Commentary
Key questions to Berhalter/Reyna feud
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Jan 5, 2023
The issue of Gio Reyna's playing time at the 2022 World Cup is one that won't die soon.
On Wednesday, U.S. Soccer leaders had to speak on a media call with more than 200 participants — national team media calls often involve just a couple of dozen media members — in response to the latest revelations about Gregg Berhalter, who coached the USA at the 2022 World Cup, his wife, the former Rosalind Santana, and Gio's parents, former USMNT captain Claudio Reyna and Danielle Reyna.
How close were the Reyna and Berhalters? Claudio Reyna and Gregg Berhalter grew up together in Northern Jersey and were teammates at the youth and prep levels and on two U.S. World Cup teams. Reyna was the best man at Berhalter's wedding. Their wives were roommates at the University of North Carolina, where they were starters for the Tar Heel women who went 97-1-1 with three unbeaten and untied seasons during their careers.
Both Claudio Reyna and Gregg Berhalter began their pro careers together, rare Americans then who moved to Europe right out of college, both giving up their final years of eligibility. In the late Grant Wahl's Sports Illustrated story about the Reynas and the loss of their oldest son, Jack, who died of cancer in 2012 at the age of 13, Danielle talked fondly about their early years in Europe — Claudio started out at Germany's Wolfsburg — and traveling around. “We’ve been to more places in Holland than most Dutch people," she said. That would have been because they were hanging out with Gregg (who played at three Dutch clubs) and Rosalind.
On Tuesday, U.S. Soccer said it was investigating an allegation against Gregg Berhalter dating back to 1991 as well as behavior by "individuals towards federation staff" based on information that emerged after the investigation began.
The statement followed shortly after a tweet from Berhalter in which he detailed an incident when he was a freshman at the University of North Carolina in 1991 involving Rosalind, his then-girlfriend (and now wife of 25 years).
On Wednesday, it was reported that Claudio and Danielle Reyna were upset with Berhalter about their son's lack of playing time at the World Cup and Danielle Reyna brought up the 1991 incident regarding the Berhalters to the federation.
During the 40-minute media call, U.S. Soccer president Cindy Cone, CEO JT Batson and sporting director Earnie Stewart refused to get into the specifics of the investigation by the Alston & Bird law firm or answer most questions beyond generalities.
Berhalter's contract with U.S. Soccer expired on Saturday, at the end of 2022, and assistant Anthony Hudson will serve as head coach of the U.S. men’s national team for its upcoming January training camp in Carson, California. Stewart said that was consistent with both the cycle-end review of the national team and investigation that began in December.
"Until the investigation and review takes place, Gregg Berhalter is still in consideration to lead the United States," Stewart told reporters.
Asked about the 20-year-old Gio Reyna's future on the national team, Stewart said "any player with a United States passport will be eligible to represent the U.S. moving forward."
Here are some key questions that need to be answered.
• What took place in the 1991 incident involving Berhalter and Rosalind?
In the detailed tweet signed by Gregg and Rosalind on a newly created Twitter account with his name, he said the incident took place while they were freshman at the University of North Carolina, where both played soccer, and after they had been dating for four months. He said after a night of drinking at a bar he got into a “heated argument” with Rosalind that continued outside and “kicked her in the legs."
“There are zero excuses for my actions that night,” he stated. “It was a shameful moment and one that I regret to this day.”
Berhalter said he apologized and said Rosalind wanted nothing to do with him. He told his family and friends about the incident, as Rosaland did with her family and friends, took responsibility for his actions and voluntarily sought counseling for his action — a decision he said was one of the most valuable he's ever made.
After seven months apart, he said Rosalind called him, asked to speak in person and discussed "how we had grown and decided to rebuild our relationship." The relationship has taken them to the Netherlands, England and Germany as a player and Sweden as a coach over the last 28 years since Berhalter turned pro shortly before his senior year at UNC in 1994.
In a statement to the media on Wednesday, Danielle Reyna offered this: "Without going into detail, the statements from yesterday significantly minimize the abuse on the night in question. Rosalind Berhalter was my roommate, teammate and best friend, and I supported her through the trauma that followed. It took a long time for me to forgive and accept Gregg afterward, but I worked hard to give him grace, and ultimately made both of them and their kids a huge part of my family’s life."
