USA out of FIFA World Cup 2022: USMNT eliminated by Netherlands as Haji Wright scores lone goal in defeat

The United States men’s national team were eliminated by the Netherlands in the round of 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Saturday. First-half goals by Memphis Depay and Daley Blind did Gregg Berhalter’s squad in as the Americans leave Qatar with a 3-1 defeat to the Dutch following a respectable group-stage campaign. The Netherlands will face the winner of Argentina and Australia in the quarterfinals on Friday.

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This was a game that showed how much the USMNT still need to grow as they were exposed to Dutch counters. This was a U.S. team that did not concede a goal on open play during the group stage heading into Saturday. Denzel Dumfries dominated the wing with two assists and a goal to his name. 

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The Americans were without Josh Sargent, who did not dress due to an ankle injury, and they missed his presence with the lack movement and space in attack. From being too quick in their passing plays to not tracking back on Dutch counters, the United States were lulled into playing the game that Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal prepared for.

On the Dutch opening goal, Coady Gakpo made space for Depay to blow past the United States midfield to finish the chance created by Dumfries. Again before the half, a fullback Sergino Dest was caught flat-footed for Blind to finish in a fullback to fullback goal that drove home the Dutch style of play. Changes came at halftime with Gio Reyna entering for Jesus Ferreira but that wasn’t enough to get back into the game. Haji Wright pulled one back from a Netherlands collapse before Dumfries capped his excellent game with an 81st minute goal to put things out of sight.

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The United States, meanwhile, will have to wait until 2026 when they host the next World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. Here are three takeaways from the match: 

1. Learning experience

The United States wasted their chances to get into the match while the Dutch made them pay with the small number of chances. Again, Berhalter got his tactics to begin the game right. Pulisic and Weah were flying out of the gate, just as it was probably scripted, but they couldn’t find the final ball into the box. From taking ill-advised shots to dribbling too much, the United States did just what the Netherlands wanted them to. 

Chances were there when they pressured the Dutch, but the United States could only keep that press up for 15 minutes of each half. Then, when they were caught out, the Netherlands were flying down the pitch unmarked, showing the tightrope that Dest and Robinson walk on by cheating up too much. The defense is dependent on fullback play, and the Dutch fullbacks came up big as they were able to get in behind consistently.

The American fullbacks will need to do better picking their spots to go forward in matches like this, but you don’t know where your weaknesses are until they’re exposed on the big stage. 

2. End of an era

We are four years and a day into Gregg Berhalter’s tenure in charge of the USMNT. Is it time to move on and appoint a new manager for an all important cycle that involves the Americans hosting the World Cup and not necessarily needing to qualify through Concacaf? The track record for coaches that last more than one cycle is not exactly great.

Berhalter has done an important job with getting the team back on the global stage, but it’s fair to question if he has taken the team as far as he can.

“When you think about this group, how they’ve come together in this last three-and-a-half years, it’s really special to see,” Berhalter told Fox reporter Jenny Taft after the game. “You don’t often get a bond like that between the teammates and the staff and everyone. I’m really proud of this group, but bitterly disappointed in the result tonight.”

The bonds forged between the team are important as most of them have played together at the youth levels. Bethalter’s substitutions, however, didn’t allow the team to function at its best. Bringing Reyna on after the half but playing him as a false nine didn’t cause much danger as he had to move wide to influence the game.

Despite scoring what seemed like a fluky goal, Wright also struggled during the World Cup. His performances again left us wondering what could have been with Jordan Pefok and/or Ricardo Pepi in the squad. When your striker scores one goal in four games, it’s fair to question what happened there. Berhalter absolutely nailed the calls on Turner at keeper and Ream at center back, which were critical to their success, but questions remain about how this can become a well-rounded squad for 2026.

Given the talent at the U-20 level, some players just need more experience under their belts. Having a manager who has a Plan B in the back pocket to shift games after halftime may have squeezed a little more out of this match.

3. Don’t underestimate the Dutch

Assuming the Dutch play Argentina in the next round, it’s another chance for van Gaal to use his blueprint against a team that likes to keep possession. With Memphis finding his footing at the right time, it gives the Dutch more to push the pace. Noppert has been strong in goal as well and this was the best performance from Dumfries during the World Cup. Keep that going and they can cause an upset in the next round. Gakpo didn’t even need to score against the United States but his movement made space for everyone else on the team.