By Brian Straus The U.S. knows it’s into the knockout stage with a win, but its prep has been derailed by a social media controversy and press conference that veered into the surreal. AL RAYYAN, Qatar — Cut from the ill-fated 1998 World Cup team and living in the Netherlands while playing in the Eredivisie, Gregg Berhalter was hired that summer to do some match commentary by Dutch broadcaster NOS. His assignment: the France ’98 group-stage showdown between the United States and Iran, geopolitical rivals contesting what was essentially an elimination game after each lost its tournament opener. …