• What did Berhalter say, if anything, about the 1991 incident during his 2018 hiring process for men's national team coach? What questions were asked about past inappropriate behavior, including violence, and what were his answers? What was brother Jay, then a federation executive, asked about his brother's background and what did he know about the details of brother's hiring process? What were the criteria of personal conduct that might have been disqualifying for an applicant? What are the current criteria of personal conduct that might be disqualifying for an applicant?
In response to a question from Soccer America, Batson said, "I think that'll be one of the things that we review. And coming out of this, I'm sure there will be learnings and recommendations to make sure that we're approaching things with the sophistication and the sort of level of professionalism that we are striving to deliver every day."
• What was the conversation between Gregg Berhalter and Gio Reyna about what would Gio's role at the World Cup?
Reyna started only the first match of the 14-game World Cup qualifying campaign. An injury suffered in the match at El Salvador and other subsequent injuries limited his role at Borussia Dortmund for much of the 2021-22 season and the start of the 2022-23 season.
In various media interviews, Reyna revealed how he dealt with mental health issues during his long layoffs, often spent time in Austin, where his father is the Austin FC sporting director, and worked with a psychologist. The last two years had been rough for the Reyna family. Marcelo Reyna, Claudio's older brother, died from Covid-19 related complications in late 2020.
Gio Reyna was again injured in the first half of the USA's friendly against Saudi Arabia but recovered and had started to build up minutes with Dortmund ahead of the World Cup. He was not expected to be a starter, though, at least at the start of the World Cup.
Reyna was identified in the media as the player to whom Berhalter was referring in remarks made at a leadership conference (and "erroneously greenlit for publication") on some of the issues he faced during the USMNT's run to the round of 16 at the World Cup, including being "ready to book a plane ticket home" for a player.
One day later, Gio Reyna issued a statement via his Instagram account:
"Just before the World Cup, Coach Berhalter told me that my role at the tournament would be very limited."
What did Berhalter exactly say about playing time and what did Reyna believe it to mean? Reyna said he was "devastated."
• What were the communications from Claudio Reyna during the World Cup?
ESPN reported that Claudio Reyna sent multiple messages to USMNT general manager Brian McBride and Stewart during the World Cup, expressing his frustration with his son's limited role. (Gio ended up playing only seven minutes against England and the second 45 minutes against the Netherlands. He did not play in the 1-0 win over Iran.)
Citing multiple sources, ESPN added that Reyna threatened to share allegations about Berhalter's past.
What form did the messages and threat take? Face-to-face conversations? Phone calls? Voice messages? Texts? Emails? When did they start to take place? Before the opening game against Wales? Or after the match in which Reyna also did not play?
Reyna's statement: "While in Qatar, I shared my frustrations about my son's World Cup experience with a number of close friends, Earnie and Brian McBride among them. However, at no time did I ever threaten anyone, nor would I ever do so."
• What was the potential inappropriate behavior towards "multiple members of our staff by individuals outside of our organization" U.S. Soccer referred to in its statement on Tuesday?
Were those individuals Claudio and Danielle Reyna or were there others? And were there federation staff members (less senior?) other than Stewart, McBride and Gregg Berhalter toward whom the behavior was directed?
• What was the nature of the call between Danielle Reyna and Earnie Stewart on Dec. 11 after Berhalter's remarks about leadership issues were published?
Berhalter said an unnamed third party contacted the federation with information about the 1991 incident to "take me down," i.e. with the intention to "bring about the end of my relationship with the USSF."
In a statement to the media, Danielle Reyna said she "was absolutely outraged and devastated that Gio had been put in such a terrible position" by Berhalter speaking about the issues the team had with Gio and went to Stewart, who hired Berhalter.
“As part of that conversation," she said, "I told Earnie that I thought it was especially unfair that Gio, who had apologized for acting immaturely about his playing time, was still being dragged through the mud when Gregg had asked for and received forgiveness for doing something so much worse at the same age."
