We need to talk about Christian Pulisic. USMNT 2-0 Bolivia top takeaways & reaction

[@JakeLandau]

What's your top takeaway?

[@LuisBlancoAustin]

Pulisic has become a much better player after his first season at A/C Milan.

[@samuelcutts2589]

Against a weaker opponent, we should’ve had Cardoso to start. If we could’ve gone up three goals by half we could’ve rested our starters. And let Adams be a defensive specialist replacing Johnny. Also, Ream is aging and during a summer tournament this will be hard for an aging CB. Would’ve liked to see McKenzie get 45 minutes and let Adams organise the defence. There is a concern of a repeat of Qatar and playing a player that isn’t in rhythm and expecting something unrealistic. And you mentioned depth and I don’t think GB trusts the depth in our back line. GB less likely to use Miles because of the Japan friendly and how Aaron Long had a terrible game. He never seems to trust Mark McKenzie. Going forward, I question our CB depth and really want Tanner Tessman to get a look at CB. Decent handling the ball, has the size and is one of the few players that can hit those big switch passes that changes the field or gets behind the opponents back line.

[@TylerAven10]

Biggest takeaway: overly negative confirmation bias is rampant inside of this fanbase after years of brainwashing. I watched the entire match without looking at any social media and came to the conclusion that we straight up destroyed them. Bolivia didn’t have anything resembling a chance, we won the ball back well in the midfield, created lots of chances from many different spots and got unlucky due to a great goalkeeper performance in the 2nd half as to why we didn’t add a few more. I was stunned to see the negativity in the fanbase. I seriously encourage people, turn off your phones when these USMNT matches begin, make your own conclusions, and then see what the online cohort says, see if it feels like you even watched the same match as everyone else, bc it didn’t feel like it for me.

[@JakeLandau]

@@TylerAven10 Thank you for saying this. It's exactly how I feel. I had fun watching the game and happy with the performance... then come online and see... not that.

[@rangerBlu]

@@TylerAven10 So, I've only watched the first half yet (not live - DVR) , but that performance was a mess. Pulisic was great but the team as a collective was surprising sloppy. So many turnovers and missed passes against a very poor opponent. We will not get away with that performance against better teams. We clearly lacked sharpness. So, I strongly disagree with your assessment and even the overly optimistic assessment from Jake & friend above. Are you watching the Euros? Big difference in quality.

[@e350mn]

I think I realized what we are missing. We lack that ruthlessness that better teams show when they play lesser teams. It’s a mentality.

[@christianstone7979]

I had the same thought. It didn't seem like we have any "killers" except maybe Pulisic. We have a really bad habit of playing down to our opponent, which isn't a recipe for success.

[@KenDaKingArrives]

​@@christianstone7979It's a recipe for massive ridicule, and I'm sick of the team allowing this to happen, as if they don't care (only partially on Gregg.) That is also soft.

[@Basedmursenary]

Exactly. Should have been a 6-0 blowout. We’re honestly so soft.

[@nerychristian]

@@Basedmursenary I think it's an American mentality. We tend to feel sorry for poorer countries. So we don't play as hard. Most countries will not hesitate to play dirty

[@jonnaylornc]

I am worried we will be looking back at this game and regretting we only scored 2. I could see us struggling to a draw with Panama and losing to Uruguay. I think we make it out of the group but get a tougher draw in the next round.

[@SwatBeatsOfficial]

My main takeaway: The team is trying a lot harder to set up the 9 with scoring opportunities. I could tell immediately that they were looking for Balo at every opportunity; that takes eyes off of CP and opens him up to enter dangerous areas.

[@SwatBeatsOfficial]

I'd also like to see Haji come on for CP late in games so we can start developing a backup for Christian and save his legs for the next match when we're up.

[@Basedmursenary]

I really didn’t like how much we slowed it down. The intensity in the beginning is what we needed to be all game. We are capable of blowing out the lowest ranked team in the conference, so why the hell don’t we? I’m happy with the 3 points, but we still are so toothless on so many fronts. Gio needs to be more of a play maker and Tyler needs to dial in. Although, I’m still iffy on him as he was pretty much directly responsible for the first goal against us in the WC vs the Netherlands. He left Depay wiiiiiide open in the middle on a lethal press. When you watch the replay now, it honestly makes you wonder if he knows what the heck to do. For that reason, I’ve questioned his abilities ever since. We need serious help in the back with Richards, Ream, and Turner all giving out hospital balls in the middle. Go USA! I’m excited to see us against Panama.

