When Greg Berhalter was a defender for the US national team, I dreaded it when he started. Something bad usually happened, and he was often part of it. When he was appointed head coach, I groaned. But up to today, he was doing OK. That went out the window with this discouraging draw. Canada had the answers to the US's questions most of the game, and when we finally sliced them open for our goal, we didn't make any effort to keep the lead. Canada's left winger got behind Yedlin and crossed to the sole Canadian in the box, unmarked by any of the three Americans lounging around in the vicinity. We were lucky not to lose, actually, as their substitute right winger Buchanan smoked our tired defenders more than once to lay in perfect crosses that no Canadian felt like tapping in.
Yes, tired defenders, partly because Berhalter forgot he could substitute, until about the 82nd minute. Herdman outcoached him by a wide margin. Based on what I saw today, it doesn't much matter whether we qualify. This squad is just not good enough, at least under Berhalter's leadership. What an awful display. The Nashville crowd booed lustily at game's end, and they were right to do so.
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