Tag: Christian Pulisic

USMNT player ratings: Adams, McKennie, Ream help secure World Cup draw vs. England

A smart adjustment from Gregg Berhalter ends with an impressive draw

The U.S. men’s national team stepped it up against England, securing a 0-0 draw in which they had the better of the game’s few chances.

The USMNT may have been slightly disappointed with one point against Wales, after dominating in the first half and leading until the final stages, but it’s hard to have too many serious complaints after they held the Three Lions to virtually no serious chances.

We’ll have deeper analysis in the future, but during the World Cup we’ll be giving a quick breakdown of each USMNT player’s performance.

Our scale:

  • 1: Abysmal. Literally any member of Pro Soccer Wire’s staff would have been been able to play at this level.
  • 6: Adequate. This is our base score.
  • 10: Transcendent, era-defining performance. This is Maradona vs. England in 1986.

USMNT player ratings: Adams, Weah the best from World Cup draw against Wales

The USMNT needed one more standout, and one less mistake

A strong start from the U.S. men’s national team wasn’t quite enough for them to get their first World Cup win since June 16, 2014.

The USMNT dominated the first half and took a deserved lead through Tim Weah, but fell under progressively more pressure and conceded a late Gareth Bale penalty kick, sealing a 1-1 draw that is neither satisfactory nor a disaster.

It’s a bit of a tough game to parse, with many players doing an adequate job, a couple being outright good, and one major mistake undoing their efforts. We’ll have deeper analysis in the future, but during the World Cup we’ll be giving a quick breakdown of each USMNT player’s performance.

Our scale:

  • 1: Abysmal. Literally any member of Pro Soccer Wire’s staff would have been been able to play at this level.
  • 6: Adequate. This is our base score.
  • 10: Transcendent, era-defining performance. This is Maradona vs. England in 1986.

What club teams are USMNT’s World Cup players on?

You’ve heard of Christian Pulisic, but what about Luca de la Torre?

The U.S. men’s national team is carrying 26 players on its roster at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

And we’re betting that there’s a chance you’re not totally familiar with every single player on the team.

If you’re at least a casual soccer fan, you probably know who Christian Pulisic is. If you follow the European leagues closely, then perhaps you’ve heard of Sergino Dest. If you’re a devout MLS fan, then you’re well-acquainted with the Nashville SC defending duo of Walker Zimmerman and Shaq Moore.

But what about Ethan Horvath, Joe Scally or Tim Weah?

To help you get to know these American players a little bit better, we’ve listed the club team that each of them plays for.

When the World Cup is over, we totally expect you to become an avid fan of Turkish side Antalyaspor in support of Haji Wright, obviously.

And no, none of these players feature for Ted Lasso at AFC Richmond. Or Wrexham AFC, the club in Wales owned by Ryan Reynolds.

GOALKEEPERS

  • Matt Turner, Arsenal (England)
  • Sean Johnson, NYCFC (MLS)
  • Ethan Horvath, Luton Town (England)

DEFENDERS

  • Cameron Carter-Vickers, Celtic (Scotland)
  • Sergino Dest, AC Milan (Italy)
  • Aaron Long, NY Red Bulls (MLS)
  • Shaq Moore, Nashville SC (MLS)
  • Tim Ream, Fulham (England)
  • Antonee Robinson, Fulham (England)
  • Joe Scally, Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany)
  • Walker Zimmerman, Nashville SC (MLS)

MIDFIELDERS

  • Brenden Aaronson, Leeds United (England)
  • Kellyn Acosta, LAFC (MLS)
  • Tyler Adams, Leeds United (England)
  • Luca de la Torre, Celta Vigo (Spain)
  • Weston McKennie, Juventus (Italy)
  • Yunus Musah, Valenica (Spain)
  • Cristian Roldan, Seattle Sounders (MLS)

FORWARDS

  • Jesus Ferreira, FC Dallas (MLS)
  • Jordan Morris, Seattle Sounders (MLS)
  • Christian Pulisic, Chelsea (England)
  • Gio Reyna, Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
  • Josh Sargent, Norwich City (England)
  • Tim Weah, Lille OSC (France)
  • Haji Wright, Antalyaspor (Turkey)

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Pulisic: We want to change the way the world sees American soccer

The 24-year-old is set for his World Cup debut on Monday against Wales

U.S. national team star Christian Pulisic is hoping his team’s performance at the World Cup can change the way the world views American soccer.

