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We’re not here to make up the numbers! Christian Pulisic insists USMNT will ‘make America proud’ at the World Cup… and says team is stronger now that Russia missed 2018
Christian Pulisic has claimed the USMNT are not in Qatar ‘just to make up the numbers’ as the team prepares to start the tournament against Wales in just five days.
The United States are in a tight group with Wales, England and Iran on their return to the tournament, and expectations have been tempered somewhat for an extremely young side.
But the Chelsea winger believes the Stars and Stripes can make a dent in Qatar.
Christian Pulisic is playing in his first World Cup for the USMNT after missing out in 2018
“We know that when we look at the odds, it will be the normal names that are the favorites to win in Qatar,” Pulisic told the club. Mirror.
‘Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, England and one or two more. We know we will not be considered in that group.
“But we don’t look at the odds and we’re not at the World Cup just to make up the numbers. We go, we give it our all in every game we play, we make America proud. Wherever that takes us, we have to wait and see.’
The USMNT’s return to the tournament comes after a shock qualifying loss to Trinidad and Tobago in 2017 that ended their hopes of qualifying for Russia 2018.
Pulisic is training in Qatar with teammates ahead of the team’s game against Wales on Monday
Pulisic speaks to media at Al Gharafa SC Stadium in Qatar on Wednesday
That team included a teenage Pulisic – who cried after that result – though he is now a leader of the USMNT at age 24 with that heartbreaking experience behind him.
“It was disappointing not to qualify for Russia, but I’ve never been one to look back,” he said. “I don’t feel we have anything to make up for in Qatar – this is a whole new challenge.”
“What was important is that we learned from what happened and we are stronger – and I really feel that we have and are.”
While the current USMNT group may have a different mindset than the group that crashed during qualifying for Russia, it also has an almost entirely different composition in terms of personnel.
Only one player in this squad – DeAndre Yedlin – has played in a World Cup before, as the old squad was replaced by younger players like Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna.
Pulisic and the rest of the USMNT kick off their tournament against Wales at Al Rayyan Stadium next week.