The United States men’s national soccer team bounced back from a shocking 5-1 loss to Colombia with a gritty 1-1 draw in a friendly against Brazil Wednesday. Christian Pulisic equalized with free kick goal in the 26th minute and neither team could gain an advantage from that point on.

The U.S. team’s loss to Colombia on Saturday ahead of the Copa America tournament set off alarms for a weary American fanbase. Though the United States has improved since failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the team is still in the process of finding its identity.

But through Pulisic and goalkeeper Matt Turner, who made 12 saves against Brazil, players seemed to recover well in a solid showing. USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter said that he was encouraged to see the team take the loss to Colombia as a wake-up call.

“We talked to the guys before the game and we just asked two things of them, we asked for teamwork and intensity,” Berhalter said. “And the way we framed it is that they are two things that are totally in their control. Right? It doesn’t matter about the opponent. It doesn’t matter about the field or fans or anything. Those are two things that they can control. And that’s the type of effort that we saw today.”

The United States are not a serious contender in the upcoming Copa America, as teams like Argentina and Brazil are expected to outclass their local rivals. Still, Pulisic’s playmaking ability gives the team a fighting chance against the very best, as he demonstrated when the U.S. advanced to the knockout stage in the 2022 World Cup.

“It’s such an exciting time for our team and for our country,” Pulisic said. “It’s hard not to look forward too much, but we want to show this country that we can compete with the best. And we have the opportunity to do that. We’re going to try to go as far as we can.”

The USA men’s national team never makes anything easy – but there’s certainly never a dull moment.

Nobody could of course forget Landon Donovan’s follow-up strike in 2010 in the final minutes that snatched victory from defeat and allowed the team to continue in the tournament.

Or how about a clutch header from substitute John Brooks with just minutes left against Ghana during the 2014 World Cup opener, which helped USA escape the so-called “Group of Death.”

And it was no different on Tuesday against Iran.

USA was just able to score one goal in the match where Christian Pulisic literally sacrificed his body in the first half to make it happen.

That play turned out to be monumental because the team was holding on to dear life in the final minutes.

And the play that sticks out the most is none other than the loose ball that squirted by goalkeeper Matt Turner in extra time.

It looked like the ball was headed toward an empty net but defender Walker Zimmerman hustled back to clear the ball from danger to help finish the job.

And that’s how USA likes it.

Now, it will move on to play the Netherlands in a knockout round on Saturday and expect no different.

But USA will hope to have a healthy Pulisic, who was subbed out at halftime due to an injury that forced him to stay down for several minutes.

He was taken to the hospital due to a reported abdominal injury.

Pulisic from his bed in a caption claimed that he will “be ready” for Saturday – but there was no update provided on his condition.

The game can be watched on Fox Sports 1 via cable and or through the app.

The CONCACAF Nations League is brand new and was created to provide more international competition. Thus, there is no historical significance and this competition lacks importance in comparison to other international competitions. However, this was not apparent as the US and Mexico battled for over 120 minutes in one of the most thrilling matches this rivalry has ever seen. This five-goal thriller represents a new era of American soccer as the young, promising team won their first trophy together. Injuries, early deficits, and a strong Mexican side were unable to overcome the talent and grit of the USMNT. The United States won 3-2 in extra time.

“Overtime was just a complete mess, to be honest. With everything that was going on, the guys still stayed cool, still were able to focus,” said coach Gregg Berhalter after the game. His words are applicable beyond time as the entire match was chaotic. In the first minute of the game, Mexico’s Jesús Corona capitalized on a US mistake to put Mexico up 1-0. In the 24th minute, Mexico’s Héctor Moreno scored a header off of a set-piece which was ruled offside by VAR. Just three minutes later Gio Reyna scored for the US to draw level. Diego Lainez put Mexico ahead in the 79th minute just a minute after being subbed on. A nervy US team finally equalized in the 82nd minute off of a header from midfielder Weston McKennie. Extra time was necessary and in the added 30 minutes a penalty kick was awarded to each side. The US struck first as Christian Pulisic buried his shot without hesitation. Fortunately for the US, Mexico’s Andrés Guardado was unable to convert his penalty kick as Ethan Horvath stood tall in the net and made the save, winning the game for the US. On top of the incredible action from goals, chaos came from injuries, altercations, misbehaving fans, and more.

