The U.S. men’s national team’s run at a Copa America title begins on Sunday against Bolivia and star attacker Christian Pulisic believes the group is ready to go.
Pulisic remains the most important player for the USMNT as Gregg Berhalter’s squad aims for a deep run in the tournament. After an up-and-down pair of friendly results against Colombia and Brazil earlier this month, its do-or-die time for the USMNT, beginning at AT&T Stadium on Sunday night.
“Now it’s time to prove ourselves,” Pulisic said Friday in a press conference. “I think we’ve learned a lot. We’ve put some good performances in the World Cup. We’ve shown people that, okay, this team can play.
“And now it’s about not just putting in those performances, but finding a way to get results in the biggest matches. That’s the next step for us,” he added.
Pulisic is coming into the USMNT’s opening group stage match fresh off a goalscoring performance against No.5-ranked Brazil. The AC Milan forward also delivered an impactful first season in Italy, scoring 15 goals and added 11 assists in 50 combined appearances.
After being one of two current USMNT players that featured in the 2016 Copa America Centenario, Pulisic has taken major steps forward in his career, both on and off the field. He will continue to lead by example this summer as the USMNT tries to compete with many of South America’s best.
“For me, it’s really important to lead by just the way I conduct myself every single day in training, around the hotel, around the guys,” Pulisic said. “Also what I do on the field, in the game and show them that way.
“And if you ask anyone, I’m not the most vocal person on or off the field at all,” he added. “So when I need to say something, I hope that I have a voice that people will listen to. That’s my goal. I don’t say much. I try to just put my head down and work and work, and I hope that people around see that and that can have a domino effect on everyone.”
Not many players would be able to deliver the type of season that Pulisic did in his first with a new club. After hitting the ground running in Serie A play, Pulisic continued to play a vital role under Stefano Pioli, helping the Rossoneri clinch a top-four finish and a return to the UEFA Champions League for next season.
Now the goal for Pulisic will be to carry that club form into USMNT duty, something that hasn’t always happened on a consistent basis.
“It was massive for me to experience that and know that I can do it, that I can keep myself healthy for most of the season,” Pulisic said. “I can put in consistent good performances and it helps me a ton coming into the tournament feeling like this and to say whether it’s my best season ever or whatnot.
“It’s easy to look at stats and stuff, but I enjoyed the season a lot and I feel really confident and good coming into this tournament for sure,” he added.
