'If there's no pressure, you don't get diamonds' – USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter relishing opportunity to play 'hardest team' in Uruguay during Copa America group stage

USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter is excited for the opportunity at Copa America, and is relishing to play a team as good as Uruguay in the group stage.

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• USMNT Copa America draw
• Set to play Uruguay, Bolivia and Panama
• Berhalter relishing chance to play Celeste

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  After drawing Uruguay in the 2024 Copa America group stage, the U.S. boss spoke to FOX Soccer, explaining his thoughts on the team's upcoming opponents. In Panama, they were given a familiar foe, while drawing Bolivia was seemingly a welcome draw, too, as they sit bottom of CONMEBOL's World Cup qualifying table. Uruguay, however, were described by Berhalter as the 'hardest' team to play from pot 2, but he's welcomed the challenge at the moment as well.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Uruguay are ranked 11th in the world by FIFA, just one slot ahead of the USMNT, but the eye test has seemingly been a more accurate way to determine matches of late. Marcelo Bielsa's men recently took down the almighty Argentina in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, being the first team to beat the World Champions in the 2023 calendar year. The U.S. meanwhile, lost to Germany in October in an international friendly and followed it with an even worse performance in a loss to Trinidad and Tobago in November.

• WHAT BERHALTER SAID

  "We always knew that was going to be a possibility [being paired with Uruguay], that was obviously the hardest team in pool two, but again, for me, it's an opportunity. We're going to be a very aggressive team and we're given a really good challenge for our group. And, you know, we play them on the final day of the group phase, so it could set the stage.You know, we have to do a good job setting up the first two games so that when we play them, it will be a really meaningful game.

  "I think, for us. In a way we're controlling our own destiny by playing them last and if you can take care of business in the first two games – which will be difficult games – you set up a winner takes all… and we all know what’s lurking around the corner in Group D most likely, so you want to try to finish first. I mean, I think when you look at it, you know Brazil is one of the favorites to win the tournament. So it's gonna be a real challenge in that next round. So you'd like to play them in the semi finals. But again, we'll take wherever we have to have to take."

  "We know them well [Panama], but they're a good team. I think we're probably the most improved side and all of CONCACAF in the last couple of years. Well coached team, good athletes, very aggressive on crosses and offensive transition. So you know, they beat us in the Gold Cup last year, so it's gonna be a challenge. The second game will really set up the group nicely."

  "You know, that's why we do this is if there’s no pressure you don't get diamonds. Right. So you know, our group responded really well to the World Cup.. handling day-to-day and staying in the present, staying focused on each training day, game-day… not getting ahead of ourselves, you know, it has to be the same mindset in Copa America."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT

  Berhalter and co. have an international friendly against Slovenia scheduled for January 20, but all eyes and thoughts will be on the upcoming Nations League semifinals in the Spring and the, of course, Copa America in the summer. The first game of the tournament for the U.S. will be June 23, followed by matches on June 27 and July 1.