Christian Pulisic, captain of the USMNT and scorer of the game-winning penalty kick, was the first to lift the trophy at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO. Within the 10 days before this achievement, Pulisic was lifting the prestigious UEFA Champions League trophy. “It’s just a perfect way to end the year. I’m so proud of this group. We needed everyone today and it was a phenomenal performance,” said Pulisic in an interview with CBS.

Before this week, the USMNT had not played in a competitive match since the fall of 2019. After the game, coach Berhalter said, “We’re a young side, and we need to learn how to win. These games are very difficult, and for us it was about having a game plan, executing a game plan, but it’s also about the fight and the spirit. Give the guys a ton of credit for the way they hung in there and showed the heart of champions.”

This victory also set a much-needed new tone with Mexico. Mexico had seen great success in this rivalry in recent years. The US had not defeated them in a competitive match since 2013. In 2019 alone, the US lost twice to Mexico. With the victory, we have seen a coming of age for the USMNT.

Mexico beat the United States Men’s National Team 1-0 in the Concacaf Gold Cup Final at Soldier Field in Chicago. Johnathan Dos Santos scored the only goal of the affair, hitting the top of the crossbar and bouncing in in the 73rd minute.

“This was what we came here for,” said the captain for the Mexican team, Andres Guardado, according to ESPN. “We did it and in an unforgettable setting. We’re very happy. The whole team was spectacular.”

Winning the Gold Cup would’ve proven to be a step in the right direction for this new US team under Gregg Berhalter. Falling just short, the Mexican team humbled this US team who won every game leading up to this one with some comfortability. This 1-0 victory for Mexico was the first time this US team trailed the entire tournament.

There are more than a few takeaways this US team can look at and bring to their attention. Jozy Altidore had a clear chance inside the first 10 minutes when he was one-on-one with goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa that he shot wide of goal. Missing a chance like that can prove cost-worthy, and it did. 20-year-old Christian Pulisic seemed to be on his own out there, trying to provide multiple chances for his team that just fell short. He had a shot in the first five minutes of the game that was saved by Ochoa, but went missing during the second half as the Mexican defense tracked his every move knowing he was the outlet the Americans sought out.

“I think what we lacked was I think some of the confidence, some of the composure,” Berhalter said about the second half, according to ESPN. “We knew it was going to be a big event, we knew it was going to be a semi-hostile crowd. And I think what I’d say is the confidence is what we lacked. Mexico certainly had it.”

Perhaps the US team lacked a bit of inexperience in the midfield. Weston McKennie proved to be a threat on both ends of the pitch earlier in the tournament, but like Pulisic, seemed to fail to impact the game in anyway. On the other side of midfield, the most experienced player on the field Michael Bradley looked to be a step behind the game entirely. Bradley was constantly beat in the midfield and provided a wealth of turnovers in crucial areas.

“We have a quality team, and we believe in a lot of the young players,” said Berhalter, according to ESPN. “We think that at the end of the day, we need to gain experience. A game like this is perfect for us. It was a big occasion, a lot of the players’ first time playing in a game like this, and we need to learn. We weren’t ready for the step tonight but we will be ready.”

The United States Men’s National Team hosts Jamaica in Chicago for the Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal. The United States has outscored opponents 12-0 so far this tournament under the new tenure of coach Gregg Berhalter. A team filled with dynamism and young talent has rekindled the USMNT of previous years. The team is looking for their seventh Gold Cup title to match Concacaf leaders Mexico, who are now onto the finals to face the winner of US and Jamaica after beating Haiti 1-0.

These two teams have a recent history in the knockout rounds of this tournament, with the US recently beating Jamaica in the finals of the 2017 Gold Cup 2-1 to lift their sixth title, but in 2015 Jamaica pulled off the upset beating the US 2-1 in the semifinals. The two teams also met in a friendly before this Gold Cup, with Shamar Nicholson scoring for the Jamaicans and winning 1-0.

The US has proven to be one of the strongest sides this tournament, with a new backline of Nick Lima, Walker Zimmerman, Aaron Long and Tim Ream, and goalkeeper Zack Steffen has yet to let up a goal this tournament. A revitalized midfield with youngster Weston McKennie and veteran Michael Bradley have dominated in the middle winning the ball back in key areas. 20-year-old Christian Pulisic has proved himself to be the team’s talisman, providing the key passes and goals the team lacked for several years.

Jamaica have a strong young talent as well with Leon Bailey. He recently signed a $20 million contract with Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2017. Dever Orgill has proven to be a serious threat in front of goal, and midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson has played in three Gold Cup with four total international goals.

