ATLANTA (AP) — Christian Pulisic’s scoreless streak for the United States has extended to a career-high eight games as the World Cup approaches.
“It’s frustrating, but we just have to keep moving forward,” he said after Tuesday night’s game. Lost to Portugal 0-2 Friendly. “There are a lot of big things ahead, but I know we will get to the other side.”
Pulisic He has not scored an international goal since November 18, 2024 in the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final against Jamaica, and has not scored in 12 games against AC Milan since December 28.
US manager Mauricio Pochettino moved the 27-year-old from the wing to a striker for the first time since taking over in October 2024 in a bid to give him more chances to get closer to goal. Pulisic’s touches increased from 24 in the first half on Saturday to 28. Lost to Belgium 5-2.
Pulisic removed the ball with an open volley from Tim Weah’s cross in the 22nd minute and went narrowly wide outside the penalty area in the 36th minute. Pulisic received a yellow card in first-half stoppage time for dissent for kicking Sam Costa after he had been pushed off the ball.
“He was very active and I think he did a good job,” Pochettino said. “It’s unfortunate and a bit embarrassing that he didn’t score with the chances he (had). That’s normal.”
Pulisic is America’s top player, having played in 84 international games and scored 32 goals in 10 years. He scored 10 goals in his first 15 appearances for AC Milan this season.
“Yes, he seems frustrated, but that’s what we want and what we expect. He was fighting,” Pochettino said. “He will score because he has quality. I am sure he will come back to the club. … He will start scoring again.”
The United States, which will co-host the World Cup in June, has lost eight straight games, losing 22-6 to European opponents. In continental games, they have not won 10 games since 2021.
“In the first half we caused the team a lot of problems. We put a lot of pressure on them. We did a lot of great things,” Pulisic said. “It’s kind of the same story, some little moments, some a little more clinical stuff, but I feel like I’m getting really close and I feel like I’m in a good place.”
Coach Pochettino will announce his World Cup squad on May 26th, and the U.S. national team will play Senegal five days later and Germany in a final warm-up match on June 6th. The World Cup opens against Australia on June 12th, followed by a match against Paraguay a week later and Turkey in the first match on June 25th.
Pulisic reflected on the last two games before the 2022 World Cup, a 2-0 loss to Japan and a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia. The United States drew Wales and England and advanced to the tournament by defeating Iran 1-0 with a goal from Pulisic, but lost to the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
“I remember people doubting us after that camp,” he said of the September 2022 friendly. “Maybe we didn’t have a great camp. And at the end of the day, we come in and we have a great World Cup. Everything is behind us. So like I said, it’s better now and we’re going to figure it out. We’re going to figure it out when it really matters.”
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