By Clay Witt
The United States men’s national team will be flying back home after a 3–1 loss to the Netherlands in the round-of-16 at the 2022 World Cup.
A lack of the final pass or shot combined with Netherlands clinical finishing determined the day for the young USMNT. The first real big tournament for the golden generation has Americans sad at the result, but proud and looking foward to the future.
After winning the Nations League and Gold Cup in the summer of 2021, the golden generation had made their mark around Concacaf and looked at the next step, proving America could compete on the world stage.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter brought the youngest ever USMNT and second youngest team overall to the World Cup in Qatar, with an average age of just over 25-years old.
The stars are there for the States, players like Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Brendon Aaronson and Gio Reyna are just a few that play at top clubs in Europe.
However, those players are all 24-years old or younger. The lack of experience on the world stage is tough to replace, even with top level talent on the feild.
Gregg Berhalter has also come under fire for his tactics and player selection when it comes to substitutes.
Playing very defensive late in games, and choosing MLS players over European proven players, most notably Gio Reyna who had only played 14 minutes in the group stage.
Fans want a more proven top level manager to access the full potential of talent this group has.
Only time will tell to see if the U.S soccer federation sticks with Berhalter or goes a different route before the start of the next World Cup cyle.
This group of players will be around for the next two world cup cycles, which includes a home field advantage in 2026 with the United States hosting the tournament.
This generation which by all accounts is the most talented group of players the USA has ever seen will have plenty of time to prove and live up to their golden generation title.
For now however, the players and fans alike will have to look back on this World Cup as just a stepping stone in which the team played well, going unbeaten in the group stage, and dominating large parts of the loss in the round-of-16.
If the player pool next time around can include a real No. 9 up top to put the ball in the back of the net, there is no reason the USA shouldn’t be able to make real noise in 2026.
The golden trophy is not quite in reach yet, but the USA is certainly playing itself closer and closer each year.