According to CBS Sports’ David Sumpter, the US squad as a -210 money line, while Jamaica are underdogs with +600. The over/under is sitting at 2.5.

The match starts at 9:30 p.m. EST and will be broadcasted on FOX Sports 1 and can be streamed live on the FOX Sports app.

The United States Men’s National Team won their quarterfinal game against Curacao 1-0 in Philadelphia on Sunday night. 20-year-old Christian Pulisic wore the arm band for the team last night, and led them to a win with an assist to midfielder Weston McKennie, who scored in the 25th minute. The US will play Jamaica on Wednesday in the semifinals of the Concacaf Gold Cup.

For a majority of the game, the US were second favorites.Although they failed to score,Curacao dominated the possession and seemed to infiltrate every press the US threw at them. Curacao had a strong game plan that lacked concentration in the backline in the 25th minute, but other than that, they dominated the game.

“When you get to the knockout stages, everyone wants to move on to the next round and they’re giving absolutely everything,” Pulisic said, according to USA Today. “Curacao 100 percent wanted that — you could see that in the way they played.”

Gregg Berhalter, the United States head coach, relayed his frustrations to his team multiple times throughout the game. He wasn’t happy with their energy in both halves, lacked creativity and an edge at times in all aspects of the team. Nevertheless, a winning result keeps them alive in the tournament.

McKennie had a day, scoring the only goal for his team, and signing an extension on his previous contract with his German team FC Schalke.

The US moves on to face Jamaica in the semifinals of the Gold Cup on Wednesday. It’s unknown whether or not Berhalter changes the first team around. He could go with Jozy Altidore up front, as Gyasi Zardes was practically a ghost drifting around for 90 minutes against Curacao, with one shot that flew over the bar. Tyler Boyd could be rotated as well as he didn’t have the best of outings either. Pulisic and McKennie stepped up on the front for the US, but we will need more contributions from their front line against a strong Jamaican side.

The United States Men’s National Team beat Panama 1-0 Wednesday night to go top of their group ahead of the Gold Cup knockout stages. Head coach Gregg Berhalter rotated the American side after securing a spot in the knockout stages with a 6-0 win against Trinidad & Tobago, playing a completely different 11 than the T&T game. Jozy Altidore scored the only goal of the game, and some goal it was, a bicycle kick in the 66th minute to give the United States the win.

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“I talked to Jozy at halftime and asked how much more he had in him,” Berhalter said, according to USA Today. “He said, ‘I want to stay on the field.’ When you hear that from a player, it makes you feel great. When that player goes out and scores the winning goal, it makes you feel even better.”

With this likely being Altidore’s last Gold Cup showing before retirement, it was a big moment for the poacher. He has been placed out of the starting lineup in the last few games under Berhalter, favoring the younger, more mobile Gyasi Zardes, but Altidore proved his value and will be a massive confidence booster.

“We had a game plan going into it,” midfielder Christian Roldan said, according to USA Today. “We kept the shutout. We kept them to one shot and zero corners. We’re pretty happy with the effort defensively. In the end, you grind out these games and win the group.”

Berhalter rested Christian Pulisic, Michael Bradley, Zach Steffon and the rest of his favored 11 ahead of the Gold Cup quarterfinals against Curacao. The quarterfinal will be played on Sunday in Philadelphia and will face the winners of the Jamaica Panama game in the semifinals.

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Looking ahead in the bracket, while the US cannot overlook their opponents coming up as they did with Trinidad and Tobago in October of 2017, the biggest challenge ahead of them will be in the final against the free-flowing Mexican side. With Mexico likely to win their side of the bracket, and the United States likely to win theirs, expect a typical Gold Cup final between the two Concacaf rivals. The United States will be looking to match Mexico’s seven Gold Cup titles this summer ahead of an exciting new era under Berhalter.

October 10, 2017 remains a night to forget for the U.S. Men’s National Team as they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup with a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to Trinidad & Tobago. The USMNT has a chance for revenge on Saturday when they can face their demons and close that door. A win for the U.S. would go a long way in terms of moving in the right direction under the new head coach Gregg Berhalter. 

Its been almost two years since that loss, and while it still haunts the program as a whole, the squad and staff couldn’t be more different. Under Berhalter, the team has a new identity in itself. Only four players from that 2017 loss were played in the first group play game of this Concacaf Gold Cup, with Christian Pulisic, Michael Bradley, Tim Ream and Gyasi Zardes. Ream and Bradley are the only players in the starting squad above the age of 30, meaning Berhalter has an “out with the old, in with the new” mentality. In this Gold Cup, a whopping 13 new players are making their debuts for the national team under Berhalter, including the 24-year-old Tyler Boyd. Boyd scored a brace in the United States’ first game this group play against Guyana. Along with Boyd, Paul Arriola has been developing within the team and signifies the team’s mentality of positivity.