The USMNT will begin World Cup play on Monday against Wales before taking on England and Iran in Group B. After missing out entirely on the tournament in 2018, a new generation of American talent has arrived in Qatar with a point to prove.

“Maybe it hasn’t been the top sport back in the States and we want to change the way that the world sees American soccer – it’s one of our goals,” Pulisic told the media on Wednesday. “We haven’t been at the level of some of these world powerhouses in recent decades, but we’ve had good teams with a lot of heart. We can take it to the next step – a successful World Cup would change a lot.”

Pulisic has been one of the biggest stars on the USMNT since he was a teenager. Now 24, the pressure on the Chelsea winger will be immense as he gets set for his first World Cup.

“I feel like I’ve played in some big games. I’ve accomplished a lot. I’ve done a lot of things,” Pulisic said. “But what I want to do with the World Cup is something on top of all of that. It’s something when I was a kid in Pennsylvania growing up, 5 to 10 years old, that’s all I thought about was the World Cup.

“All those emotions and stuff that you’re not ready for, it always hits you. It hits you, and you feel it,” he said. “You feel the big moments coming every day. Laying in bed at night, when it gets a day closer, you feel it a little bit more, so that’s how it goes.”

Pulisic has played sparingly for Chelsea this season, but feels that his recent form has been strong and that he’ll arrive at the World Cup in a good moment.

“I feel great right now,” he said. “My form’s actually been really good in recent weeks I feel. So I’ve gotten some games in, [I’m] continuing to work there and improving myself there, and honestly, I feel really strong and very good and prepared going into this.”

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Follow all of the USMNT World Cup players on Instagram

Christian Pulisic is the USMNT’s most-followed account on Instagram, followed by Sergiño Dest.

The United States men’s national soccer team is set to take on the world in the 2022 FIFA World Cup beginning next week, and the USMNT’s young roster seems poised to quickly endear themselves to sports fans across America.

The USMNT has one of the youngest squads at the World Cup in Qatar and while the team includes some known stars like Christian Pulisic, most of the players are not household names even in their own country.

That should change after the World Cup, especially if the team makes it out of the group stage. Here’s a quick look at each player’s Instagram page and their follower counts, listed in order of the most-followed players.

By the end of the tournament, these Instagram follower numbers will likely be much higher, and many of the USA’s World Cup players should see their popularity in the U.S. increase significantly.

Here are the pre-World Cup numbers:

Michelob World Cup commercial sees Pulisic and Lloyd square off in foosball

The USMNT star and ex-USWNT star face off in some intense foosball competition

Christian Pulisic and Carli Lloyd aren’t really able to face off on the soccer field, but the foosball table isn’t a bad alternative.

In a Michelob Ultra commercial for the 2022 World Cup, the two U.S. national team stars square off at the foosball table before a guest star enters the fray late on to call next game.

Pulisic will lead the U.S. men’s national team at the World Cup in Qatar. Lloyd, meanwhile, retired last year after a glittering career that saw her capture two Olympic gold medals and two World Cup titles with the U.S. women’s national team.

As the commercial draws to a close an errant ball is caught by Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who will be El Tri’s starter for a third straight World Cup at the tournament in Qatar.

Ochoa calls next, with the foosball competition set to continue.

Watch Michelob’s World Cup ad

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Champions League last-16 draw will see Pulisic return to Dortmund for first time

The USMNT star will return to Dortmund for the first time since a record-breaking transfer in 2019

Monday’s Champions League last-16 draw produced a host of intriguing ties, but there will be one in particular that catches the eye of American fans.

