If Gregg Berhalter Wants To Run Around Nashville Like He's Rocky, USMNT Better Stop Embarrassing Itself And Qualify For The World Cup

In most cases this would be awesome. The head coach of our national team running the streets of Nashville, maybe stopping in different Broadway bars for a drink, before playing Canada is by all accounts awesome. Basically like Rocky just without the crowd running behind him. 

But instead Gregg had one of the worst games he's ever managed. Sure, no Weston McKennie, who needs to figure shit out off the field and not get suspended for a game. Sure, Sergino Dest got banged up and had to be subbed out late in the first half. But that's all Greggggg did until the 81st minute. It was clear we needed fresh legs. It was clear we needed to change something. He just ... didn't. It was wild and one of the main reasons we tied, which really felt like a lost. The fact is we can't give away points at home to any team during the 14-game World Cup qualifying schedule. 

That was the moment it looked like we were getting our three points and this window was fine. Instead, Canada pressed and we lost our shit. Everyone panicked and Canada basically immediately scored. 

Yedlin getting beat, Brooks getting lost, the entire defense giving up a clean run. Fucking gross. Now we have just 2 points and head to Honduras on Wednesday to close the first window of 3 games. A win and it's fine. A tie or a loss and we're starting to panic again. The key for USMNT has always been winning every home game during the qualifying and then stealing points on the road. That's how you qualify for the World Cup. The top-3 from CONCACAF get a bid, the 4th goes to a playoff. This is how we currently stand. 

Again, it's early, but this is also how we missed qualifying for the last World Cup. We need the 3 points at home. We need our stars to be able to play. We need Gregg to figure out a lineup, figure out subs. That was flat out embarrassing. I know Canada is better than most years. That doesn't matter. We're better than most years, even without Reyna and McKennie. I love this team so much and that's why it's so frustrating. We've had a great summer. We've done everything right until the World Cup qualifying started. The point against El Salvador is fine, but that was under the assumption you got 3 at home against Canada. The goal was always a minimum of 5 points in this window, now you need a road win. 

PS: If Gregg is running down Broadway he better run the top floor of Rippy's and get a seat there.