“At the time I called Earnie," she continued, "many people were trashing Gio on social media due to Gregg’s comments, and I didn’t know when or if this would stop. I just wanted Earnie to help make sure that there would be no further unwarranted attacks on my son. I thought our conversation would remain in confidence, and it didn’t occur to me at the time that anything I said could lead to an investigation. I’m not criticizing Earnie here. I very much commend the recent efforts by U.S. Soccer to address abuse of women players, and I understand now he had an obligation to investigate what I shared. But I want to be very clear that I did not ask for Gregg to be fired, I did not make any threats, and I don’t know anything about any blackmail attempts, nor have I ever had any discussions about anyone else on Gregg’s staff — I don’t know any of the other coaches. I did not communicate with anyone in U.S. Soccer about this matter before December 11, and no one else in my family has made any statements to U.S. Soccer regarding Gregg’s past at all. I’m sorry that this information became public, and I regret that I played a role in something that could reopen wounds from the past.”
Photos (top to bottom): Gregg Berhalter and Gio Reyna before USMNT match at Costa Rica (2022); Claudio (then at Wolfsburg) and Danielle Reyna (1998); Berhalter (at Zwolle) and then-girlfriend Rosalind Santana (1995). Credits: Brad Smith/ISI Photos, IMAGO/ANP, IMAGO/Rust.
Thanks for the reporting SA! This whole matter sounds like a total knee-capping of Berhalter! Why is Reyna's mommy complaining to USSF administration?!? He's a grown-ass man, a tax-paying adult, and a full professional in one of the best leagues in the world! Clearly these folks all have personal history that is completely complicating things. Gio is coming out of this looking like a primadona, whining about playing time when he was coming off repeated soft tissue injuries that need management. Berhalter wasn't trying to lose, so if he thought Gio would have helped the team then he would have played him more! Basically, we are getting a U.S. Men's National team version of the pathetic parents who complain to their club's staff about playing time for their kids at youth level. It's an embarrassment all around!
Spot on!
Greedy;If Ggg thought that Reyna could help him Win, as a #9... Then why did he NEVER try It, in all the Games that Gio DID Play.???It was OBVIOUS from the Start of Qualification, That if Everyone was HEALTHY, there was going to be a "Log Jam" for Playing Time...M-M-A was a Lock in the Mid-Field .. Dest and Jedi where Locks at Outside BacksCP was a Lock on the Left.... Weah was a Lock on the Right(Imagine what Liberian President George Weah would have said, if Tim was Benched for Reyna.!!! Would have been a Scandal of INTERNATIONAL and RACIAL Proportions.!!!)That only Left the CBs and CF Position, "UP in the Air"CBs were a Nightmare, due to Injuries and Personality Conflicts with Ggg.So, we Ended up with 2 CBs that had been DISCARDED... REAM-ZIMMReyna and Aaronson, were ALWAYS the "ODD Man Out"What was OBVIOUS, was that if Ggg was trying to;..."CHANGE THE WAY THE WORLD SEEs USA SOCCER" (That was Literally, the first "Slide" in each US National Team Training/Game PowerPoint Presentation he gave to the Team)....Except for Dest, Not a Single Starting Player is, AT THIS STAGE, More/Better or Capable of Doing That than Previous USA Players(Bradley, et al) .... It is a TURBO TEAM... Same Ol', Same Ol' (A Damn GOOD TURBO Team, if you ask Me)GIO is the only Player that is Capable of "Changing the Way the World Sees USA SOCCER", as he has shown at Dortmund and against Mexico.(IN MEXICO CITY)It still Baffles me: Why Ggg "Went Down with the Ship" of a Bunch of "Useless" #9s, instead of Trying Gio as a #10... That would have "Revolutionized" The way the USA Team Played, and Really "Changed the Way the World Sees USA Soccer"... Sargent, Haji and Jesus do Not have that Capability.
I mean.... All the Stars were Aligned for it... It was his "Nephew" that would have made the Difference.... Son of his BEST MAN, ... Would have been a "Story Book" Finish.
Why the H=LL didn't he do it.??? UNTIL THE 2nd Half of the Holland Game.????Why was he So , just Days Prior, that he was "HAPPY" with the (3) #9s he had and wasn't going to Try Gio there.??? (Just more Obfuscation and Lies from Ggg)IT'S BAFFLING AND PUZZLING, That he couldn't see the Solution Staring him in the Face.Except he Believed that HE, held the Answer, which was HIS SYSTEM, HIS CONTROL...He was "Raging against the Machine", out of Stubborness and Ignorance and InCompetence.Maybe Ggg thought that due to the "Family Closeness" he Could "Bench" his "Nephew" and Solve some of his "Log Jam" issues, and the Gio and Family would "Go Along with It"...Almost Pulled it OFF, in a Round about Way, Until he Opened his Mouth at the HOW(Stupid Was I) Conference.!!!
