Gio Reyna has played important roles in the U.S. men’s national team’s previous two CONCACAF Nations League triumphs and the midfielder carried that trend over to the Americans’ most recent run to the tournament final.
Reyna delivered two assists off the bench on Thursday as Gregg Berhalter’s squad defeated Jamaica 3-1 after extra time. The Nottingham Forest loanee has struggled for playing time in England this year, but didn’t let that stop him from earning Man of the Match honors in Thursday’s semifinal win over the Reggae Boyz.
“I think [Jamaica] scoring in the first minute made it pretty tough,” Reyna told reporters postmatch in a press conference. “[I] just [wanted to] affect the game. It was pretty simple. It was not our best performance today, and I just tried to bring a bit of life to the team.”
“I think their idea as a team was pretty clear after that, to sit deep and just close the middle and make it difficult for us [with] fouls,” he added. “You know how it goes. Some games are just really, really tough and they have a lot of quality and a lot of athleticism around the pitch and it was hard to cross. It was hard to go from the middle. But yeah, we stuck with it. Really proud of the team. And moving on to Sunday is the most important.”
The USMNT attack struggled heavily in breaking down Jamaica’s low defensive block, but Reyna’s entrance into the match certainly delivered a spark. Reyna was quickly connecting passes with his teammates, which later carried over to his two-most important contributions to the match.
Fellow substitute Haji Wright slotted home a pair of Reyna assists as the Americans grabbed and extended their lead in extra time. Wright’s name went onto the scoresheet, but it will be Reyna’s name who gets mentioned as the game-changing player in a crucial turnaround result for the USMNT.
“I think he showed why he got called into camp,” Berhalter said of Reyna. “Amazing quality, amazing talent. And for us, it’s about supporting him through the difficult times of adapting to the Premier League. His quality is unquestionable when you see the plays he made on both the second and third goal. He has that quality that not many players have, and it’s clear that he deserves to play.”
“I know Gio is a player with a lot of talent and is a player that can pick those kind of passes,” Wright said postmatch of Reyna. “I know from watching and playing with him that he’s that guy – if you make the right runs, he’ll find you. That was the case today.”
The Reyna-Berhalter relationship had been through some tough times in 2022 and 2023, but looks to have been rekindled over the past year. Reyna played a vital role in the USMNT’s Nations League triumph last summer and since has continued to deliver in big-time moments during Berhalter’s second spell as head coach.
Despite past issues between the duo at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Reyna admitted his focus is on the USMNT’s present and continuing to play a part in Berhalter’s plans.
“Obviously what happened, happened, but I think both of us are so far past it, and just so focused on the group that, yeah, it’s not even an issue at all anymore,” Reyna said. “We’re just so far past it.”
Forgot Jogi Loew, who took over from Klinsi on the German national team.
Helium: that’s a nice list but none of them expressed interest last time, what from our results the last 12 months will change their minds? Pulisic being back on track or our 3 and 4 strikers are lighting up the Championship? This guys you named are top line coaches and most have only coached club football not interested in international managing. They like the day to day, not working with guys for a couple days every 3 months. Low hasn’t even been mentioned for jobs in a couple years perhaps he’s unofficially retired. Scolari is 75 and just left his the club he came out of retirement to manage, I’d guess he’s really done this time.
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A more possible list might be Lopetegui, Steve Cooper, Graham Potter, Vincent Company (if he and Burnley part ways after the season).
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The likely list Cherundolo, Marsch, and Henry.
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IV’s choice Sam Allardyce, so we just bunker and play for 0-0 draws.
Gio is a beautiful attacking player, everyone knows it
the reason Haji was MOTM vs. Jamaica was because in that game, we did not struggle to create, we struggled to finish, and in fact didn’t until Jamaica did for us, and then Haji did it
I think we’ll create chances again, Gio is excellent at it and others, and it will come down to finishing them
When Gio’s playing both sides of the ball, like he did in his shift vs. Jamaica and in games past vs. Mexico, the team stays balanced
Unless you are Lionel Messi, you must defend–Jurgen Klopp
For me, watching Gio step up to that in his game and grow as a player is fun to watch. to stay healthy working that hard on both sides takes a dedication off the field. I’m rooting for him.
Gio Reyna hasn’t played much and did well vs Jamaica. CP ( who always has trouble vs physical/athletic players *see Ghana friendly & every other defender not from Mexico), played terrible and is starting for Milan. Why people continue to push this club form is important narrative on Americans is willfully ignorant. Example- Scoring 22 goals in the Lique 1 has no baring whatsoever vs playing against El Tri or any other CONCACAF country especially in a region you have never played in. Americans who’ve been watching this sport since Coach Bora know this. There was a paywall back then like it is now. Americans who weren’t privileged to afford to watch on cable or satellite or grew up overseas on a military base could only watch their fav players in a U.S. jersey. We only care about what you do when you play for the United States. Haji Wright has scored goals more recently than Sarg, who hasn’t scored in 2 years and counting. We saw Haji have more clearances in the defensive 1/3 and draw more fouls, and score a goal than Sarg did @ the ‘22 WC. It’s not conjecture look it up. Just like you can look up Captain Adams ran the most meters @ the same WC. We don’t care if CP or Gio is getting club minutes. We only care that they play well for the country when given the opportunity. There’s been a left footed passing disparity in the US’ passing that shows up on tape. I’m not special. I’ve BEEN seeing this since Sarachan. Anyone can see this simply by watching any US match a 2nd time. Example- Koeman (Netherlands) saw this on film and exploited the space behind the only 2 left footed players w/ Dumfries. You can see for yourself. If it’s too much mental gymnastics, there are more important things like being a responsible parent or spouse. While I appreciate those type of adults, I don’t have that, I have ample time to watch a lot of games. I have ample to read about other countries philosophies, principles & tactics and call friends from those countries to ask them questions about futbol. I also have time to research the history of this sport, so that it helps me NOT to push false narratives or misinfo, on Americans who are too busy being responsible.
