The U.S.' hopes of starting a winning streak in the Copa America narrowly died with a 2-1 loss to Panama.
The U.S. will likely need to beat Uruguay, one of the best teams in the tournament, on Monday night in Kansas City and hope they don't beat Bolivia by two more goals than Panama beat Uruguay.
The U.S. will be without Tim Weah (suspended for two matches after receiving a red card against Panama) and the status of goalkeeper Matt Turner (injured in the first half of the Panama game) is unclear.
Uruguay must also punish coach Marcelo Bielsa, who was famously suspended by CONMEBOL for his players returning late from the dressing room in the second half of a 5-0 win over Bolivia. (The Argentina and Chilean managers were also suspended for a second breach of the same punctuality rule.)
Bielsa is renowned for the intense pressure and relentless work rate he demands from his players, and even if he is absent, La Celeste will be the USA's toughest competitive test since the Qatar World Cup.
• What they're saying: “They're doing a few things, but they're just at a really high level,” Berhalter said. “The intensity of how they play, the speed, the way they maintain that intensity throughout the game is something else. Their athleticism is way above any other team in the tournament. And the second thing is their counterattacks, their transitions. When they get the ball, they start getting behind the backline right away, and that's something we need to be prepared for.”
• SA Confidential: Pressure moments and momentum, USMNT's spectacular failure against Panama (Paul Kennedy)
Group C scenario
• USA win or draw, Panama draw or lossAmerica wins.
• America wins, Panama wins. Proceed to the tiebreaker.
• USA draw, Panama winsPanama advances.
• America loses, Panama loses. Proceed to the tiebreaker.
• USA loses, Panama draws or winsPanama advances.
Uruguay is mathematically all but guaranteed a place in the quarterfinals.