Former USMNT captain Alexi Lalas spoke passionately about Christian Pulisic's 'relentless grind' after Copa America win over Bolivia.

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• Lalas summarises Pulisic's growth
• Scored USMNT's Copa America opener
• Previously a target for critics

• Table of Contents

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  In response to a fan on X praising Pulisic for 'living up to the hype' that has surrounded him for years, Lalas suggested the player's mental maturity has helped him to do that.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Even at the age of 25, Pulisic has arguably been the biggest name in U.S. Soccer for the past eight years. He was on course to become a global superstar after impressing at Borussia Dortmund, only for his club career to stall at Chelsea. However, Pulisic has managed to turn things around since joining AC Milan. For the USMNT, he is captain, as well as top scorer and most capped among the current squad, so to score the team's opening goal at the Copa America on home soil after just three minutes, en-route to an important win, earned him plenty of praise.

• WHAT LALAS SAID

  Lalas said: "Pulisic seems to have developed a relentless grind to his game. It's raw, but valuable. Enables him to plow on through resistance. In past he may have pulled back or checked out. Now he forces the issue, in a good way, and it's on his terms. Whatever it is, I wish more had it."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Pulisic scored his first international goal against Bolivia back in 2016, the fourth United States goal in a 4-0 friendly win in Kansas City. It was his third appearance for the senior team and he was just 17 years of age at the time.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News