Natural talent
round of World Cup qualifiers in the CONCA- team duty since recovering from an irregular heartbeat, Pulisic was unquestionably the most influential US player. The Borussia Dortmund prodigy, still only 18, Christian Pulisic No.10 of the United States and Maynor Figueroa No.3 of Honduras go for the ball during their FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier at Avaya Stadium on Sunday in San Jose, California. “He’s just a natural, the game’s easy for him,” Arena said.
“He’s got exceptional skill, vision. He’s pretty smooth.”
Friday’s victory lifted the United States off the bottom of qualifying competition into fourth place.
automatically for next year’s placed team faces an interconfederation playoff against an Asian side.
The Americans will move into the automatic qualifying places if they are able to grab a victory in Panama City on Tuesday, where they won 3-2 in 2013 World Cup in Brazil.
Panama, who are third in the standings with four points from three games, head into Tuesday’s match aiming to bounce back following a 1- 0 defeat in Port of Spain against Trinidad and Tobago on Friday.
While the US are buoyant after their destruction of Honduras, Arena believes the scrap for World Cup places will go right down to the wire.
“It’s going to be a real battle with all six teams down the stretch right the way up to October,” Arena said.
Mexico, the only unbeaten team, can cement their place at the top of the standings with a victory over Trinidad on Tuesday. The day’s other game sees Honduras attempt to recover from Friday’s mauling with a game against 2014 World Cup Rica, who suffered a 2- 0 defeat to Mexico in the Aztec Stadium on Friday.