Donovan and Howard slam USMNT star Pulisic after World Cup disappointment
USA Today • • sports
Key Points:
- Landon Donovan and Tim Howard criticized U.S. men's national team star Christian Pulisic for leaving the World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium due to injury, questioning his toughness and big-game credentials.
- Pulisic struggled throughout the tournament with injuries and failed to score, including a calf injury that sidelined him during the group stage and an ankle and knee injury sustained in the Belgium match.
- Donovan expressed disbelief that Pulisic left the game, suggesting he should have pushed through the injury, while Howard recalled past instances where teammates pressured injured players to stay on the field.
- Both analysts highlighted Pulisic's lack of impact in crucial moments, noting that despite being the team's star, he has not delivered consistently in high-stakes matches since scoring against Iran in the 2022 World Cup.
- Howard also hinted at personal reservations about Pulisic beyond his football abilities, describing him as a "nice footballer" but implying there are other factors to consider.
