USMNT called out for ‘lack of respect’ in Colombia drubbing as Gregg Berhalter reacts to pre-Copa America ‘wake-up call’

Berhalter's side were humbled in their penultimate Copa America warm-up match, causing the coach to bemoan his team's attitude in the closing stages. The USMNT trailed 2-1 going into the final 15 minutes, but a late collapse saw Colombia seal a big win.

Berhalter said: "From the 75th minute on, it was I think a lack of respect for our opponent [and] the game of soccer, what we were doing. We’re not framing it a lesson learned, we’ll frame it as a wake-up call."

The 50-year-old added that the late collapse“overshadows how we got back into the game, how we were aggressive, how we had them on their heels. They were struggling for a moment when it was 2-1, and we weren’t able to capitalize on it, and then the game went to pieces. There were some positive chunks of the game, but again, what I’m looking at right now, 5-1? It’s not good enough, that’s for sure.”

The Saturday night defeat saw the USMNT concede five goals in a single match on home soil for the first time since 2009, as the team were punished for making individual errors. Another worrying issue for Berhalter going into this month's Copa America is his side's continuing failure to beat a top team, with the USMNT still waiting to beat a top-25 side outside CONCACAF since Berhalter took change in 2019.

The USMNT go again on Wednesday, when they face Brazil in their final Copa America warm-up match, knowing they will need to put in a much-improved performance if they are to avoid another heavy defeat. It will then be on to the tournament itself, with the team beginning their campaign against Bolivia on June 23 before further group stage clashes against Panama and Uruguay.