Head coach Gregg Berhalter of the US celebrates after the World Cup group B match win over Iran. AP
Doha: United States coach Gregg Berhalter stated his workforce belonged within the final 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday after defeating Iran 1-0 to arrange a second-round showdown with the Netherlands.
5 years after the Individuals suffered the shock of failing to qualify for the 2018 finals in Russia, Berhalter has led a youthful US workforce into the knockout rounds of the event.
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Attracts towards Wales and England have been adopted by Tuesday’s nailbiting 1-0 win over arch-rivals Iran to seal qualification.
However whereas Sunday’s final 16 conflict with the Netherlands guarantees to be a step up at school, Berhalter stated his workforce would haven’t any hint of an inferiority advanced.
“It’s a fantastic alternative, however it’s not one thing that we’re going into it considering it’s an honor,” Berhalter stated.
“We should be within the place we’re in. And we wish to preserve going. We don’t wish to be going house subsequent Wednesday.
“So for us it’s how we get better from this sport, and the way to play an excellent Dutch workforce. We have now to provide you with an thought of the way to beat them.”
Requested how far the US may go in Qatar, Berhalter replied: “Coming into the event we had two objectives, the primary was to advance via the group stage.
“And from right here something can occur. All we have to do is play one sport at a time. There’s no must even challenge how far this workforce can go.”
The previous US worldwide defender expressed specific satisfaction that his workforce held the road regardless of a second-half onslaught by Iran.
The Individuals completed the group part with just one purpose conceded — a penalty towards Wales — and back-to-back clear sheets.
“That’s the primary time in 92 years that we’ve bought two shutouts at a World Cup so the boys are doing one thing proper,” Berhalter stated.
“The top of the sport is de facto what I’m most happy with as a result of it was the mark of dedication, an excessive quantity of effort and a variety of resiliency to hold in there and get the win and never buckle.”
The win avenged America’s defeat to Iran on the 1998 World Cup.
Berhalter spoke earlier than the sport about his dismay at that loss, complaining that Iran’s workforce had been extra motivated 24 years in the past.
“I talked yesterday within the press convention concerning the 1998 sport and the fellows not having the suitable depth to compete towards Iran — and immediately we had it,” Berhalter stated. “It was clear from the opening whistle.”
Berhalter added that Tuesday’s outcome was the type of efficiency that may make US sports activities followers take the workforce to its coronary heart.
“We’ve talked about defining this group, and it begins to take form primarily based on these performances,” he stated.
“You see how resilient this group is, you see how unified this group is, and what kind of power they put into each single sport.
“And alongside the best way there’s some fairly good soccer. That’s the American spirit the best way this group performs.”
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