Gregg Berhalter lauded Gareth Southgate for freeing England and transforming them into superheroes, and he predicted the Three Lions will win the World Cup.
The USA boss will face Southgate in the second game of Group F, which also includes Wales and Iran.
What has Gregg Berhalter said about England’s chances of winning the World Cup?
And Berhalter, a New Jersey native who became the first Crystal Palace player to play in a World Cup in 2002, suggested Sarina Wiegman’s European winners might serve as further incentive for Southgate’s group to prevail in the Middle East.
Berhalter said, “I think they’re going to be one of the favourites to win the World Cup – if not the favourite. “Every player besides Jude Bellingham is playing in the Premier League, it’s the strongest league in the world. Week in and week out you’re challenged with top level competition, and that just makes the players stronger”.
“Basically, the depth chart is crazy. I mean, every international manager would want England’s squad just because of how deep they are. And you can go in some positions, you can go five or six deep, and be happy with the player in that position. I mean, it’s unbelievable looking at their right backs!”
Berhalter further added, “I don’t know if the expectations have always been in line with the quality of the squad. So back in 2010, realistically, I didn’t think they had the squad that can win the World Cup, right? But now it’s different. Now I think we all agree they have a squad that can win the World Cup”.
England and the United States have met twice in World Cups, with England losing 1-0 in 1950 and drawing 1-1 in Rustenburg 12 years ago.
The United States begin their campaign against Wales, with the teams meeting in Cardiff in October 2020 for a 0-0 tie. Berhalter was a dependable centre half who earned 44 caps for his nation. Berhalter, who has played in the Eredivisie and Bundesliga, compares himself to Pep Guardiola.
Berhalter was hired in 2018 after the United States failed to qualify for Russia, the first World Cup they had missed since Mexico in 1986. He has a home tournament in four years, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico.
Berhalter dropped out of the University of North Carolina to play in Europe. He praises fellow alumni Sarina Wiegman’s accomplishments this summer.