Club form is a necessary characteristic if both players you’re comparing are equal. Like say Johnny vs Luca, or Booth vs Paredes. But if one player has shown clearly they’re a better player then they get the benefit of the doubt.
It’s Ok To Think,
Club form matters.
I could provide plenty of examples that apply, but to your point, I have better things to do.
Also, it’s not a false narrative. I respect and appreciate your opinion, but I respectfully disagree.
Apparently our U23s beat Guinea 3-0 goals by Harriel, Busio, and Gomez. Two assists from Yow. Everyone but Schulte played. Guinea finished fourth in Afcon Olympic qualifying and will play the 4th place Asian U23 Cup team for the final Olympic spot.
I would love to see us try to play more of a counterattacking game. We did this against England in the WC to perfection, sat back, gave them the ball, and then hit on the counter with our speed. One of the most talented teams in the world on the biggest stage looked flustered, frustrated, and then a little scared because they knew we should have won that game. Since then, we revert back to this build out of the back possession stuff that just doesn’t seem to generate any real chances. Our best chances still are just coming off turnovers…so why not play for this, protect our vulnerable defense by setting up a little more defensively, forget the high press, draw the opponent out, then hit them with our offensive talent that is ready-made for this style. I think this will happen organically against Mexico because they will not be afraid to attack us, but after so many offensive failures against less talented teams, you would think we might try something different…
You really think Jamaica would have come out? They literally were playing a CB as their #10. Yes they sat more because they scored on the second action of the game but they were never going bring their backline out to give space to run into.
People bunker and counter when they think tje other team has better players. They don’t do it against teams they think they are better than. I doubt you will see Mexico try to bunker against the US. I don’t think Mexico thinks tje US is better than they are. The Jamaica coach knew the US players were better than his so that he was his best strategy.
Jesse Marsch. Enough said.
If we have Jesse Marsch, he could actually utilize the young offensive talent we have. Then we have a problem with defense, but we can get an assistant coach like Berhalter who knows how to organize the defense–someone like Cherundolo even though he probably wouldnt come, but he’s another possible replacement if not Marsch.
If you think Jesse is the answer you didn’t watch defensive minded teams play Leeds last year. Check out their match with Brentford. No idea how to breakdown a team that didn’t leave you space to run into and then acres of space for the other team to counter. Kind of like last night except less defensively aware in the back.
Tom,
Jesse is not the answer. While he has more experience and a better resume than Berhalter, he is no more the answer than Berhalter. Unfortunately, there is no silver bulllet for our current coaching challenge.
Seemed from Gregg’s press conference that Reyna was on a minutes limit too. When asked if Gio would be available for Sunday he responded “he only played 60 minutes, oh I guess yeah he played 75 plus 5 or so added time so 80, yeah I hope he’s good.”
i think we have regressed intellectually/coaching. athletic jamaica versus athletic US cancels out and gives them a chance. i think the skill gap is tightening across the region. but i think right now we win these games by being the more precision machine. if you want to play technical soccer there is no halfway. you have to put a unit out there than can literally pass an opponent to death then hit a ball like reyna does to kill it off. we pretend at that most games then turn into some 90s english team trying to cross for goals — without a big lunk striker to head them in.
that and the “club form” moralizing needs to end. we need to grasp what “we have.” quit delegating our selection to club coaches. make your own evaluations. they may favor small time over big time and MLS over europe sometimes — or perhaps the obvious over the not so. but there is zero reason the best skill player on a team ostensibly playing skill scheme should be sitting because you want dortmund/forest benching him to mean something about his character. his repeated response to grouchy club coaches plus critics is helping goals happen.
meanwhile i am watching tillman who kicks balls in the stands every time we call him, put a free kick in the stands again.
last point but it looks to me like the offense degrades down to a guy with the ball and 4 players turned back to goal waiting on a pass like U14s. this does not benefit reyna and some of the others, who are not back to goal people. it results in the offense being headed the wrong direction most of the time when it gets the ball. more to the point, everyone shouldn’t be standing around, or making the same run. have we heard of horizontal, along the offsides line? diagonal? even upfield on a team playing a high line? there needs to be more variety on the runs, less playing the ball to the flag, and more feeding players in gaps between the backs. more directness, less nibbling around the edges. when we went right at them, we owned them. when we nibbled, we were getting outplayed 94′ by a team just sitting back and countering.
