This week in US Soccer: Pulisic and Wood in form, USMNT roster announced

Christian Pulisic and Bobby Wood must be the focus now, Alex Morgan nets three in France and the latest USMNT roster is announced.

It’s time to hand the keys to the attack to Pulisic and Wood

18-year-old Christian Pulisic and 24-year-old Bobby Wood are both having fantastic seasons in the Bundesliga. Pulisic has five goals and seven assists across all competitions for Borussia Dortmund. Bobby Wood has amassed nine goals for Hamburg this season, including five in Bundesliga play and four in the DFB Pokal.

It’s time for them to become the focal points of the USMNT attack.

With the two huge March World Cup qualifiers looming, these two are in the best form of any current attacking player in the US player pool. Granted, MLS is just getting started. Jozy Altidore has continually produced for the national team, and seems to have a forward spot locked up for the Nats for the foreseeable future. But for the USMNT to right the ship with two wins against Honduras and Panama — which would get their 2018 World Cup qualification back on track — Pulisic and Wood need to have a big impact.

Since Marco Reus picked up an injury earlier this month, Pulisic has been playing more centrally for BVB, as opposed to the wide position he had been occupying up to that point. Starting with the game during which Reus was injured, the young American has scored three goals and added two assists, including his first career Champions League goal — he also had an assist — against Benfica in what was a must-win round of 16 second leg matchup.

Pulisic’s impact for Dortmund was further evidenced by the fact that in the game in which he didn’t start — a disappointing loss to Hertha Berlin on Saturday — BVB struggled to create chances. Manager Thomas Tuchel responded by returning Pulisic back to the starting lineup for the DFB Pokal match against Lotte on Tuesday. The teenager responded by scoring the opener in what would end up being a 3-0 Dortmund win.

https://twitter.com/si_soccer/status/841725656580919296

Wood has been a driving force behind Hamburg’s recent efforts to get themselves clear of the relegation zone. He has become a staple in the lone striker role for his club. Wood scored the game-winner in the 80th minute against fellow USMNT member Fabian Johnson and Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday. In addition to winning the game, the strike was notable for the calm Wood displayed in front of goal. After being knocked down, he managed to get to his feet, control the ball and fake a shot before burying it.

https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/840993326698385408

Pulisic and Wood are getting consistent playing time and producing results in one of the best leagues in the world. They’ve both received playing time with the national team in the past, and have produced in that role as well: Pulisic has three goals in 11 appearances while Wood has eight goals in 29 appearances.

These two need to not only be the future of the USMNT attack, but the now. With the likes of Altidore, Clint Dempsey and Jordan Morris trying to get into mid-season form, Wood and Pulisic must provide the necessary offensive firepower against Honduras and Panama if the U.S. are to secure six huge points.

Next: Arena names 24-man USMNT roster

Extras

The USMNT roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers was released on Wednesday. Head coach Bruce Arena called in 24 players ahead of the must-win matches against Honduras (March 24) and Panama (March 28). Clint Dempsey, who it was thought would miss the two matches, was included on the roster. Even if he can only come off the bench, having Deuce on the team is a huge boost.

Tim Howard looks set to reclaim the staring keeper spot for the USMNT after a fine start to the MLS season for the Colorado Rapids. Arena also seemed to quell questions about where Fabian Johnson would play by listing the Borussia Monchengladbach winger as a midfielder and confirming that is his best position.

The U.S. are currently dead last in the Hexagonal after losing to Mexico and Costa Rica at the end of last year. Back-to-back wins would have them right back in the mix for an automatic qualifying spot. Anything less than that and it will really be time to panic.

Alex Morgan played her first full game for Lyon on Sunday. All she did was score a hat-trick. Lyon beat Rodez 6-0 to move onto the semifinals of the Coupe de France Feminine. Not a bad start to her stint overseas. Her second strike was an absolute bomb.

Jozy Altidore and Alejandro Bedoya have beef now. Or they might. Or probably not. After their Toronto FC and the Philadelphia Union drew 2-2 on Saturday, Bedoya had the following to say about the PK awarded to Altidore:

ZING. It looks much worse in print, which is probably how Altidore saw it first. Jozy responded with a now deleted tweet that essentially said, “I bet you won’t say that to my face, punk.” Bedoya tried to defuse things with this tweet:

I’m not sure how his comment was taken out of context since it was his entire comment, but, to his credit, in the video you can see him smiling and smirking like he’s joking around and not being malicious. Maybe next time it would be easier just to not air all of this out in public, huh fellas?

Hug it out you two, we need you in the right frame of mind next week.