THAT IS ANOTHER QUESTION I WANT ANSWERED:
DID Ggg HAVE PERMISSION FROM HIS BOSSES AT USSF, TO ATTEND AND SPEAK AT THE HOW(the H=LL did I get myself in this MESS) CONFERENCE.!?!?!?
USSF is Paying the guy Millions of Dollars a Year... Got to be something in his Contract about "Outside" appearances.!?!?!?
Did he go "Rogue".??? if So, Reason for Termination.
If he had Permission... Who Authorized, Discussing Team "Dirty Laundry" in a "Public Forum".??? (They should be FIRED Also.!!!)
How Stupid to let the Coach, go before a Live Audience, before the Internal USSF "Debrief" was Done in Chicago.!!! Especially, if you were getting Text from the Reyna's about Ggg, prior to Dec.6th.
Fully agree. This will only hurt Gio in the end - unless he can rise above it and become a beast bigger and better than Dempsey.
Had Gio only worked as hard as his teammates, maybe none of this would've happened. But obviously, the Reynas were not genuine friends to Gregg and his wife...
John Di, I guess Gio just Faking It at Dortmund, where, when he is Healthy, He is a Starter... Or is that Mommy and Daddy's doing.???
Yes, it is a mess. Depending on all the details the federation might have to move on from Stewart, McBride & GB. There's no way that GB can still coach with Gio in the pool. Cone has another fire to put out and cleaning house might be the only way to do it
Greedy Striker thank you for summing up the issue with the Reyna's. This type of reporting has no business in print.
Again, society today feels everyone has a say in everyone else’s business. Let the young lad fend for himself.
Exactly - and it is sad
If I were the next USMNT coach, I wouldn't touch the Reyna baby with a ten foot pole in fear of mommy Reyna trying to come to the rescue. In addition, I'm sure that would also be in the minds of the players too! How would anyone want to be associated with this pathetic family let alone be a teammate of this kid. Then, blackmail your best friend?? WTF! They are not a loyal family, so stay clear of their pathetic and immature son!
Let's assume for the moment that a fully fit and uninjured Gio Reyna is available to play on the USMNT. Let's assume further that he knows he behaved poorly (childishly?) at the World Cup and he knows darn well he better not do the same again. Well, when in form, the kid is talented. So the USMNT coach welcomes him onto the team and subsequenly calls both Danielle and Claudio Rayna, delivering the message: "I do not ever want to talk to you again about Gio! Back off! Stay away! Period!" Then Gio admits sheepishly the the current members and staff of the USMNT that he behaved badly, he knows it, he has grown from the experience and he won't do something so dumb again. Life of the USMNT moves on.
Ben,
Gio did Release a Statement "OWNING UP" to his Bad Behavior, Apologized to THE WHOLE TEAM and was Forgiven, and even went on to Play in 2 Games...
It was All, Water Under the Bridge,,, and then Ggg had to try to do some sort of Unnecessary CYA to a Live Audience.!?!?!?
As for the Reyna Parent's... I Gauran Damn Tee you.. If this Happened to your Kid, You would be CALLING SOMEONE'S BOSS or SCHOOL BOARD or BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (if you had the Access)
I would NOT have Brought up something from 30 Years ago...
But, it sounds like there is a Chance, that Ggg was told that if this Leaked, a Counter-Leak would be coming. (USSF says they didn't know the Details until the 11th, they don't say that they weren't Warned.???) Papa Reyna says it wasn't him, but maybe one of the "Hanger Oner" Friends was Back Channeling Ernie/USSF.
I wonder if Reyna's ever actually "Talked" with Ggg Directly, During or After the WC.???
I mean Really... These 2 Families are so TIGHT for 30-40 years and then Ggg can't Pick Up the Phone and Call Claudio and Say, "Your Kid is being an A$$, because I Can't figure a way to Use Him"
I would really like to see those Text between Claudio and Ernie et al.. and then what was Passed on to Ggg.
These Phones, email Accounts.... I Believe are Property of USSF... A Non-Profit 501(c)(3) ...
Can't Destroy or Try to Erase them under Penalty of Law...
Got to Save those for Tax Purposes, etc... I am pretty sure... Public Records Act could be used to get to the Bottom of this.
