Pulisic says questions about his commitment to national team 'way out of line'
Mar 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; United States of America forward Christian Pulisic (10) kicks th eblal past Canada midfielder Ismael Kone (8) in the first half during the Concacaf Nations League third place match at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images/File Photo REUTERS
Pulisic says questions about his commitment to national team 'way out of line'
United States winger Christian Pulisic has defended his decision to skip the CONCACAF Gold Cup and said those questioning his commitment to the national team were "way out of line".
Pulisic, who played 50 games for AC Milan in the recently-concluded season, said taking time to rest and recover was the right call for him and the team with the World Cup coming to the U.S., Mexico and Canada next year.
Yunus Musah and Antonee Robinson are also skipping the June 14 to July 6 Gold Cup despite not being injured, according to USA Today.
Former U.S. stalwarts Landon Donovan and Alexi Lalas were among those criticising players who decided to skip the tournament and their comments did not sit well with Pulisic.
"When it comes to those guys, it is tough because I looked up to those guys growing up, some of these guys were my idols, and I respect them so much as players," the 26-year-old told CBS Sports podcast on Thursday.
"It's tough especially when some of them privately, the way they talk to me and clearly want to show support and be a friend and then they say something different publicly.
"Of all things, you can talk about my performances, but to question my commitment to the national team, in my opinion that's way out of line."
The U.S. suffered a fourth straight defeat on Tuesday when they lost 4-0 at home against Switzerland in a friendly. REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
32 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Football club investor Eagle files for US IPO, Bloomberg News reports
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Botafogo v Vasco da Gama - Estadio Nilton Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - November 5, 2024 Botafogo owner John Textor before the match REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes/File Photo FILE PHOTO: The logo for the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is displayed at the NYSE in New York City, U.S., July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Football club investor Eagle files for US IPO, Bloomberg News reports Eagle Football Holdings, one of the most active investors in global football clubs, has confidentially filed for a U.S. initial public offering, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. The France-based company submitted a draft registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the report added, citing a company statement. The firm has been working with UBS Group AG on the potential IPO, the report said. Eagle Football, run by U.S. businessman John Textor, holds stakes in multiple football clubs including Olympique Lyonnais, Crystal Palace and Brazil's Botafogo. The SEC and Eagle Football did not immediately respond to request for comment outside regular business hours. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Business Times
2 hours ago
- Business Times
Sir David Beckham: Global icon achieves ultimate goal
[LONDON] David Beckham's knighthood is the culmination of years of tireless efforts to transcend football and turn himself into a global icon at the 'intersection of sport, fashion and business.' He had long dreamed of becoming a sir and King Charles III made it a reality when he announced his birthday's honours list on Friday (Jun 13), marking the end of a decades-long journey travelled with his Spice Girl wife Victoria, creator of the eponymous fashion brand. The honour, one of the highest bestowed by the UK state, 'is a powerful symbolic marker', Marie Agnes Parmentier, professor of marketing at the University of Montreal and author of several papers on 'Posh and Becks', explained to AFP. It 'reinforces his image as a respectable, committed, and, first and foremost, British man,' she added. The knighthood could present new opportunities for the 50-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid player, 'particularly in diplomatic, charitable or political spheres', said Parmentier. The former free-kick ace, from a modest East London background, diversified his career after retiring from football in 2013, but success was the result of planning long before he hung up his boots. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up 'I knew my career was going to end at some point and I wanted to have a career after football,' he said in the documentary series 'Beckham', which aired on Netflix in 2023. Pioneer At the height of his football career, Beckham was signing deals with top clothing and beauty brands, building an audience that cut across gender, age and nationality – becoming the first England player to crack the US market. The successful brand was built on his always immaculate appearance and nearly-always exemplary off-field behaviour, coupled with an unwavering drive to become a pioneer. This required a certain amount of courage, given that English football in the 1990s was generally the preserve of no-nonsense lads more interested in the pub than the catwalk. His appearance in a sarong during the 1998 World Cup, revelations that he used make-up, and his eccentric hairstyles were all feverishly gobbled up by the UK's tabloid press. Beckham is still capitalising on the fascination, almost 30 years later. He unveiled his first collection for Hugo Boss in April, is the founder of the Inter Miami football club and the 'Studio 99' production company, and has been a Unicef ambassador for 20 years. He is now best known not for football, 'but for being Beckham, the brand', said sociologist Ellis Cashmore. It is a brand worth £500 million (S$870 million), according to The Times newspaper's 2025 ranking. From outcast to hero The Netflix show exposed the couple to an emerging younger audience, cementing their fame for the foreseeable future. Beckham 'embodies a celebrity at the intersection of sport, fashion, entertainment and business,' explained Parmentier. The couple's enduring visibility 'is based on a sophisticated media strategy and an ability to embody universal values such as work, family and style,' she added. But it has been a long and bumpy road, Cashmore pointed out. In 1998, Beckham was called the most hated man in England after he petulantly kicked out at Argentina's Diego Simeone during their World Cup round of 16 game. Beckham was harshly sent off and England lost to their bitter rivals in a penalty shoot-out. Those who had bitten their tongue about his off-field flamboyance gave full vent to their feelings. National headlines the next day included '10 Heroic Lions, One Stupid Boy' (Daily Mirror) and 'You're Just A Joke Becks' (Daily Mail). Months of 'hell' followed, with death threats, spitting and boos accompanying Beckham wherever he went. 'Wherever I went I got abused, every single day,' he said. 'I find it hard to talk through what I went through because it was so extreme. The whole country hated me.' But the ordeal only sharpened Beckham's focus. A year later, he finished second in the Ballon d'Or as he helped Manchester United claim an unprecedented treble, winning the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup. It was often said that Beckham's career seemed to be scripted by a movie writer, never more so than when the fallen idol took his revenge by scoring the winning goal against perennial rivals Argentina in the 2002 World Cup, redeeming his national hero status. The royal family were quick to embrace him, inviting Beckham to the weddings of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011 and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. Previous rumours of an impending knighthood came to nothing, but his star once again rose in 2022 after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. While other celebrities came under fire for skipping the queue to view her coffin, Beckham lined up with members of the public for almost 12 hours to pay his respects. Since then, it has seemed that 'Sir David' was only a matter of time in coming. AFP
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Boca Juniors defender Costa gets special U.S. visa for Club World Cup following earlier rejection
Boca Juniors defender Costa gets special U.S. visa for Club World Cup following earlier rejection Boca Juniors defender Ayrton Costa will be able to take part in the Club World Cup in the United States following a u-turn by U.S. immigration officials who had previously rejected his visa application, the Argentine club said on Friday. "Ayrton Costa has been granted a 26-day special visa," a club spokesperson told Reuters. Costa's visa application was subject to a criminal complaint in his native Argentina, relating to an aggravated robbery in 2018, which he avoided trial for by accepting a probationary sentence in 2023. However, U.S. officials previously ruled that he could not enter the country as he was still serving his sentence. The press office at the U.S. embassy in Argentina told Reuters that they cannot discuss individual visa applications. Boca Juniors will open the tournament in Miami on Monday against Portuguese side Benfica. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
