Christian Pulisic - The Greatest American

A few years ago we wrote about Christian Politic in "Know These Names". With 2018 around the corner, it's time for an update.

The MLS is at 22 teams with expansion plans for 28.

Charlotte, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, Nashville, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, St. Louis, and Tampa are the leagues official candidates for host cities. This year the league added teams in Atlanta and Minnesota, and in 2018, Los Angeles FC and David Beckham’s Miami will be introduced. The 25th and 26th spots are up for sale with a starting bid at $150 million.

In other words, Soccer in the US is arriving, and with it, its greatest player:

Christian Pulisic (Poo-lis-sick) is 18 years old and already the best player on the US Mens National Team. Expectedly, he missed the Gold Cup - his spot in the starting XI for 2018 has already been cemented. Before that he was scoring in the UEFA Champions League and becoming Borussia Dortmund’s youngest player in history to do so. He’s a natural 10 with a strong weak foot that can play on both wings. He is The Greatest American.

“It’s outstanding because [he doesn’t get] injured, he makes almost every training session, that’s a huge advantage. He started in many important games. And he deserved it.”

-Thomas Tuchel (Former Borussia Dortmund manager on Christian Pulisic)

This past season in the Bundesliga, Germany’s premier division, Pulisic made 29 appearances for his club Borussia Dortmund. He totaled 3 goals and 6 assists. To put it in perspective, Landon Donovan totaled 0 and 0 in his 13 career appearances in the Bundesliga between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.

“This player’s potential is limitless.” - Jurgen Klinsmann former USMNT coach on Pulisic

The biggest key to Pulisic’s development is that he is consistently playing against the best competition in the world. This year it was Bayern Munich twice, Real Madrid twice, Benifica twice, and AS Monaco twice. The large part of the world was watching those games.

Two years ago, we wrote about Pulisic in our “8 Great Yanks” article. At the time he was 16 and had scored 6 goals and 3 assists on Dortmund’s U-17 team. Fast forward, he was named to UEFA Champions League breakthrough team of 2016. This offseason Liverpool and Bayern Munich rose as potential buyers. His current value is estimated upwards of $30 million making him the most valuable American of all time. One can only imagine where he’ll be in two more years. As Klinsmann said, his potential is limitless.

“If he stays on the same progression, you’re looking at the best United States national player we have ever seen.” - Taylor Twellman (ESPN Announcer and former player)

In a 6-0 stomping of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Pulisic became the youngest American to ever score in a World Cup Qualifier. The next match he became the youngest American to ever start a World Cup Qualifier. Already in 2017 he has 4 goals in 5 games for the US and is on pace to lead the squad to Russia for the World Cup in 2018. He’s fed Dempsey with two tap-ins and scored two brilliant goals against Trinidad Tobago in the same game. Although Christian’s goals were against Trinidad and Tobago, it was in the World Cup Qualifying Hex tournament. And a two goal game in the hex is a feat Barcelona start Lionel Messi has yet to accomplish.

Before he’s done, he’ll shatter every American soccer record. He might even do it by 25. People will remember Donovan, but Christian as the GOAT. He has the looks to be everywhere on television and on the cover of magazines. Over the next 10 years the MLS will grow and fuel his publicity even further. Don’t be sleeping. Don’t miss out. Get ready for the boom. 

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Follow Alex Eichstaedt on Twitter: @AlexEichstaedt

Euro Trip - Part II

his seems a bit like deja vu. In a fit of adrenaline and confidence, the USMNT traveled to Cologne and bested the number one ranked Germans by a score of 2-1. With Bobby Wood’s 88th minute game winner, the Yanks pulled off a series sweep that nobody thought possible. To put it in perspective: Before Klinsmann took over, it was a feat to beat anyone in Europe; let alone its best teams. In five days the United States beat the first and third place finishers in last summer’s World Cup.

These two momentous victories followed very similar paths: similar opponents, of similar rank, with similar fabled histories. The games also played out in a similar manner. The US fell behind early thanks to a 12th minute goal by World Cup hero Mario Götze. Similarly still, a lack of focus and organization by the US back four was to blame for the goal, as Götze became wide-open in the box, striking one past Brad Guzan.

The tide of the game began to turn as the first half progressed, culminating in a 41st minute goal by Mix Diskerud. Following a long string of possession, Michael Bradley played Diskerud in behind the German defense and Diskerud, the NYCFC man, finished clinically with a half volley.  The US went on to control possession for chunks of the second half, and again a series of Klinsmann subs would go on to make the ultimate difference.

Morris, Yedlin, Evans, Beckermann and Wood all made positive impacts in their time on the pitch. Morris and Yedlin played the role of super-sub very well, in addition to Wood. Most surprisingly, however, was Brad Evans in his return to the national team. His vigilant and attentive defending down the right flank kept the Germans at bay, and his skill going forward was crucial, eventually assisting on Wood’s game winning goal.

In victory, like always, the US are subject to a certain belittlement, degrading their victory. Critics will say that this wasn’t the German ‘A’ team—a true statement, but a hater statement, as the German team on the pitch was loaded with talent: Götze, Schweinsteiger, Özil, Podolski and Khedira were all part of this team. In the same token, this wasn’t the Americans’ best team either, with Howard, Dempsey, Altidore and Alejandro Bedoya missing from the squad.

Despite the match being a friendly, there were key takeaways. Firstly, this newly confident bunch of Yanks can play with anyone. Secondly, the critics who have been so vocal through his tenure up to this point need to leave Klinsmann alone.

Another important point learned from the United States’ recent games is that Michael Bradley is the team, and the States will go as he does. The US are able to better keep possession, allowing the youngsters the time to make runs and plays. The possession totals of 64 percent for Germany and 36 for the US are very deceiving, as there were points in the second half where the US maintained sole possession of the ball.