[@wizarddragon]

Hard to criticize Gio for wanting more from him when he is doing exactly what the manager wants. If he played his best position(10) then we would get more out of him.

[@GuloGulo420]

He's not good enough to be a 10. I just cannot understand why he has so many defenders. Every club he goes to he quickly falls out of favor, and with the drama at the World Cup we saw a little glimpse into why.

[@wizarddragon]

@@GuloGulo420Are you being an idiot on purpose? He is the most creative with skill and tactical ability 10 the USMNT has ever had. He has never fallen out of favor anywhere. he suffered injuries that landed him riding the bench at Dortmund. And he spent 2 months at Nottingham which he was never in favor for him to drop out of. You casual fans are so f*cking annoying.

[@chrishenderson1262]

I think the Balogun vs. Pepi conversation is difficult to evaluate based on this game. Balogun scored, but was less involved in top quality chances. Pepi should have finished at least one, possibly two, with the level of chances he got, but he's shown good finishing instincts in other games (international and club) so I mostly view last night's game as uncharacteristically bad luck. With respect to his higher xG, Pepi also probably benefited from playing during a portion of the game where it opened up even more, and where our depth versus Bolivia's turned the screw. In other words, I think that if you flip the players' minutes in this game (start Pepi, bring on Balogun for the last 25 min), it's entirely possible Balogun has the higher xG. If it were up to me, I'd stick with Balogun for Panama, but would be ready to shift to Pepi or Sargent if he gives a lukewarm performance in this next game. Or I'd have Balogun on a shorter leash during the Panama game, with a sub closer to the 55 min mark if he's not getting involved like he should be. In terms of general takeaways for this game, I'm not going to nitpick a 2-0 win in a game that possibly could have been 4-0, but it's worth pointing out that we won't be able to get away with missing those quality chances against better opposition. We similarly are much more likely to be punished by Uruguay/Brazil/Colombia (even Panama) for some of the defensive lapses and turnovers. So I guess my takeaway is we still need to look sharper in our execution. I'd have expected this game to be one where we could have buttoned those things up a little better, but I'll also credit their keeper for some timely saves. Overall I think if you told me before the game that we'd won 2-0 in a game where their keeper made a handful of good saves to keep it from being worse, and Turner wasn't really tested at all, I'd have taken that as a good result under the circumstances.

[@nerychristian]

If Pepi could just be more precise in his finishing, he could be an elite player. He knows how to place himself in a position to score.

[@jahirvasquez2215]

Spanish ESPN deportes saying that we need a better coach if we want to be taken more serious, sadly true

[@Jstoney127]

Yeh, but Gregg is golf buddies with the Federation Execs and strokes McKennie, Adams, and Pulisic egos every chance he gets, therefore he's going nowhere.

[@KenDaKingArrives]

​@Jstoney127 and neither are we because of that, unfortunately. The little decent talent we have will be wasted and we'll probably need to wait 20 years to get a small collection of players of a certain level all at once again.

[@playedout148]

​@@Jstoney127 we've seen the best of mckennie. I see him slipping from here on out.

[@nerychristian]

@@KenDaKingArrives That's what worries me the most. It doesn't seem like we have young and upcoming players that will match the qualities of the current team. The only player I can think of is Cavan Sullivan. But he will probably have to wait another 6 years before he can play in a world cup.

[@UnitedDemon1]

Given that Ricardo Pepi was stone cold for several chances in an extremely uncharacteristic way, the team can kind of be forgiven for not winning 5-0. My secondary takeaway is that Balogun needs to be so much more dedicated to the team press when he plays, it’s negligence right now.

[@Sikthkid]

Blinders are back on apparently. Sigh ..

[@JakeLandau]

😔

[@fisterhr]

This was a VERY WEAK performance by the USMNT against a team ranked 84th in the world. A Conmebol team that in my opinion is no better than a weak Concacrap Caribbean Island team. Guatemala and El Salvador could easily beat them yet one of the best teams in Concacaf couldn't score more than 2 goals against them when they should have scored at least 2 more, easily. After they lost 3-1 to a struggling Germany last fall and lost 5-1 to Colombia a couple of weeks ago, it tells me that this "golden generation" is officially...wasted. I seriously, seriously, SERIOUSLY doubt it will make the top 4 of this tournament and if by some sheer luck it does, it would have to at least get 3rd place to top the previous two top 4 appearances in this same tournament in its history...with less talent. btw, Berhalter isn't going anywhere. He's here throught WC 2026. Why? I don't know. He may have dirt on the organization or he's Don Garber's buddy. The only thing in my opinion that will help the USMNT go to a better level is for a good portion of America as a whole to care about soccer...which they don't. If they did, we there would be an uproar on mainstream sports media and Stephen A Smith leading the charge. However, that isn't going to happen. He rolls his eyes when someone mentions the USMNT.

