Berhalter Terms Hefty Colombia Defeat As 'Wake-Up Call' For USA Soccer

Gregg Berhalter dismissed the notion that the United States could draw lessons from their 5-1 defeat to Colombia, instead emphasising that the loss should serve as a wake-up call. The USA was thoroughly outplayed by Colombia at FedEx Field on Saturday in a pre-Copa America friendly.

The United States is set to host the 2024 Copa America, but Berhalter's squad appeared outmatched against one of South America's top teams. Jhon Arias, Rafael Santos Borre, Richard Rios, Jorge Carrascal, and Luis Sinisterra all scored for Colombia. The last three goals came in the final 13 minutes, after Timothy Weah had pulled one back for the USA.

Colombia became the fourth team to score five goals against the USA on American soil and the first since Mexico in 2009. They were also the first team to score twice in the first 20 minutes against the Stars and Stripes on American soil since Saudi Arabia in October 1995.

Berhalter found few positives from the loss. "We're not framing it as a lesson learned. We're actually framing it as a wake-up call. Really poor performance against a top team," Berhalter said. "From the 75th minute on, it was, I think, a lack of respect for our opponent, the game of soccer and what we were doing."

He continued, "There are some glaring things that you have to address if you're going to compete at this level. Guys just didn't do their job. It's about your role, your responsibility and we didn't do that. We take responsibility as a coaching staff, for sure. We can't put this all on the players."

The USA will face Uruguay, Panama, and Bolivia in Group C at the Copa America. Things do not get any easier for Berhalter's team, with a friendly against Brazil up next before the tournament starts.

Goalkeeper Matt Turner echoed Berhalter's sentiments. "Everyone needs to look in the mirror after that game and figure it out because, obviously, we weren't to the level that's required," Turner told TNT Sports. "I'm going to apologise to the fans. That's not what we're about. And, yeah, we need to bounce back in a big way."

The match against Brazil will be crucial for assessing whether Berhalter's team can recover and perform at the level required for success in Copa America.