“One thing I’ll say about the team, on the inside, it’s been nothing like it’s been on the outside,” Arriola said, according to ESPN. “When we looked back at the games, we saw where we could improve, and we saw what worked and what didn’t work. I give a lot of credit to the coaching staff and what they do.”

Pulisic has turned into Berhalter’s impact player, a young prospect with the promise of being a superstar. Along with Pulisic, young midfielder Weston McKennie brings a new energy alongside Bradley in the middle. The U.S. has a new identity to live up to, and will bank on winning this Gold Cup as a building block for bigger and better things to come. Pulisic and McKennie may be the key to unlock a compact, well-oiled T&T defense.

The USMNT faces Trinidad and Tobago at 8:00 EST at the FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday. Per Oddschecker, the USMNT has 1-5 odds to win, while the T&T side sit at 10-1. Fans can follow the action on FOX Sports 1, or stream it live on the FOX Sports GO app.

The U.S. Men’s National Team kicked off their journey through this summer’s Concacaf regional tournament, where the men’s team will be seeking their seventh Gold Cup title. If the U.S. were to win this year’s tournament, they would tie Mexico’s seven titles and help them drastically qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Ever since the U.S. failed to qualify for 2018 World Cup after losing to Trinidad and Tobago, there have been high tensions in the locker room. This year, under new head coach Gregg Berhalter, the U.S. is looking for a fresh start, which they got.

The U.S. opened group play with a 4-0 over Guyana on the back of newcomer Tyler Boyd and his brace. There are some new faces in and around the team along with Boyd, like the exciting midfielder Weston McKennie, who got two assists Tuesday night, pairing with the old-timer Michael Bradley in the middle. Christian Pulisic made an appearance for the team after lacking serious national team minutes last year thanks to a multitude of injuries. The newest Chelsea signing looks to be the focal point in the men’s team, with Berhalter licensing him to roam free and become the impact player the men’s team has been lacking for years. Gyasi Zardes got on the score sheet, as well as Paul Arriola.

SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019- TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Development under Berhalter and his staff will be on display in this Gold Cup tournament. High-stakes matches will give fans and the board a quality outlook on what’s to come for the men’s team.

The U.S. team has Trinidad and Tobago next on June 22, and will be looking for nothing short of revenge. Fans and players alike will be seeking a must-win to prove that they are not that same team that lost to them back in October of 2017, one of the lower points of U.S. Soccer history.

Another match to look out for is Mexico vs. Canada on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. EST, broadcasted on Fox Sports 1. Mexico won their first group play game against Cuba 7-0, behind Uriel Antuna’s hat trick.

Chelsea FC will pay 64 million euros, or nearly $73 million, for German club Borussia Dortmund’s 20-year-old winger Christian Pulisic.

The deal, which pays a transfer fee to his old club, makes him the most expensive American soccer player of all time and will bring him to England’s Premier League.

Dortmund’s Pulisic, 20, Makes History

Pulisic, who’s been with Borussia Dortmund since he was 16, will play out the rest of the season before transferring over. Previously, his contract was set to expire at the end of the 2019-2020 season. Pulisic also plays for the US Men’s National Team and is a native of Hershey, Pennsylvania.

On Tuesday, Pulisic took to Twitter to thank his fans in Germany. “It feels like only yesterday that I arrived in Dortmund as a raw, excited very nervous but exceptionally proud 16-year-old,” he wrote. “I would not be where I am today without the Club and their belief in giving young players a chance.”

Pulisic was originally only able to join the team at 16 years old due to the fact that his grandfather was from Croatia. This enabled him to get a Croatian passport and play in Europe before turning 18.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Dortmund’s sporting director called Chelsea’s bid an “extremely lucrative bid.” “It was always Christian’s big dream to play in the Premier League. That certainly has to do with Christian’s American background, and as a result we were unable to extend his contract,” Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said in a statement. “Christian Pulisic is a perfect player in terms of his character.”

