ATLANTA — A Friendly Match with No Pressure

Looking at the bigger picture, Saturday’s World Cup friendly between the U.S. men’s national team and Belgium didn’t carry much weight.

Sure, the final score—Belgium 5, USA 2—was less than desirable, but it wasn’t particularly significant in the grand scheme of things.

Preparation for upcoming matches, particularly the first of three games in Group D against Paraguay on June 12th, carried more importance than the outcome.

Games like this one, along with Tuesday’s match against Portugal, not only test the players aiming for a spot on the final roster, but also those pushing for positions in the starting lineup.

For Christian Pulisic, the 27-year-old who represents American soccer and plays for AC Milan, the pressure is a constant presence.

Pulisic is arguably one of the most gifted players in U.S. soccer history.

His face is everywhere in U.S. soccer marketing—advertisements plastered on billboards, TV spots, and bus stops.

He even has the nickname “Captain America.”

The ideal scenario, especially with the World Cup taking place on home soil, would see Pulisic embracing that role and scoring a decisive goal.

Unfortunately, despite some promising opportunities, Saturday’s match didn’t indicate that kind of performance from the Americans.

The team had chances to score even before Pulisic entered the game as a substitute at the 72nd minute, but nothing came through.

This isn’t to blame Pulisic at all. The defense struggled significantly, particularly against Belgian striker Jeremy Doku.

Yet, the Americans are counting on Pulisic to be their main attacking threat.

In the 7th minute, his header went over the bar. Then, in the 14th, after receiving a nice ball from Weston McKennie, he shot wide of the left side of Belgian keeper Senne Ramens.

Seven minutes into the second half, he got a cross from Tim Weah and fired a left-footed shot—again, it sailed over the crossbar.

Just a minute later, Belgium scored, taking a 2-1 lead with Amadou Onana’s goal in the 53rd minute.

Pulisic had another shot close to goal in the 55th minute, but it went wide from a tough angle.

The U.S. has struggled for goals in past World Cups, and Saturday’s performance didn’t inspire confidence about future matches.

In 2022, they managed just two goals over three group games, resulting in a loss to the Netherlands in the Round of 16.

Back in 2014, they scored four goals but still lost to Belgium, again in the Round of 16.

Similarly, in 2010, it was four goals once more, leading to a loss to Ghana.

It’s tempting to see a pattern here.

The hope this time around is for players like Pulisic or McKennie to spark some offensive creativity.

Pulisic, addressing the media, acknowledged the pressure. “There is pressure; it’s the World Cup. But I’m used to it and wouldn’t want it any other way,” he said.

He added that while the pressure can feel overwhelming, he’s equipped to handle it: “I have great support from my teammates, the staff, and the fans. I’ll do my best.”

Dealing with the pressure, he shared, isn’t that daunting for him now; he’s learning to limit distractions, even going so far as to remove most social media from his phone.

“There’s always gonna be pressure. Often, you might think it’s worse than it is, but I don’t really notice it,” he reflected.

McKennie, who scored one of the U.S.’s two goals in this match, agreed with Pulisic’s insights.

He noted, “Christian carries a lot of weight, especially with the national team. We all recognize his talent and how crucial he is during tough moments.”

“He’s accepted that role and embraces it. We know he can be a game-changer,” McKennie asserted.

For Pulisic to truly embody the “Captain America” persona, the team needs to create more opportunities. This is essential for both him and the team’s success going forward.