USA defeated Mexico 3-0 in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Semi-Final. A brace from Christian Pulisic, a goal from Ricardo Pepi, and a debut for Folarin Balogun should have made this a night to celebrate. The referee decisions, red cards, shameful chants, and the news of Gregg Berhalter being rehired put a shadow on the match.
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30 Comments
You would think that it would be easy to not immediately turn to dirty play every time you find yourself on the losing end of a match right? To not be disgusting, violent, homophobic idiots when that's all you have left to cheer about? But this is who Mexico have always been, and now that they're not in the driver's seat in CONCACAF anymore we're going to see this literally every time these junkyard dogs are allowed onto our yard for a "game."
El Tri is burning to the ground before us and honestly, I couldn't be happier to watch them tear themselves apart.
Hiring Berhalter again is very disappointing
Not thrilled about more Gregg. Also, I didn't know Jake dropped F bombs.
1 step forward, 2 steps backwards
I'm gonna start following Wrexham as my favorite team. I can't take Gregg Berhalter and the parasitic MLS-USSF relationship anymore. BJ Callaghan would be a better coach than Gregg. Goodby USMNT, I have followed you passionately since 1994, but I can't take this anymore. Oh, and whichever club that Pulisic joins, and lets him actually play, I'll be supporting also.
I was at the game and Mexico fans didn’t start chatting the homophonic chat till after the 1 fights and bad calls from the ref they were clam at first still not Ok but that’s explain why they did it bad calls from ref and being stress
The chants were a sign of the mexican fans to end the game (they know the situation), the way Méxican team played….the fans had enough of the anguish, lackluster and embaressment……it aint homophobic in the sense amigo.
puto
I've always thought that the hate towards Berhalter goes too far, but there's no doubt he's a mediocre manager. Just look at is his time in the MLS, his teams were generally middle of the table. That being said, it isn't always easy for national teams to attract the best of the best managers. While it feels like the USMNT should be able to attract better than GGG, we don't really know who else was actually interested in the job. However, my optimism for 2026 is definitely tempered by the fact that Greg will likey be at the helm.
Just Mexico players and fans doing Mexico things.
We will always respect Mexico but the days of fearing them are gone forever.
How many national team coaches have a better record over the last three years than Greg? Five? Six? Would Mexico fans be complaining if their coach had the same record?
When the team loses it is Greg's fault. When they win it is all the players. Greg could have lead the team to bring home the world cup last year and people would still bitch about Greg. The anti Greg rants by people who have never coached in youth leagues let alone at the top level is absurd.
Nobody knows these players more than Greg. He has been the most successful USMNT coach ever. After the Reyna soccer mom incident over something two decades old had been resolved, it makes perfect sense to bring Greg back.
Please let's talk about players, games, opponents and strategy and STFU with the Greg bashing. Many of us are just soooo tired of it.
GGG = returning to 1990's
You guys were excellent the other night, two takeaways for me, you guys were very good, and Mexico right now are bad, there was an obvious difference in class, unless the Mexicans find a couple of stars from somewhere, i think the next decade you guys will dominate Mexico, if after this generation you still dominate, this ceases to be a real rivalry and the US becomes the big dog of CONCACAF, thing is with this side, youve nowhere near peaked yet (i just hope Gregg doesnt hold you guys back too much) Canada (with their current generation) will be a tougher test, and itll be tough without Dest and McKennie, but i hope you do it, good luck in the final guys
Thank god for 1.25x speed 😂
The thing about the "homophobic" chant is that the word p*to in spanish means b*tch/prostitute while this is true, there are some situations where it is a homophobic slurr, so many mexicans believe and are adamant that they are just saying the b word, the fans need to also understand how it still can be a doscrimatory chant. my suggestion? Say tonto instead of p*to (tonto means idiot)🤷♂️
I was ecstatic about the game but disappointed in the coaching hire. Why do all they did just to hire the old coach?
You mentioned that the 4-2-3-1 was perfect for the personnel that we had, along with putting out the best players, is a key observation and the reason why we've been successful with these interim coaches. They try to create a system around the players, as opposed to Berhalter and him trying to fit players into his strict system. A good national team coach tailors a system around the player pool, and Berhalter is not that. We've just accepted perpetual mediocrity, and with us hosting the World Cup, makes it especially disappointing.
Also, don't get me started on US Soccer announcing the hire exactly during kick off of this game as if trying to hide it as much as possible…
Christian Pulisic had to tap in goals and missed from 6 yards out.
He’s not that impressive a player and when you look back at all of his goals, most of them are just hustle tap ins.
The most overrated, American soccer player ever
OK Jake, I gotta ask. With the announcement of Greggs imminent return in the opening moments of this much anticipated game, did you find it a slap in the face as a fan? To do it while the game is getting under way and after putting out rumors of both Jesse and Vieira I found it sneaky and sham filled. USSF must really think we are stupid.
From Paul Caligiri’s miracle goal in ‘90, to the ‘02 WC 2 – 0 over Mexico, this was the best but unfortunately we lost our heads and let Mexico exploit the emotions of the night…I do hope there is an appeal and this at time’s arrogant official, reviews the game film as it’s not always the retaliation that begets the fine…what a shame on an otherwise sensational night…now to stamp this result with victory over Canada on Sunday 🙏🏼🇺🇸 I think Berhalter deserves the new contract to achieve what was started sometime ago…let’s go Boys!
GGG announcement was so coordinated and very awkward in how it was announced. It stold the moment before the game started.
The GGG hiring reeks of lack of ambition, Status Quo… Kinda anticlimactic.
This is your best video ever.👍
Mexico needs a super harsh punishment, they have been gifted a slap on the wrist multiple times and now the hammer needs to be dropped on them.
Honest thought? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
McKennie staring at the fans kissing the shield on his tattered jersey will go down as one of the great moments of this rivalry.
I don’t believe VAR can review a foul call to change it into a yellow. They only can change something to a straight red. And while the the foul on Reyna should have been called a yellow on tbd field it was not a straight red so nothing VAR could do.
That GGB MMA crap only work when we have to defend and facing world class teams.
That kid taking off his Mexico headband and kissing the US badge on his shirt would just break my heart if I was a Mexico fan.
Literally nobody cares about the chants.