Lastly, although the center backs had the occasional lapse-in-concentration, they came together to recover quite nicely, boding well for the future. A great result against the world’s best has the stage set for a great summer.

Follow Keaton Walkowski on Twitter:  @KeatonWalkowski

Astonished In Amsterdam

Amsterdam - Shock and awe are fitting emotions experienced by those exiting the Amsterdam Arena Thursday night following the United States 4-3 win over the Netherlands. What looked on paper as a walk in the park for the Oranje, became a cruel reality as the evening progressed.

Entering the 69th minute with a two goal lead, the 6th ranked Dutch seemed to have the match in hand, but the Yanks stole the victory with three goals in the last 20 minutes. A first half strike by Gyasi Zardes followed by second half goals from Brooks, Williams and Wood spurred the US to an unlikely victory. The last two American goals by Williams and Wood occurred nearly two minutes apart, coming in the 89th and 90th minutes. Coming into the game, the combination of goal scorers amassed a total of one international goal between them.

From the get-go, the Americans meant business. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann set out an aggressive 4-3-3 formation with plenty of speed, and early on, the US controlled the game earning plenty of chances. They continued pressing high defensively and building from the back offensively up until a 27th minute goal by Jan Klauss Huntelaar gave the Dutch a 1-0 lead. In a developing trend, John Brooks was caught ball watching and out of position on a cross allowing Huntelaar to sneak between he and Alvarado to bag the first goal. The cross was a thing of beauty from the new Manchester United signee, Memphis Depay, who gave the US fits all game.

The Unites States offense persisted, but were unable to find the lethal stroke and squandered a plethora of chances in the final third. It wasn’t until a 34th minute strike from Zardes evened things up at 1-1. The Dutch followed suit in the form of a 49th minute Huntelaar goal giving Holland a 2-1 lead, and it appeared the Dutch scored a clinching goal when a Huntelaar strike deflected off of Depay’s face past Brad Guzan, giving them a lead of 3-1 in the 53rd minute.

The US never gave in, and the turning point occurred in the 57th minute with the inclusion of Mix Diskerud and Deandre Yedlin. Yedlin haunted the Dutch down the right flank for the remainder of the game.

First in the 69th,a Yedlin cross found a wide open John Brooks who slotted home the sitter —cutting the Dutch lead to one. That score held until an 89th minute tally from Danny Williams tied the game for the states and the draw was assumed.

Hysteria struck as a 90th minute counter attack led by Michael Bradley played in Jordan Morris, who’s tantalizing cross through the six-yard-box was dispatched by Bobby Wood and the upset was secured.

The 4-3 victory for the US was the first win by the US over a top ten team since 2007. It was also their first ever win over the Dutch, who were coming off of a third place finish in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The most optimistic of American supporters could not have predicted such a result. It was a resilient performance from the players and a near perfect game from Coach Klinsmann, as he pulled all the right strings. There’s still much that can be improved upon prior to the Amercan’s clash with Germany on June 10, but overall an exceptional total team performance secured the astounding result one for the history books. These Yanks don’t quit.

Follow Keaton Walkowski on Twitter:  @KeatonWalkowski

US Women's National Team Will Dance In Winnipeg

Just as the men’s team did in Rio, the United States Women’s National Soccer Team drew the most difficult group in the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Winnipeg, Canada. The acclaimed “Group of Death” features matchups against Australia (FIFA’s 10th ranked squad), Sweden and former USWNT manager Pia Sundhage (Ranked 5th), and perennial African champion, Nigeria.

But unlike the men’s team, these women are not underdogs.

New manager, Jill Ellis, has the USWNT playing impressive football lately, leading her squad to an Algarve Cup championship with an impressive 2-0 win over 3rd ranked France in the final. Star goalkeeper, Hope Solo, and her defense, led by captain Christie Rampone, continue to be in great form, conceding just 1 goal in the team’s past 8 matches. In addition, there isn’t a set of more dangerous strikers than the duo of Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan, who have scored a combined 229 career goals.

However, a big reason the USWNT will win come this summer is credited to the recent immergence of central-midfielder Carli Lloyd.

In 2014, Lloyd dominated the stat sheet. Despite her fellow central-midfielder Lauren Holiday winning Athlete of the Year, Lloyd led the USWNT in both goals and assists, scoring 15 and handing out 8 dimes to her teammates. Lloyd's powerful leg makes her a nightmare for defenders, not only allowing her to score from range, but enabling her to find Morgan over the top and Wambach in the air at any moment. In the team’s last 6 matches, Lloyd and Morgan have tallied two goals apiece.

So how does Lloyd’s recent surge propel the USWNT over top ranked Germany and the reigning 2011 World Cup winning Japanese squad?

In the later stages of the World Cup, it's not uncommon for teams to struggle to score. Germany looked miserable on offense in their 2-0 loss to France in the Algarve Cup semi-finals. Silvia Neid’s squad is also struggling to close out games, evident by their collapse to Sweden in their first match of the competition and the late goal they allowed to them later on in the 3rd place match. Their lack of speed on the outside makes them vulnerable and often stagnant on offense. Look for teams like France, Sweden, Canada, Brazil and possibly even Norway to exploit these weaknesses if they meet up.

On the other hand, the USWNT does not have any glaring weaknesses. Take the most potent middle four, add experienced wingers in Heather O’ Reilly and Megan Rapinoe to a top form defense and you have the US women's most complete team in decades. If they can remain healthy, the trophy will be theirs. June 6th just a short way away, look for the USWNT to be champions for the first time since 1999.

Follow Alex on Twitter: @AlexEichstaedt