Pulisic, U.S. eye Cup-qualifier win
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Christian Pulisic has been on a roller coaster.
America’s top men’s soccer player won the Champions League, then was sidelined for nearly two months. He battled for inclusion in Chelsea’s lineup and was shifted from his usual wide midfield role to center forward and even wingback.
“It’s been up and down this year, for sure,” he said ahead of the United States’ frosty World Cup qualifier against El Salvador on Thursday night. “Not exactly where I want to be and how I want things to be right now. But, yeah, I’m just going to keep going.”
Team USA players, wearing long trousers and gloves, a few topped by ski hats, practiced Wednesday in 10degree weather, a contrast to the 72 degrees in San Salvador for the opening 0-0 draw on Sept. 2.
The U.S. team faces three games in an eight-day span, two of them at home, and with two wins would move into commanding position to clinch a berth during the final three qualifiers in March. Canada leads North and Central America and the Caribbean with 16 points, one ahead of the U.S., with Mexico and Panama at 14 points. El Salvador is seventh with six points.
U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter has shifted to restrained confidence, admitting that in September he was “a little bit more bold with my prediction.”
“They’re going to be pressing really high, and we’ve got to move the ball quickly,” he said of facing El Salvador. “They were the best pressing team in the first eight games.”
Pulisic, among the few holdovers from the failed U.S. 2018 World Cup effort, is the American centerpiece.
Still just 23, the Hershey, Pa., native became the first American to appear in and win a Champions League final. He proudly wore a “USA” hoodie during Chelsea’s postgame celebration in Portugal last May.
Pulisic was sidelined in August by a positive COVID-19 test and injured his left ankle at Honduras in the U.S.’s third qualifier on Sept. 8. He was out until Nov. 2 and has started just seven of Chelsea’s last 11 Premier League matches.
A wide attacker in Berhalter’s 4-3-3 formation, Pulisic returned from his injury to enter in the 69th minute against Mexico in November, scoring the go-ahead goal on his first touch in a 2-0 win. A month later, he won his third U.S. Player of the Year award.
“I just love the fact that Christian is fighting, is fighting to be on the field,” Berhalter said. “I think that’s the mark of character.”
Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams could start together Thursday for only the second time, the first since an exhibition against Ecuador in March 2019.
“I’m always very excited to come back with the national team and sort of step away and get to enjoy it,” Pulisic said.
Next up will be a match Sunday at Canada and a Feb. 2 matchup against Honduras at St. Paul, Minn.
“We’re in a good position,” Pulisic said, “and by the end of this window, we could be in a great position.”