I’m willing to help my country in any way I can. I’m proud to serve. So if I were in charge of the U.S. soccer team right now, I’d be on my way to the airport.
Why? Because I think I could make a very compelling case for Jurgen Klopp to take over the U.S. men’s national team.
After the disappointment of the Copa America, after the United States lost to Uruguay and was eliminated in the group stage, I will personally travel to Spain. I mean it.
I know Klopp has only been retired for a few weeks and he wants a break, but if we were sitting in his villa in Spain, I think I could entice him to come here. 100 per cent.
The money is there, no doubt about it. So my proposition would be simple: you have a group of young players who can play progressive, attacking football, exactly like your Liverpool teams. And in two years you can go to the biggest World Cup in history.
Jürgen Klopp is enjoying a break in Spain after leaving Liverpool at the end of last season
Gregg Berhalter is facing calls to retire after the U.S. national team was eliminated from the Copa America on Monday.
DailyMail.com columnist Tim Howard
Plus, this is international football, so you don’t need to be at the training ground every day. You don’t even have to worry about qualifying.
What do you think, Matt? That’s what I would do if I was in charge of the U.S. Soccer Federation, anyway.
If they decide that Gregg Berhalter cannot survive this Copa America campaign, if they decide that another coach should lead the U.S. national team to a home World Cup in 2026, then they will have to go for the big prize.
Of course, it is a risk. No doubt some coaches will look at America and see a payday and a comfortable life. That is why you cannot choose just any big-name coach. You need someone with high expectations, a clear vision and a clear path. Someone who is demanding of himself and his team. Someone like Jürgen Klopp.
Why not? U.S. soccer needs a big change after this Copa America. All options need to be on the table. Everything needs to be analyzed, because this is a huge missed opportunity for our team and for soccer in our country.
These are the best footballers America has ever produced, but they are slowly losing their status as the golden generation. They have not achieved a major triumph and will not achieve one before the World Cup.
Klopp was recently seen watching tennis at the Mallorca Championships in Palma
Christian Pulisic and his team were fired after two consecutive defeats in the group stage.
There is no doubt that Berhalter will take responsibility. That’s sport. But let’s be clear: a lot of the blame falls on the players.
I know that probably puts me in the minority, but I was part of the national team for 15 years and there were times when we played for a coach who was not very good. What did we do? We came together and, despite that coach, we fought, won important games and gave our best.
We knew the coach was sugar-coating our situation. It became a matter of pride. The lads didn’t look for excuses, they thought: to hell with the coach, this is for our country and for my starting position.
So as players, we would hang out together after lunch. We would go to the bar or knock on each other’s doors late at night and say, let’s sort this out. The manager didn’t know this was going on and, to be frank, he didn’t deserve to be privy to these conversations.
Often it was all about fighting and being direct. I know people don’t want to hear that (not now when Pep Guardiola has won so much and plays such beautiful football), but sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves, push the button and face your opponent.
U.S. Soccer Federation sporting director Matt Crocker (right) has promised another “comprehensive review”
The current U.S. team is not lacking in skills, but a change in mindset is needed.
Only then can they win these big matches. Only then can they move on to the next level.
You know what I wanted to hear last night? “This is our fault. We weren’t in a tough group. We should have moved forward and we didn’t.” But with this group, the messages are always positive.
When you stumble, the outside world doesn’t want to know about the process, but about the results. That doesn’t mean you have to throw people out. Sometimes you just have to say: that wasn’t enough.
The same applies on the training ground. I expect there to be some tough conversations this week. They need to be had. But I can’t help but wonder, with this group, are the tough questions being asked? Between the players. And to the coach.
I’m a very subservient person, I’ll fall in line, I’ll be your foot soldier and I’ll follow your plan. But at a certain point, I have a reputation, an ego and a character that says: this is not enough. So let’s talk.
Howard was part of U.S. teams that overachieved and won big games.
I was there when Berhalter took over. We had failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. He brought in new ideas and challenged the players. He did a really good job.
But there were plenty of problems for the 2022 World Cup. The U.S. Soccer Federation reviewed him and rehired him. Now, like it or not, they are at another crossroads and the World Cup is on the horizon.
US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker has promised another “thorough review” after “our tournament performance did not meet our expectations.” Now they have to contemplate a decision they had hoped to avoid. The players cannot be changed. Nor should this group be changed.
They are the right age and the team is well balanced, but the opportunities to prove that they are our golden generation are running out.
I sympathise with Gregg, but it’s very difficult for a coach to manage for more than one World Cup cycle – messages become stale.
Maybe it’s time for the U.S. Soccer Federation to look elsewhere. I’ll pack my bathing suit and head to Spain. Just give me a call.
