USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter will NOT use inexperience as an “excuse” if his team struggles at the World Cup – as he admits “the truth will come out when we play Wales.”
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter will not use his side’s youth as an “excuse” if they fail in Qatar.
The USA roster is the second youngest at the World Cup, with DeAndre Yedlin being the only player to have previously featured at the tournament.
It’s an unknown case for Berhalter’s side, led by Leeds midfielder Tyler Adams, ahead of their first group game against Wales on Monday (2pm ET).
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter will not look for excuses when the team struggles at the Worlds
The current squad are seen as the nation’s golden generation, with Leeds manager Jesse Marsch and USA legend Clint Dempsey excited about their potential.
And Berhalter is unwilling to hint at inexperience when things don’t go his way in the competition, admitting against Wales “the truth will come out”.
“We can speculate whether it’s an advantage or disadvantage (being so young) but the truth will come out as we play the game,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“What I would say is that we just don’t make excuses for ourselves. We want to go out and compete.
The USA had one last training session on Sunday ahead of Monday’s World Cup opener against Wales
After the game against Wales, the USA will face England and Iran in Group B at the World Cup in Qatar
“I see a tremendous focus on the team and that focus will allow us to be successful.
“Time will tell if we are capable of playing with the best teams in the world. It’s a talented group, a young group, but also a group full of character.”
England are believed to be favorites to advance to Group B’s knockout rounds, with second place seen as a direct penalty shoot-out between Wales and Berhalter’s team, while Iran are outsiders.
The USMNT makes their World Cup arc at the Al Rayyan Stadium against Wales after England faced Iran earlier in the day.
“We want to be an aggressive team in this game,” added Berhalter. “We want to be able to hurt them.
“You have this game plan that you hope the group can execute and you have these moments that aren’t written. Moments when you’re forced to compete in tackles and win tackles and win second balls.’
USA held a final training session before the World Cup kick-off at 10pm in Doha to reflect the late kick-off.
Berhalter spoke to the media ahead of his team’s World Cup finals at Al-Rayyan Stadium on Sunday