da spicy bet： GOAL US writers break down the USMNT's next steps, who will win Copa America, and Alex Morgan's future with national team

da bwin： What's next for the USMNT? The Copa America hosts were in search of a miracle on Monday night, needing to beat an in-form Uruguay side to claw themselves into the quarterfinals of the tournament. Ultimately, they failed, kept at arm's length by Marcelo Bielsa's side, and now the USMNT will watch the knockout stages from home.

It would seem that Gregg Berhalter's job is in serious jeopardy, with the national team needing a major reset ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Perhaps they were never real contenders, but it does leave the rest of the Copa America field wide open, with Uruguay poised to challenge Argentina for the crown.

Elsewhere, Euro 2024 is heating up – the quarterfinals are set with no clear favourite to win the tournament. And on the Olympics front, Emma Hayes' roster for the Paris Games might just have spelled the end of a career for a USWNT legend.

GOAL US' writers weigh in on all of that and more in the latest edition of… The Rondo.

GettyWhere does unceremonious Copa America exit leave the USMNT?

Tom Hindle: They're in trouble. It might be worth re-evaluating everyone's expectations ahead of the tournament, but there's no real excuse for failing to get out of the group (the Panama madness notwithstanding.) There will be immense pressure on coach Gregg Berhalter, and he probably has to go. More broadly, the game against Uruguay showed just how far off the USMNT is. Uruguay rather strolled through the contest, and the U.S. was largely ineffective. All of this talk about "signature wins" and "golden generations" is starting to look a bit silly. The UWMNT just isn't at that level, and it's not clear even an exciting managerial appointment changes that. Find a new coach, re-evaluate the roster, and chin up ahead of World Cup 2026. Two years to figure something out…

Ryan Tolmich: The simple answer? This team finds itself in desperate need of change. That isn't just about the coach, either. Everyone involved with this program needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror to figure out what went wrong this summer. This player pool isn't changing, but the mentality will have to if they want to contend at the 2026 World Cup.

Jacob Schneider: At rock bottom. Berhalter should probably be out of a job, and the players should have a hard look at themselves. Chris Richards, Gio Reyna, Ricardo Pepi, Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie had woeful tournaments. It's not good enough. Stop throwing around the term "Golden Generation." There's nothing golden about this team. The starting goalkeeper, attacking midfielder, central midfielder, striker and winger aren't even first selections on the teamsheet. Let's be realistic, and stop overhyping what is a failure of a program at the moment.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWho wins Copa America?

TH: Argentina, probably. They haven't looked as good as advertised going forward, but the Albiceleste have still made things reasonably comfortable without getting out of first gear. A quarterfinal date with Ecuador will be interesting, though. Also a word for Uruguay, who are as exciting and expansive as expected (with Darwin Nunez banging in the goals for fun). They would be an interesting opponent for Messi and Co. in the final.

RT: It has to be Argentina, right? Their path to the final is a cakewalk, but that's not the only reason why. With Lautaro Martinez bringing his Inter form to the national team, this attack may be more dangerous than ever. And, oh yeah, they have some guy named Lionel Messi… don't ever bet against Messi.

JS: Argentina is the popular pick, but 100 percent sold on Colombia. James Rodriguez has turned back the clock, and Luis Diaz looks more determined than ever. They should compete for the crown, and if they don't it will be Uruguay.

GettyWho wins Euro 2024?

TH: England were my pick three weeks ago, and it'd make sense to stick with that – if only to save face. They have been very, very, very, very bad, but still find themselves in the last eight, with a reasonably easy slate to come. The win against Slovakia showed that they can be completely awful, but still have the individuals to do something silly. To quote an excellent columnist, "Maybe football always was coming home, and this is just what it looks like." That said, Germany and Spain are both frighteningly good; the winner of that quarterfinal probably comes out on top.

RT: Normally, you'd want to pick the hot team, but going in a different direction and backing France. Yes, they've looked bad and yes, the attack has been abysmal, but this is France. It just feels as if Kylian Mbappe and Co. will figure it out at some point. Let's just hope they do so before it comes crashing down.

JS: Spain, baby. Lamine Yamal is generational and Nico Williams is genuinely stupendous. An experienced Alvaro Morata links them, and it is creating something special. However, you've got to be holding your breath ahead of the quarterfinals. Germany are no easy foe.

Getty ImagesDropped from the Olympics, has Alex Morgan played her last game for the USWNT?

TH: Yes … probably? Emma Hayes has done the sensible thing by leaving Morgan out. She's not getting younger, and with a small roster, and plenty of fresh talent on the squad, the Olympics are an opportunity for the new manager to figure out who she can count on long-term. Morgan is a known quantity at this point; there's no real reason to have her there. The scary bit for the San Diego Wave forward, though, is what happens when those who made the squad ahead of her start banging in the goals? If the USWNT show this summer that they can win easily without their veteran striker, then it might be curtains for a true legend of the game.

RT: In terms of major tournaments, yes. The new generation has arrived, leaving no room for Morgan. If this was a full 23-player roster, maybe she squeaks in, but that 18-player limit didn't help her case. As for the future, you can bet there will be a big farewell for her at some point as Morgan deserves to be sent off in style with a friendly in her honor.

JS: Unfortunately, yes. Her club form at San Diego isn't helping her case at the moment. She deserves a sendoff. She deserves her moment. Whether the U.S. gives it to her is another question, but she deserves it, 100 percent.