Santi, Gio's "owning up" wasn't the same like Berhalter's proactive style of owning with his girlfriend, for Gio owning up was done under duress for he would have been issued a one-way ticket home
Yeah Frank... Talk about "Blackmail" .... "Gio, go and Bend Over infront of the Whole Team and Apologize, and we will let you Stay... Otherwise, we Buying you a Plane Ticket OUTTA HERE.!!!"
Santi, as I was saying, Gio had to be shown the consequences before he finally owned up to it. That tells me he didn't quite understand the seriousness of his actions.
What Claudio and Danielle did is 100% inexcusable. They used their priviledged connections within U.S. Soccer, something no other national team parent would have, as revenge because comments Gregg made, which were supposed to be off the record, were mistakenly made public. The company that made Gregg's speech public has since apologized and acknowledged that they should not have released Gregg's speech.
What Gregg did in that speech, reveal the Gio incident (without naming names) was also wrong. He should've known that trascripts of the speech, even if they were supposed to be off the record, could leak to the media/public. He made a bad choice by telling that story (even without using player names), BUT, it was a MISTAKE. What Claudio and Danielle tried to do, cast bad light on Gregg, is horrendous and not a mistake. It was a purposeful attempt to get back at an old friend, even if it damaged his reputation and got him fired.
HOWEVER, Gio should not be lumped in with his parents. He's not the 1st or last young, 20-year old who's displayed bad attititude and quit on this team. HOWEVER, he paid for his transgressions in the team meeting and lack of playing time in the first couple of WC matches. He's young and he'll learn from this significant mistake he made. He should be given a second chance and the grace from everyone to show he's changed. Anyone that tries to lump Gio with his parents inexcusable actions, guilt by association, is also 100% wrong. Give the kid the break he deserves.
Derek, very likely Gio knew what his parents did -
even when he wrote his instagram post - just as GB likely knew what they did - before he 'accidemtally' made the reference in the conference. We will see how this plays out - bit of game theory - the young man can recover his career - the Reyna family have put GB's career and his family at risk in their quest for vengance and retribution. Rats.
Well said. GB made a mistake, and given that probably the biggest question people had about the team during the WC was why was GB not playing Reyna, I would guess he felt he neeed to defend his decision. It's certainly possible that GB wanted that story to get out, but didn't want to be seen as the one putting it out. During the WC when people asked about the issue, GB tried to avoid it by using concerns about Reyna's recovery, but Reyna wouldn't play along (probably to keep the pressure on GB to get him on the field). So both GB and Gio could have done better, but given what was at stake, their mistakes were understandable and forgivable.
I've always liked Claudio as a player, and thought it was cool that his wife was also a national team player; can't ask for better pedigree. But bringing up an incident that was 30 years old and dealt with at the time, and given the victim forgave GB and chose to get back into a relationship that's lasted 3 decades, that can only be vindictive. Inexcusable. But I also doubt that Gio was pushing his parents to do that, so unless it comes out that that was the case, I don't think Gio should be blamed for that. And given the tragic story of the Reyna's (I can't imagine losing one child, much less two), maybe we shouldn't be too hard on them for losing it over their belief that Gio wasn't given the opportunity they felt he deserved, but we should be able to expect better than that, especially from two people who have spent their lives in the game.
The only problem Erek is that Gio brings the baggage of his parents along wherever he goes. Not a problem in Europe - nobody there cares about the USMNT internal issues. But here, Gio represents a family toxicity that will be staring back when the coach looks over his shoulder ... will be a total distraction as long as the Reyna family is in any way involved with the USMNT.
The Reyna's crossed a line - one you do not cross - as did Gio - rat like - shocking. Berhalter is married with 4 kids to Rosalind almost 25 years. Parlow-Cone will know the combatants well. Stewart and McBride should not be at risk. Gio has a long way to go to acheive what his father did - in spite of the size of his paycheck - best advise to the young man would be - focus on building your career - not destroying those of others and their families. Rats. Friend told me when my son began soccer over a decade ago about the political issues in the sport and that in HS and College she sat while lesser connected players played frequently. Case in point - at highest level. Very likely Gio shot himself in foot with his teammates with his rat behavior. He will probably be ostracized and may have issues in Europe also as rats are
never welcome in locker rooms. Berhalters words on his return now clearly came after the Reyna's brought up his transgression to USSF. Rats.
