Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan was among the reserves and not on the field when the U.S. men’s national team was beaten by Canada 2-0 on Tuesday in Toronto.
But Guzan said he understands the frustration felt by many who follow the U.S. national team after its first loss to its neighbors to the north since 1985. It wasn’t the defeat as much as it was the lifeless performance in a game that seemed much more important to Canada than it did to the U.S.
“Years ago when we talked about wanting the sport to be a big-time sport in this country, when we talk about the national team getting the recognition we all want, with that comes responsibility. With that comes good press, bad press,” he said Thursday as part of the preview of Saturday’s playoff game against New England. “Certainly against Canada, from our side, it wasn’t good enough. Now everybody gets to talk about it from the outside.
“It’s important as a sport, as a country, as a national team, that questions are being asked. Now there has to be a reaction to them.”
The U.S. will host Canada in Orlando on Nov. 15.
Guzan declined to say who should accept the bulk of the blame for the defeat. Fingers have been pointed at U.S. Soccer, which took more than a year to appoint manager Gregg Berhalter, at Berhalter and his system and at the players.
“If I get selected to play for the national team, I’m more than honored to represent my country,” said Guzan, who has more than 60 appearances for the team. “My opinion doesn’t matter. I, along with everyone else player-wise, when you put that shirt on, it’s a massive honor. You give everything. As players, as a federation, as a team, as a group we have to find a way to have a reaction when we play Canada again in three weeks in Orlando.”
Guzan didn’t seem to agree with the premise that Berhalter’s system is too difficult to learn when the players only get a few days together before games.
Instead, he implied the criticism is just the pendulum swinging from when the perception was the team had no identifiable system.
He said that when national teams compete, players have to be near their best to create advantages. That wasn’t the case Tuesday. The U.S. has a 9-5-2 record under Berhalter.
“Results change the criticism and what comes your way,” he said. “We get that as players. Ultimately, when we step on the field, we have to win games. Competitive standpoint, that wasn’t good enough. Regardless of system, ability, quality, we weren’t good enough on the day.”
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