Four teams and four matches are still in this year’s World Cup. For the eliminated teams, the laundry has already begun.
As Argentina, Croatia, Morocco and France prepare for the semi-finals, other nations are looking for explanations, scapegoats, and solutions as to why this is so. The You didn’t get it to vote world Cup of football.
Among them is the United States, which advanced from its group after finishing second behind England, but was eliminated in the round of 16 after losing to the Netherlands.
“We were ready to book a plane ticket home,” US national team manager Greg Berhalter said, referring to a player on the team, at a management conference in New York this weekend according to charterworks.
a number of media, among others athlete, It was reported early on that the player referred to by Berhalter is Gio Reina.
The 20-year-old, who plays for Borussia Dortmund every day, got less than an hour of action in the tournament in Qatar, causing many to react.
Player apologized
Berhalter, explaining why he did not play more, presented at the conference after being asked How does he handle difficult performance decisions?.
– An example I can give you: In WC we had a player who didn’t live up to expectations both on and off the field. One of 26 players, so it popped. As staff, we sat together for hours and thought about what to do with this player, Berhalter said.
It all ended with Rina’s apology to her teammates. On Tuesday, the 20-year-old took to Instagram to explain his side of the story.
– Just before the toilet, Berhalter told me my turn would be limited. Rina wrote, among other things, in the post.
– I am an emotional person, and I realize that I let my feelings get the better of me and affected my training and behavior for a few days after receiving the letter. I’ve apologized to my teammates and coaches, and I’ve been forgiven. Then I brushed off the disappointment, gave it all I had on and off the field, writing some more.
Many coaches disappear
Rina will by all accounts appear at the upcoming tournament for the USA. For a number of coaches, this is less likely.
In total, seven national teams have lost their coach after the World Cup, either because the coach was fired or resigned of his own volition:
- Spain. Luis Enrique: He was fired.
- Brazil: Adenor Leonardo Bacci: Give up.
- Belgium. Roberto Martinez: Give up.
- Holland. Louis van Gaal: It was cleared before the tournament.
- Mexico. Gerardo Martino: Give up.
- Ghana. Otto Addo: Give up.
- South Korea. Paulo Bento: Give up.
– It was my pleasure. I am very proud of these players. Martinez said when it became clear that he would not be on, according to BBC.
Belgium, previously ranked as one of the favorites to fight for the World Cup, did not qualify from the group stage.
Indicates a political focus
Denmark did not advance from the group stage. In the three matches they played in this year’s tournament, they have only one point left after a draw with Tunisia.
Until then, national team manager Kasper Hjulmand is sitting safely. opposite Danish TV 2 has it Danish Football Association (DBU) director Peter Müller said they want a long-term collaboration with the 50-year-old.
Hjolmand himself had long ago begun to ponder why things had turned out the way they did.
Without jumping to conclusions, he points out one thing that has become a point they would rather be without: politics in and around the tournament in Qatar.
– In the past, it would have been better for the team if I had just said: stop, football! Any other questions related to football? Hence we could have left the room if she wasn’t. I know that had dire consequences, Hjulmand says in a longer interview with Dane TV 2.
The 50-year-old points out the overwhelming amount of questions posed to the national team after their first game in the tournament. Just before that, they decided not to wear the controversial “One Love” captain’s armband for fear of retribution.
According to Hgulmand, these and other political questions related to the World Cup occupied more space than questions related to the match itself.
“Infuriatingly humble internet trailblazer. Twitter buff. Beer nerd. Bacon scholar. Coffee practitioner.”
