Carli Lloyd tore into USA star Christian Pulisic after the American World Cup team crashed out of the tournament with a humiliating 4-1 loss to Belgium in Seattle on Monday night.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team were miles off the pace against their European opponents. It was an awful start, conceding after just nine minutes through some naive defending where three USA defenders allowed the ball to bounce in their own box before Belgium took over.
The game unraveled from there, with Belgium’s second goal coming seconds after Malik Tillman had equalized and Belgium’s third being scored after goalkeeper Matt Freese was tackled on the ball outside of his penalty area.
Nobody had a performance to be happy with on the night but in the eyes of US women’s legend Lloyd, a two-time World Cup winner, responsibility falls heavier on the shoulders of star attacker Pulisic after struggling throughout the tournament.
‘I think big time players, you wanted some of those big time players to step up in big moments,’ Lloyd said on Fox in the post-game inquest.
‘I’ve got to be honest, I was a bit disappointed in Christian Pulisic. Whether he wants to be the star of this team or not, we didn’t see enough from him in this particular game and really, the whole World Cup. Little glimpses here and there.
Carli Lloyd tore into Christian Pulisic after USA crashed out the World Cup against Belgium
Lloyd said she felt ‘disappointed’ by the USA star after he struggled for form in the World Cup
‘I felt like they lost the game before they even stepped out onto the pitch. I’m not sure why. I don’t know the reasons but just from the beginning – chasing, tentative, scared, not confident on the ball.’
Pulisic, in his defense, struggled with injuries. He missed the second half of the opening 4-1 win over Paraguay, and all of the second game against Australia, with a calf issue.
He went off hurt in the loss to Belgium, too – he said he ‘twisted my ankle and my knee in one play’, seemingly when he was about to shoot but instead kicked the leg of the Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans, who tackled him.
‘I felt really good this summer with the guys and I thought my level was high,’ Pulisic added.
‘I didn’t quite have the moments I was hoping to and to try to help us to really push and get over this next step of beating a really good team.
‘I’m disappointed with myself, of course, but I’m going to try to stay positive. I did a lot of good things and the team did as well.’
Lloyd agreed that the US team have positives to take from the tournament, even if the nation was stunned by the brutal nature of their exit.
‘No look, it’s a bit of a downer for us being out here now after this loss,’ she said.
Pulisic said after the game he had hurt his knee and his ankle ‘in one play’ vs Belgium
‘Aside from this loss, on the brighter storyline it has been a fantastic World Cup. This team has united the country.
‘They have gotten American fans to fall in love with them are there is a bright future. This is just a real disappointing loss to go out on.’
Questions remain over the future of US coach Pochettino. He has a contract offer to remain at the helm for another four years but he has interest from teams in Europe who want him to take over.
