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Pulisic an 8/10, USMNT's best player in pre-World ...

ESPN · May 31, 2026, 11:12 PM · Also reported by 1 other source

Key takeaways

  • Pulisic set up Sergiño Dest's opener before scoring one himself to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead before Sadio Mané scored on both sides of halftime in a chaotic second half that was decided by Balogun's goal.
  • Of course, this was the first of two friendlies for the Americans as they'll face four-time FIFA World Cup champions, Germany, next Saturday.
  • Mauricio Pochettino, 7 -- On the whole, the majority of the decisions made by Pochettino and his staff worked.

Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.

Pulisic set up Sergiño Dest's opener before scoring one himself to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead before Sadio Mané scored on both sides of halftime in a chaotic second half that was decided by Balogun's goal.

Of course, this was the first of two friendlies for the Americans as they'll face four-time FIFA World Cup champions, Germany, next Saturday. Here's a look at how everyone involved in the U.S.'s win against one of Africa's strongest powers performed with the World Cup inching closer.

Mauricio Pochettino, 7 -- On the whole, the majority of the decisions made by Pochettino and his staff worked. Are there some questions? Yes, because that's going to happen with every match no matter the outcome, but there were also a few items that got confirmed when it came to how comfortable certain players looked in specific roles.

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