Wow! The Reynas, blackmailing to get playing time for their little guy. Should be barred for life.
Did They.???
Did They Demand Playing time for Gio, or else they were going to "OUT" Ggg.???
Maybe the Reyna's DEMANDED Ggg let Gio play as the False9/#10 versus Holland.!!!
That is the only Logical Reason, that Ggg would do that, after Publicly saying he was NOT going to use Gio there, and he was Happy with the (3) #9s he had on the Squad.
Release the Texts and we will know.
Did someone in USSF make Ggg aware of the Texts they were Receiving from Papa Reyna.???
Before or After Dec.3rd.???
Those that Received "Vague" Texts about something in Ggg Past, that would "Take Him Down" didn't know what the Issue was,,,, But Ggg DID KNOW, that the Reyna's Knew about his "Kicking" the Girl Friend...
If these "Threats" were Share thru 2nd Hand Back-Channels/People, ... They would not know,
But Ggg would know.
Maybe that is Why he Tried Gio at the #9, in the 2nd Half versus Holland, when days Prior, he said he wouldn't do it... and he was Happy with the (3) #9s he had.
Why did Ggg Change his Mind.????
Let Ms Berhalter speak. If they reconciled this matter 30 years ago, as has been reported, then keep Berhalter as the coach. Let Gio Reyna show he deserves to be on the squad going forward. No favors due to his whining mommy and daddy. What a pair (or trio) of cry babies, because their entitled little boy didn't get minutes that he didn't earn.
You guys are all too kind to Berhalter. He started this with telling Reyna whatever he told him. Then the discolsure at that meeting. THAT WAS TERRIBLE. And it was unprofessional.
One More Question: "DURING THE WORLD CUP".??? Does that mean the Actual Days USA was in Qatar(Nov.13-Dec.4) or does that Mean, from Nov.13 >>> Until the Final DEC 18.
Ggg/ESPN make it sound like "Blackmail" was being Used to try and get Gio more Playing Time.
Papa Reyna Denies that... Release the TEXTS
(from ESPN) "Claudio Reyna also sent multiple messages to USMNT general manager Brian McBride and Stewart during the World Cup, in which he said he shared his frustration about Gio's World Cup experience. Multiple sources told ESPN he threatened to share allegations about Berhalter's past, but Reyna has denied those allegations.
"While in Qatar, I shared my frustrations about my son's World Cup experience with a number of close friends, Earnie and Brian McBride among them. However, at no time did I ever threaten anyone, nor would I ever do so," he said in Wednesday's statement.The messages from Claudio began after his son, Gio Reyna, was informed he would have a limited role at the tournament."
Now, it is a little vague as to when "Uncle" Ggg had a Discusion with "Nephew" Gio... So, I agree with SA/PK, that more about that "Talk" needs to be "DeVolved" ... "WHAT DAY DID Papa Reyna start Texting his Buddies.???"
This whole situation is pathetic. US Soccer needs to purge all individuals involved which unfortunately incudes Gio Reyna from ever being capped again. It also means getting rid of Stewart, McBride, Berhalter, etc and never letting Claudio near US Soccer again in any capacity. All of those indivduals have dedicated a lifetime to the game and moved it forward in this country and now all of them need to be removed for life. Sad story. We are laughing stock of soccer world and I dont know how any current or up and coming player can trust that US Soccer (with all of these cronies and neoptism kids still in place) will ever pick and play the very best players.
Tremendous break down of a messy subject, Paul. Thank you! Everything points to Claudio Reyna and his wife. If true, I have lost all respect for them. And I feel sorry that Gio may suffer from the fallout of poor actions by his parents.
What should have been obvious to anyone who watched the second half of the
USA vs Netherlands match was the Gio Reyna as a soccer player is not good enough
to play on a U-12 House League team. All he did is trot around in small circles in
the center of the field, never putting out ANY effort or showing ant ability.
The kid SUCKS as a soccer player, and Berhalter should have pointed that out.
