Christian Pulisic off of USMNT roster for friendlies against Ireland, France
PHILADELPHIA — Christian Pulisic will not travel with the U.S. men’s national team to Europe for its final friendlies of the 2018 World Cup cycle against Ireland and France.
Pulisic returned to the USMNT fold last week for the first time since the U.S. failed to qualify for the World Cup. He had decided to stay at his club, Borussia Dortmund, for a November U.S. camp in Portugal and a March camp stateside.
Pulisic joined the U.S. squad in Philadelphia for training Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then made his first U.S. appearance since Trinidad in a 3-0 victory over Bolivia Monday night.
Pulisic was well below top gear in the friendly, though. U.S. manager Dave Sarachan said after the game that “Christian looked like he’s ready to take a break.”
Pulisic had admitted as much on Sunday. “I feel like it’s the end of my season,” he said at a news conference. “My legs are tired.”
And frankly, during his few days with the team in Pennsylvania, he looked like he wished the end of his season had arrived a weak earlier. In general, he lacked enthusiasm, both during his one brief meeting with media and on the pitch.
To be clear, though, the decision to leave Pulisic off the roster for the European friendlies was made well before Monday’s game – in which a surprisingly low percentage of the USMNT’s attacks ran through the 19-year-old.
Pulisic was one of seven players from the 22-man squad that gathered in Philadelphia who won’t be a part of the European camp. Alex Bono, Ethan Horvath, Matt Olosunde, Walker Zimmerman, Alejandro Guido and Lynden Gooch have also been dropped from the roster.
Zack Steffen, William Yarbrough, Shaq Moore, Tim Parker, DeAndre Yedlin, Tyler Adams, Luca de la Torre, Kenny Saief, Wil Trapp and Bobby Wood have been added to the roster, which now comprises 25 players, and is below.
Full USMNT roster for matches vs. Ireland and France
(Club and number of USMNT caps in parentheses)
GOALKEEPERS: Bill Hamid (Midtjylland; 5), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC; 2), William Yarbrough (Club Leon; 3)
DEFENDERS: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur; 2), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest; 15), Matt Miazga (Chelsea; 5), Shaq Moore (Levante; 0), Erik Palmer-Brown (Manchester City; 1), Tim Parker (New York Red Bulls; 0/0), Antonee Robinson (Everton; 1), Jorge Villafana (Santos Laguna; 17), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United; 50)
MIDFIELDERS: Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; 3), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana; 21), Luca de la Torre (Fulham; 0) Julian Green (Stuttgart; 9), Weston McKennie (Schalke; 2), Keaton Parks (Benfica; 1), Rubio Rubin (Club Tijuana; 6), Kenny Saief (Anderlecht; 2), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 4), Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain; 2)
FORWARDS: Andrija Novakovich (Reading; 2), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen; 1), Bobby Wood (Hamburg; 37)
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Henry Bushnell covers global soccer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Question? Comment? Email him at henrydbushnell@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @HenryBushnell, and on Facebook.
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