[@Agtsmirnoff]

Why the F is gio playing BEHIND a double-pivot I swear Gregg purposely sets him up to sabotage him

[@Jstoney127]

it doesn't make sense...Gregg trying to turn Gio into Pirlo, a regista or deep lying playmaker, when we all know Gio is more Kevin DeBryune a #10.

[@whateverittakes1673]

To force him to help on defense and not be a luxury player USA can't afford?

[@Agtsmirnoff]

@@whateverittakes1673 So you force him to defend while you kill your creativity going forward. Makes total sense...

[@Agtsmirnoff]

Jedi was robbed of at least 2 assists, best player in the 2nd half no contest

[@ronalddelrosario7405]

It's hard for me to evaluate this performance against such a poor side. But the biggest takeaway for me is that we won comfortably. However, Flo and Pepi could've and should've done better. But my biggest disappointment for this match, and frankly for the last several matches he's played, has been Chris Richards. I'd been thinking that maybe it's just a lack of confidence playing with the national team because he'd been playing decently with Crystal. But his giveaways, and he's had at least 3 per match it seems, have been really bad and led to real chances by the other side, some of which have been costly. It's very frustrating because I can see his talent and know he can play much better. Maybe (hopefully) he can play his way to better form against Panama...

[@stewartrickert]

Our center backs and our lack of depth there scares me to death Turner can’t pass well but he’s a good shot stopper but their turnovers and lack of depth scares me to death Against better teams they will hang Turner out to dry unless they are better and our lack of depth there is scary Also I’d drop McKennie deeper and have Gio higher especially since Weston appears a tad out of shape and also Weston is a better defender like jake said

[@gabrielvelosa2597]

Very good Pulisic, The Lebron James of Soccer ⚽️🇺🇲🦅🫡

[@MikeJ4789]

Me watching the first 4' : USA clearly winning the whole tournament :D (Clearly ignores its against Bolivia)

[@GunnerstahlY]

I would not use the term Mission Accomplished with this team. The connotation is as terrible as ggg ‘dominant’ performances.

[@rfinnegan7106]

Referencing the Iraq war claim with lovely banner included...and the war would continue for 15 years.

[@GaminGilmore]

I can’t tell you how much I agree with the point that Pepi had a higher xG but couldn’t finish the chances. Because honestly, every time I watch this team play, we look so much better with Pepi in there as opposed to Balogun. Pepi’s movement is so much better, his hold up play is better, and that shows with Pepi’s xG compared to Baloguns. It’s just a shame that he scuffed some chances that I think he puts away any other day.

[@GuloGulo420]

Finally. This guy gets it

[@asnark7115]

Waste of both his and the team's potential to have him anywhere but the point. He's one of the most elite players ever from North America and Central America at the penetrating dribble and shot, but almost kids-at-the-park level useless in buildup.

[@Jstoney127]

not useless, but not as effective. our second goal came from Gio deep pass to Pulisic who dished it too Balogun for the goal.

[@ricopo3522]

For the love of everything football GGG, free Gio from this new deep-lying playmaker fetish and move our best creator forward where he belongs at the 10.

[@Stinkie_Cheese_Man]

I disagree. His defensive work is now feeling like something we actually need, imo. Look at the saves he made today and against Brazil. I really think he's becoming a great 2 way player

[@ricopo3522]

@@Stinkie_Cheese_Man well- we can agree that he's shaken the predominant viewpoint that he wouldn't/couldn't defend. That's a great thing. But permanently deploying him deep? There is a situational place for it, times in a match... vs certain opponents, but it's very misguided as his primary role. There are multiple players who can capably fill that role. There are no others on the roster that fill his shoes as a 10- bring close to what he can in an advanced, creative role breaking down a defense.

[@UnitedDemon1]

I actually think Gio is dropping deep on his own volition to find the game at times.

