-america-controversy-usmnt-captain-suggesting-match-official-join-celebrations-uruguay/bltcb0ddc0c26a17705" target="_blank">questionable refereeing performances</a> – but the truth is that they did not do enough across three games to reach the knockout stages, with <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/unwanted-history-usmnt-forgettable-first-posted-copa-america-christian-pulisic-gio-reyna-crash-out-group-stage-home-soil/bltf6b161bd3ccfcdaa" target="_blank">unwanted history being made in the process</a>.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Some are suggesting that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/you-lost-again-alexi-lalas-brutally-mocks-usmnt-boss-gregg-berhalter-copa-america-review-reacts-ridiculous-christian-pulisic-handshake-snub-referee/blt36d88b10fa4c1c3a" target="_blank">Berhalter now faces a fight to keep his job</a>, but Reyna believes <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/wrong-stuff-gio-reyna-slammed-inexcusable-shirt-swap-luis-suarez-usmnt-nightmare-copa-america-campaign-ends-defeat-uruguay/bltb19d8494987fbfb1" target="_blank">underperforming players should shoulder responsibility</a> for a collective fluffing of lines. He told reporters on the back of a 1-0 loss to Uruguay: “I don't think this tournament really had anything to do with the staff or the tactics or the way we play. I think it was more individual mistakes. The staff can only do so much…. at the end of the day, the players didn't do enough to go through.”

WHAT REYNA SAID

While the USMNT were hoping to put on a show in Copa America action, they have never shied away from the fact that focus is locked further down the line at a World Cup finals that will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.

WHAT NEXT?

Gio Reyna launches fierce defence of Gregg Berhalter and USMNT coaching staff after nightmare Copa America campaign | Goal.com

Gio Reyna has leapt to the defence of Gregg Berhalter after seeing the USMNT bow out of the 2024 Copa America in disappointing fashion.