Carl, I think say the kid sucks is unfair. I said from the beginning that this youngster did not deserve to be on the team and that he was there because of his name which is not fair to the kid. I have seen him play since he was a kid and he was above average with his team mates and stood out above some of the others. I say some! When he hit the National Team scene at younger years he was average. In the U/17 cup when he came up against the best other countries had to offer at that age group he was a no show. He couldn't make an impact any where. Now he was put into a situation of being told he was the best and was going to the big guys to play in the world cup. Everyone says he would have added to the team play. I don't know where or how he would have and when in he didn't. He was there because of the name. Its really a shame someone does not relay that to him. Either GB picked him because of his friendship with the dad which really doesn't make sense if he wanted to win or he was told to put the kid on the team from above. Whatever the story it is truly a shame that these parents did what they did especially at this level when they are professionals themselves.
What a mess. The Reyna's, mom and dad should be banned from US Soccer period. I really think the kid knew what was going on and probably cried to mom and dad and thus this is what you get. He felt he was entitled. He is immature for his age and that should not shut him out from playing if capable.
Danielle's just being a mama bear recting to perceived mistreatment of her cub. As a former pro himelf, Claudio should know better thanto be one of those classic modern parents who drive coaches crazy by attempting to interfere in the coaching of their offspring. Unless Gio is a classic spoiled brat, the best thing he could do for his own career is tell his parents to shut up and get out of town. This is also the best thing US Soccer could do at this stage.
What a dumpster fire. Everyone did stupid things when they were in college or college age, but to bring that up 30 years later. It seems that everyone has annointed Gio as the second coming, but all he has done is shown flashes of brilliance. Until he puts it together season after season, let the hype die down.
-Santi-not sure about your comment: "CHANGE THE WAY THE WORLD SEEs USA SOCCER" (That was Literally, the first "Slide" in each US National Team Training/Game PowerPoint Presentation he gave to the Team)....Except for Dest, Not a Single Starting Player is, AT THIS STAGE, More/Better or Capable of Doing That than Previous USA Players(Bradley, et al) .
-Gio has not proven anything of changing the way people think of US Soccer.
-Let's not even bring up Bradley (the second worst captain ever of US Soccer) who could not get the US to qualify in 2014 and who could also not stop a young Pulisic from getting abused in WC qualifying either. A captain who would not lay down the law and punish the other team for the constant fouling is no captain at all.
-The players now play for Juventus, Leeds, and Chelsea...the likes of which Bradley could not even sniff the roster.
Grant;
1. Foto of Ggg and his PowerPoint Presentation...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg_Yz3lLnxU
Somewhere there is a Quote about how that was Always the 1st "Slide" at all the Camps and Games.
2. Agreed, Gio has yet to Show that he Can "Change the way the World Sees US Soccer"
Too Many Injuries and being Used as a Winger instead of a #10/False9
But, he is the Only one that is NOT Turbo, that was on this Last Roster.
Even Ggg Compared him to Maradona, after his Full Field Run at Azteca.
3. Bradley.. (Wikipedia)
"He then spent several years in Europe, playing in the Dutch Eredivisie with Heerenveen, German Bundesliga with Borussia Mönchengladbach, English Premier League with Aston Villa and Italian Serie A with Chievo and Roma"
He was Probably able to Sniff the Sweat on those Jersey's, as he was Playing Regularly against them... I think Leeds was in D2 at the Time.
Bradley should have been used more as the #6 than the #8 they tried to Force him into.
Minute 3:00 on that "Straight Red Card" UTube Video.
As I hjave written elsewhere, Danielle is just being a mama bear who thinks her cub is being abused. As a former pro himself, however, Claudio shold know better than to act like one of those classic modern parents who drive coaches nuts by attempting to interfere in the coaching of their little darlings. The best thing Gio can do at present is to tell his parents to shut up and get out of town. And that also the best thing US Soccer can do.
Not interested in a soap opera.
Let's get down to business of winning a World Cup.
If I am going to go to war to win. I am going to make sure that General George Patton is going to lead the charge not Casper the friendly ghost. US soccer on the mens side needs to send a message to the world that we are serious and how? By hiring this warrior and his name is Jupp Heynckes as our next national team coach. If you don’t know who he is here is his wiki. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupp_Heynckes
If USSF hires him you are telling the world that you are DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT WINNING THE WORLD CUP!
Enough of this soap opera. GO USA!
@cony, He's 77 years old now... he played for WEST Germany in the 60s and 70s. C'mon man
Santiago's credibility suffers greatly from an addiction to capital letters and redundant question-marks and exclamation points. I mean, seriously, man...
Nobody Takes the World Seriesly, Jim...