The move is not without criticism. Some are attacking the American soccer system, pointing to how Pulisic’s $73 million transfer far outweighs the next largest one of $22.4 million for John Brooks in 2017. Though there’s been a recent emergence of American talent, the national team failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the hiring of Gregg Berhalter has been described as “turgid, poorly organized, and only ever focused on one candidate.” Pulisic’s youth clubs will also not receive any of the transfer funds. Traditionally, European clubs who’ve developed players receive up to 5% when that player is sold overseas. However, the US does not participate in FIFA’s solidarity payment system. The transfer indicates that US talent can play at the highest levels. It does not continue to build on that success the way European countries often do.

Gregg Berhalter of the Columbus Crew SC reportedly agreed this week to become the next head coach of the United States Men’s National Team. He’ll replace interim coach Dave Sarachan, who coached the team in lieu of former head coach Bruce Arena.

Young Coach Gregg Berhalter Could Bode Well For Pulisic

The 45-year-old Berhalter will become the youngest coach of the USMNT since 1995. He has coached his Major League Soccer team, Columbus Crew SC, since 2013 and led the team to the playoffs in the 2018 season before losing to the New York Red Bulls in the conference semifinals. During his time as a coach, he has amassed a 74-69-50 recorded, with the most notable achievement of his tenure coming in the form of an MLS Cup final appearance in 2015,  where his team lost to the Portland Timbers. Although he has not won any championships as a manager, Berhalter won a championship with the LA Galaxy in 2011.

Berhalter has previously been involved with the national team before the signing. He made 44 caps on the senior national team as a player from 1994-2006 and was a part of the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup teams. The young coach is the perfect match for the young talent of the national team roster, headlined by phenom Christian Pulisic. Pulisic has been adamant about getting a coach with “a plan,” and one that has an idea of winning. Their chemistry will be tested ahead of the qualification process for the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Not everyone seemed to feel the same way about Berhalter earning the head coach gig for the USMNT:

The USMNT’s first game under Berhalter will be on Feb. 2 against Costa Rica.

Christian Pulisic assisted Clint Dempsey for the US. Men’s National Team’s lone goal in a 1-1 road tie against Panama in Tuesday night’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying game.

Clint Dempsey, US. Tie Panama 1-1 in 2018 World Cup Qualifier

Pulisic, the precocious 18-year-old Croatian-American midfielder who plays for Borussia Dortmund in Germany’s Bundesliga, took the ball on the right wing in the 39th minute and dodged one defender, Felipe Baloy. He then evaded another Panamanian, Roman Torres and after some prolific ball-handling near the right side of the goal, tapped the ball to veteran Dempsey, who slid to fire from close range directly in front of the goal and give the Americans a 1-0 lead. The Panama City crowd became silent after this strike.

Shortly afterwards, however, the hosts scored a goal of their own to equalize just before halftime. In the 43rd minute — four minutes after Dempsey’s goal — Panama defender Adolfo Machado, who plays for Houston Dynamo in MLS, delivered a long, arching throw-in from the right wing toward the penalty box. After the ball bounced off a player in the area, Gabriel Gomez fired into the back of the net to stun goalie Tim Howard. The crowd at Estadio Rommel Fernandez then became electric.

After the U.S. celebrated its own goal moments earlier, head coach Bruce Arena — who was directing in his second game in charge of the team — frantically pointed to his watch, gesturing to his players to relay the fact that halftime was near and that they should be very careful. Clearly, that message fell on deaf ears, as it was a defensive error that led to Gomez’s strike three minutes before the break.

The second half featured several close opportunities from both sides. Howard made a key save on shots from Luis Tejada and Anibal Godoy after the break. Gabriel Torres had a great chance for Panama with 12 minutes remaining, but his shot flew wide.

Pulisic was ultimately considered the man of the game for his crucial assist, despite his occasional instances of arguing with the referees and opponents. U.S. defender Omar Gonzalez, who delivered a terrible performance in Friday’s win over Honduras, improved significantly against Panama. 

With one point form the tie, and 3 points from their 6-0 rout of Honduras on Friday, the Americans now have 4 points and remain in fourth place in the six-team CONCACAF table, one point behind Panama, and now trail group leader Mexico by 6. Mexico defeated Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 earlier on Tuesday evening.

The U.S. next host Trinidad and Tobago on June 8, and then travel to face Mexico three days later. CONCACAF will send three teams to the World Cup automatically, with a fourth qualifying for a playoff against a team from the Asian confederation.

According to ESPN’s Soccer Power Index, the U.S. have an 82 percent chance of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Russia.

SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 24: Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States celebrates after scoring a goal against Honduras during their FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier at Avaya Stadium on March 24, 2017 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)