Chelsea was paired up with Borussia Dortmund, which will see two of the USMNT’s top players, Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna, square off.

For Pulisic, it will be the first time he’s faced Dortmund since joining Chelsea for $70.4 million in 2019 — by far the highest transfer fee ever paid for an American. 

Let’s look at all eight ties, which will see the first legs on February 14-15 and 21-22, with the second legs on March 7-8 and 14-15.

Pulisic assists Havertz stunner as Chelsea reaches Champions League knockouts

The USMNT star was involved in both of his team’s goals in Austria

Kai Havertz scored a stunning winner for Chelsea at Red Bull Salzburg on Tuesday, pushing the Blues into the Champions League knockout round with a 2-1 win at Red Bull Arena.

The German’s strike was set up by Christian Pulisic, who was handed a start for only the third time this season and took advantage by playing a role in both of his side’s goals.

The U.S. star was involved in a stunning opener for Mateo Kovačić, as he helped win back possession inside Salzburg’s area. The ball broke to the Croatian, who quickly improvised a brilliant first-time finish with his left foot that gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Salzburg would equalize just after the break through Junior Adamu, but Chelsea would find the decisive goal in the 64th minute.

Pulisic maneuvered his way into space and drew in three defenders before finding Havertz, who unleashed a brilliant strike that flew in off the underside of the crossbar.

With the away win, Chelsea clinched a berth in the last 16. After picking up just one point in its first two Group E games, Chelsea has now won three straight to earn qualification to the knockouts with one game to spare.

Watch Havertz score winner at Salzburg

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The Americans Abroad Five: Reyna is back again, and we are ready to be hurt

With a month until the World Cup starts, the U.S. attacker once again looks fit and ready

Six weeks ago in this very column, we ran the following headline: Gio Reyna is back — now please stay healthy.

This week, the sentiment is pretty much exactly the same.

Reyna’s injuries have limited his time on the field to fits and starts over the past year, but he is again trending in the right direction after scoring his first goal in 14 months this weekend.

With a month until the World Cup starts, the U.S. attacker once again is resembling something close to his best.

Now please stay healthy.

Pulisic again makes case for bigger Chelsea role in scoreless draw at Brentford

Chelsea improved once Pulisic came on, but will Potter give him a start?

Christian Pulisic may not have started for Chelsea on Wednesday, but he still did enough to catch Graham Potter’s eye.

Pulisic came on in the 61st minute of what turned out to be a scoreless draw with Brentford. Though Chelsea ended up frustrated, Pulisic helped spark an improvement in the late going, nearly scoring an 89th minute winner only to be denied by a fine save from David Raya.

“I thought (Carney Chukwuemeka) and Christian did well when they came on,” Potter told reporters after the match. “They affected the game.”

The day before the game, Potter said Pulisic is “pushing for a start.” While he didn’t actually give the U.S. men’s national team captain that assignment, Chelsea did improve in the final half-hour with Pulisic — who also set Kai Havertz up for a shot that Raya saved — in the thick of things.

Unbeaten run making change difficult

Based on his performances, Pulisic’s hopes of cracking the starting 11 on a regular basis should be improving. However, Chelsea is unbeaten since Potter took charge, and haven’t even conceded a goal since Crystal Palace scored early in what became a 2-1 win for the Blues back on October 1.

That 533-minute shutout run is a signal that Potter’s choices are working, and his analysis of the talent at his disposal currently seems to list Pulisic as more of a super-sub than a starter. Pulisic scored in his only start under Potter and is making things happen every time he steps on the field for Chelsea, so it’s not like he’s failing to make an argument for himself. It’s just that with the results Chelsea is picking up, there are few reasons for Potter to consider shaking up his current hierarchy.

That said, Chelsea were largely uninspired against Brentford until Pulisic came in. That may move the needle enough that the USMNT star takes on a larger role in these final few weeks before the World Cup gets underway.

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