Except Gregg pretty much ignored club form. Started Weah, Balo, and Yunus. Brought Reyna in as soon as they were sure he could make it to the end. Played Pepi and Aaronson off the bench.
I think Wright will get the start at LW and Pulisic will be shifted over to RW against Mexico. Potential starting 11:
Wright,Balo,Puli
Reyna
Jonny, Mckennie
Jedi, Rich, Robo, Dest
Turner
Bring Adams on in the second half.
I’m in for that. Weah coming in later vs tired legs could cause trouble too. Adams to close out.
I like it, with one change, I would start Pepi over Balogun. For me, Balo has done nothing for the last several US games and Pepi looked far sharper and more hungry on thursday.
I was hoping for a lost so Berhalter gets fired. This victory is just a delay for the inevitable. He needs to go.
replaced by who? Specifically?
oh, come off it. at any moment there are usually a dozen or so pretty good-to-great coaches not working. when the subs outplay the starters i am bored with either “who else would you start” or “who else should coach.” it’s trying to knock down critics when the thing deserves every bit of criticism it gets. ICYMI we have a midtable MLS/sweden coach who never won a league, and a team that doesn’t look well oiled and nearly got beat by a team playing without like 5 of their best players. his first gold cup was meh. his WCQ was meh. his world cup was meh. literally the only thing propping him up is this tournament, which we then ignore that it usually takes him OT thrillers to win because we end up chasing the games. despite having the best talent in the region by a mile. but then when the deed is done this all gets forgotten.
but anyhow, TM usually has a list of available coaches.
IV, instead of typing a 175 word response, wouldn’t it have been simpler to just type one person’s name if you actually know someone that is available and wants to coach the team that you think is better?
@ Helium, IV and Tele – Tele has it right….if you want to suggest the coach be dismissed be ready to give a suggestion of who you would replace them with..it seems reasonable. You’d think you’d have someone in mind. Don’t you? If TM has a list and you’ve seen it, who do you like? I’m genuinely curious.
Jurgen Klopp
Felipe Scolari
Zidane
Jose Mourinho
Antonio Conte
Zidane didn’t want the job; they tried to hire hire him before rehiring Gregg. Maybe he will change his mind as the WC gets closer. Pretty sure Klopp wants to coach Germany and that is probably his next stop. Mourinho has said he doesn’t want to coach the US but he might change his mind as well.
we got outcoached that game. it was basically talent won it. he desperately threw people on and it seemed like they weren’t even sure who would do what. we then played them in the ground in OT when they looked tired. and the subs were the ones on the goals.
we have also been outcoached by germany, panama, japan, etc. it gets real old. on a basic level what we do generally looks neither well rehearsed nor like we scouted the other team well. we get by on talent level and effort.
i would like to see a non american coach because they would likely be apart from our current personnel and system fetishes. you need someone to take a wider, fresher look at the pool — which has been misread — and then some other system than this trash. the problem right now is the coach just firmly believes in his particular favorites and his scheme and he’s clueless.
Ditto
I don’t think that worked very well with Klinsmann. For example he first banished M. Bradley, then when he did call him back in noticed that the team functioned better with Bradely than without. That is something that was pretty obvious from the get go. In the end during the one W.C. he coached, despite talking about attacking soccer, he used 2 DMs, Bradely and Beckerman. Then he managed to alienate Donovan (I will admit LD was on a downhill trajectory, but the way JK handled it was terrible at best.). Doid I say I thought JK was an awful coach. He used his credentials as a great player to land the S.Korea job and failed to do well in the Asian Cup. Ask your s. Korean friends.
So I am not sure getting a non-US coach is a panacea. It needs to be a good coach, no matter the nationality.
So still no name of an available coach who is interested? I’m fine with replacing him but if it’s Marsch, Olsen, or Cherundolo, we’re better off where we are.
IV,
While I don’t doubt that there right now any number of fine possible replacements for Uncle Gregg ,what makes you think that the cocks$$kers at the USSF will pick any of them?
They will hire NYRBullshitter Marsch or the “other” JK, JF Kreis.
V: luckily I think USSF has finally moved beyond Jason Kreis. I’m sure he move out of the front office in Salt Lake when they finally move on from Mastroeni but I think his NT chances are long gone.
Helium,
I’m certainly not a fan of Berhalter, but this past Thursday’s ATROCIOUS showing was not on him…it was 100% on the players.
Having said that, I think this team has maxed out with Berhalter as the Head Coach. I believe that will come to light this summer in the Copa America. I could be wrong, and on one hand, I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think I will be wrong.
What is the upside of winning another CONCACAF Nations League? How does that move the needle or move the team / program forward and set it up for more success in 2026?
Master and Tele have it right…with regards to a coaching change, provide LEGIT names and move the conversation forward in a positive manner. That said, change for the sake of change, is just another form of regression.
The list you provided is a wish list…not a legit list.
The comments by IV…”we got outcoached”…clearly illustrate that he is lacking in knowledge, but full of bluster.