An Ode To Christian Pulisic - Called His Shot In November 2017 And Then Lived Up To The Hype Of Helping Save American Soccer

Christian Pulisic is the face of American soccer. I'm not here to argue if he's our best player, if he's the most talented player or any of that. He's the face of American soccer. Which brings me back to his Player's Tribune article in November 2017. After we lost to Trinidad and Tobago. After we didn't qualify for the World Cup. After we were the laughingstock of the soccer world. He wrote these simple words: 

So let’s plan on it, then — 2022.

Get your basements ready, and mark it down.

We’ll be there.

I don't know whether to hypothetically run through a wall or do an up tuck here. Perfect saying. An 5 years later, he delivered. What's crazy is US needed every point to qualify and got the results we needed. Sure the tie against Canada at home wasn't ideal or at Jamaica. But we took care of business and Pulisic was a large part of that. Whether it was the goal at Cincinnati in Dos A Cero: 

Whether it was trolling those idiots after who decided to talk shit: 

John Dorton/ISI Photos. Getty Images.

Then there was the hat trick against Panama. That was important! Helped set up the fact we had 6 goals to spare against Costa Rica. 

He also developed part asshole, which was needed. The US always needs a guy that's not afraid to mix it up and talk some shit. Pulisic does that and it just warms my heart seeing him take the lead. Tyler Adams might end up with the captain's band and that's fine. Pulisic is the face of this program right now. 

It doesn't matter where we finished in the top-3 of qualifying. It's qualifying. That's what we did. We did what we had to and that's all that mattered. We achieved step 1. Next step is getting out of the group again. We'll see the draw tomorrow at noon. 

Just hope for Group A since that's where Qatar is. Obviously we'll draw Ghana too because we always draw Ghana. The US is in a great spot though. This World Cup is about winning and growing so come 2026 on our home soil we're on the shortlist of favorites. That's gotta be the goal and it's mostly thanks to Pulisic and this generation. Also keep an eye out because we'll be dropping some new soccer coverage and stuff. Nothing beats the US in the World Cup.