[@ricopo3522]

@@UnitedDemon1 Berhalter has specifically said he likes him as, has deployed him a a deep lying playmaker since the Mexico match. He isn't showing up top as the 10 he is as that is not where GB wants him.

[@wizarddragon]

@@Stinkie_Cheese_Man Gio is the central cog in our attack. He excels at that role and makes us dangerous in the final third. Having Gio play anything other than a 10 is kneecapping our own team.

[@wizarddragon]

My biggest takeaway is Gregg continues to fail to see the potential of this team with Gio at the 10.

[@GaminGilmore]

Agreed. It’s clear that gregg wants a deep lying playmaker, which is why Gio starts deeper and Johnny subs for Gio. But I think GGG is barking up the wrong tree.

[@jeevenish99]

Hi Jake For My Understanding is All The Players Are The Same Level People,Who Is Pulisic to Picked The Players A Team Manager Or A Coach,Why Gregg Berhalter Favors Pulisic Only too Much Promoting Advertisement And Pulisic Is Not A High Level Player.

[@pointhaya6338]

It's time for any F-Gods has to acknowledge that PULISTIC is ONE of top PLAYER in the world.....

[@chuch723]

I could name 20 to 30 better players

[@nerychristian]

@@chuch723 He said ONE of the top players in the world. Maybe top 100

[@chuch723]

@nerychristian not even that. Pulisic still has alot to prove.

[@ktskeleton6378]

So we gonna talk about it?

[@JakeLandau]

uploading now.

[@ktskeleton6378]

@@JakeLandau great!

[@christianstone7979]

My biggest takeaway is that we never fail to play down to our opponent. We can turn it on against better opponents, but stay sloppy against teams we should beat easily.

[@TylerAven10]

Sorry but the USA game was on last night, where the team completely dominated and created the chances necessary to win 4-0 without allowing a single shot inside the 18 yard box. Clearly you were watching Mexico reruns and didn’t notice

[@christianstone7979]

@TylerAven10 No, I watched the game. And actually we created the chances to win 5 or 6 to 0. We should have won 4-0 (we had 20 shots, 15 in the box, 8 on target). But we didn't. Maybe you didn't notice the constant giveaways and sloppy touches because you were so happy we were beating the 83rd best team in the world 2-0. It's like I said, we generally turn it up against better opponents, but sometimes we don't (see our last game against Colombia, for example). I'd love to see us actually dominate Panama and look great against Uruguay. Here's to hoping.

[@TylerAven10]

@@christianstone7979 did the sloppy touches really lead to anything other than throw ins? Maybe once or twice, but the defense shut down everything before it could even start. That’s the job of coaching staffs to deal with those things, not the job of fans to let things that “could’ve” led to problems but never even came close to becoming them weigh them down and decide to develop an overtly negative opinion of the outcome of this game.

[@chuch723]

​@@christianstone7979against thr 80th ranked team in the world

[@ChordMelodyUke]

If there was a wooden Indian standing in the opponent's goal, Pepi would hit him square in the bread basket every time.

[@GuloGulo420]

Balogun may have scored but he's lazy AF and doesn't do enough most games (this one included). Pepi at least gets in there. Finishing is not normally an issue for him

[@CryptoCryoto]

Uruguay is better

[@Daddy._Life]

We have to remember Puli was being trashed at Chelsea because of his performances, when he was being played out of position. USMNT fans remember that. Gio needs to be put a position to succeed to really get the most out of him.

[@ThreeRunHomer]

Beating any South American national team is a good accomplishment.

[@waynebender1032]

Ehhh, it depends on who it is

[@AndrewLaReal]

No, Bolivia plays at the level of the Dominican Republic

[@CryptoCryoto]

No Bolivia is awful beating Colombia Ecuador Uruguay Argentina or Brazil is an accomplishment

[@josephjoestar2963]

​@@AndrewLaReal Dont exaggerate. Bolivia is in the same tier as teams like jamaica, honduras, etc. They arent a team to be proud of to beat tho. They are the worst conmebol nation inside the tournament.

[@akabuki100]

Bolivia hasn’t won a competitive away match in 10 years

[@paullayer4152]

Pulisic needs to pass

[@delaine5432]

It was Bolivia....they should have won. So Gregg now wins the games we should have won. Very good, Give that man a salary increase.

[@Daddy._Life]

Gio needs to be at the 10.