When U.S. men’s national team roster was announced for crucial World Cup qualifiers this month, there was a notable lack of veteran No. 10 players. There was no Sacha Kljestan, Benny Feilhaber or Lee Nguyen — the players often discussed as No. 10 playmakers the USMNT could rely on.
There was just one player who seemed likely to take up a central playmaker role: Christian Pulisic.
He has often played on the right wing, both for Borussia Dortmund and for the USMNT. But coach Bruce Arena opened his first World Cup qualifying matches of the cycle in March with Pulisic being given a central, free role — and he did the same thing against Venezuela in a tune-up match on Saturday.