My fingers just "Take Over" ... :)
Santi, I appreciate you for your mind , and not for your 'caps' :)
:)
Gio is talented... not special. Berhalter had a plan to play a pressing side with three up top... which requires pace and engine. Not Gio's specialty. We only had to chase one game (Holland) and the game we did he played the 2nd half - first as a 9 (worthless) then as a 10 (much better). Is Gio Reyna the guy you change your tactics for to get him on the field like Messi or Zidane in 2006? Not really. Should Weah (scored a goal) or Pulisic (scored a goal) have been benched? Again it would have been nice to have Reyna available in friendlies to work on different tactics with a false 9 or 10 but I'm not sure you drop new tactics on such a young team. So a tough situation for the coach. GGG had a plan to get out of the group (success) but needed more than that vs. Holland.
Earnie Stewart and Brian McBride should not be taking calls from the Reynas unless it is to discuss Austin FCs upcoming season. The minute Gio's name was brought up he should have hung up the phone. Is Earnie taking calls from Carter-Vickers dad about why he didn't play? They needed to establish boundaries and they did not. That is a big problem.
Very sad as there are six people here whose lives will be impacted negatively. Gio, his parents, the Berhalters and Stewart. Not good for anyone.
At this point in his career, Gio Reyna is talented, not special. Sometimes special players can be aloof, brooding and selfish. 20-year-olds in their first world cup cannot be and certainly their parents can't contact the federation when they are held accountable for those actions.
Pretty Spot on Tim... Ggg could not Fathom how to integrate a Healthy Gio into his Style... I can't say, that Ggg didn't have a Point,... from his POV... Which is why his Appointment was so Wrong, System over Players... Not my Style of Coaching .. Develope the Team according to your Players, not Vice-Versa.... A Healthy Reyna was the Problem.
Good assessment of Gio. He certainly has a lot of potential, and while I would have liked to see more of him at the WC, there are reasonable soccer explanations (that you provided) for not using him (not to mention the injury recovery and the lack of effort in training). I just hope this doesn't negatively impact his career too much. Claudio and Danielle just demonstrated how to take an asset (two highly skilled parents) and turn it into a liability.
Its surprising that the upper echelon of very well-paid U.S. soccer executives, including Coach B., couldn't have been better prepared to handle this situation. If Earnie S. or Brian McB. shouldn't have taken Reyna's call, how would they have known not to do that? Is this a training issue? Maybe so, but if so, who in the highest reaches of that organization would know that these executives needed to understand this and other leadership issues, like how to prevent or what to do if your head coach follows-up the WC by speaking semi-publically about a sensitive team matter? No wonder they took the call. After all, they're all part of the "soccer-bro" network, a group of ex-players riding a wave of past national team success secure in the safety net of little to no accountability. Kind of an "old boys network" of the lawless Wild West. They had to take the call. It's part of the code.
GUYS ,WATCH THIS VIDEO AND ENJOY SOCCER THE WAY IT SHOULD BE!!!
RIVELLINO • Best Goals, Skills & Goals | HD - YouTube
nice pass, thanks, did not know this player, share to my player, he will be facinated if he did not already know the man. good day to you.
Or maybe we are all just over thinking this entire soap opera?! The coach gets hired to coach and the players get picked to play. They should all just do their jobs and shut up and understand the "privledge" (something Gio has had too much of) it is to rep their country. All this drama is a joke.
It's hilarious to read everyone's grand plan and mastermind vision of what should have happened with line ups and the team. As if anyone here has greater experience that is materially different than GB or the players on the USMNT. Let's face it, you/we all come from the same poor soccer culture of the US. You cannot change the way the world thinks of US soccer by employing products of US soccer at every level. Bad culture creates more bad culture (technical, tactical, and social). The same can be said regarding all the commentary on this board. It's pretty simple, if you put Garbage in (US soccer coaches, trained by mediocre US soccer coaches) you get garbage output. There well may be revolutionary minds that can lead US soccer but we havnt seen them yet. As for the team, about 8-10 of them have potential to play something other than "turbo" soccer but beyond that it's a bunch of mediocre talent that play soccer, not futbol.
the system and culture is overwhelmed by pay for play, nepostism, and antiquated tactics. Our best 11 internationals need a world class coach from outside the US to ever have a chance at the top 8 in a World Cup. As for mommies crying about their kids playtime, that's just pathetic!