U.S. looks to rebound in last World Cup warmup
Christian Pulisic will join the U.S. starting lineup for the Americans’ last World Cup warmup against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night after coach Gregg Berhalter admitted “we got our butts kicked” by Japan last week.
The 14th- ranked U. S. failed to get a single shot on target in Friday’s 2-0 defeat to No 24 Japan, a match Pulisic missed because of an unspecified injury.
“I think it was a poor performance from us. We got our butts kicked and we’re not proud of it,” Berhalter said Monday in Murcia, Spain, ahead of the last exhibition.
“We think we should have played much better, we could have played much better, and we didn’t. So we want to play better in this game. But I think it starts with the collective, us playing together more cohesive.”
Berhalter plans to announce his 26-man World Cup roster on Nov. 9, 12 days before the Americans open in Qatar against No. 19 Wales. The U.S. plays fifthranked England on Black Friday and closes the first round against 22nd-ranked Iran on Nov. 29.
For players, a trip to the World Cup is a highlight of their careers, leading to intense pressure to make the roster.
“I think naturally guys are going to be nervous,” said 29-year-old right back DeAndre Yedlin, who is likely to be the only holdover from the 2014 U.S. World Cup squad. “It’s just down to crunch time now.”
No. 53 Saudi Arabia played a 0-0 draw against World Cup-bound Ecuador on Friday in Murcia.
“I don’t really see them similar to the opponents in our group,” Berhalter said, “but it’s a cohesive team. Most of the players in the starting lineup will be from two clubs, so we know that that gives them cohesion.”