"The European club season has been in full swing for over a month now, giving those U.S. men's national team players plying their trade overseas the chance to establish themselves. Some have gotten off to uneven starts, with the opening round of UEFA Champions League fixtures proving to be especially difficult. Others have hit the ground running. Those in MLS have been in rhythm for a while now."
"Then there's Christian Pulisic, who has been leading the U.S. charge in Europe for nine years now and already has five goals in all competitions this season. Fortunately for the USMNT, Pulisic is one of several players who have been hitting their stride in recent weeks. Throughout the season, ESPN will be monitoring the progress of the U.S. player pool, delivering insights into those whose form or fitness has made them particularly intriguing. We call it the USMNT's countdown to the World Cup."
"Tessmann had already enjoyed a solid start to the season, but last weekend he kicked his campaign into overdrive, scoring the lone goal in Lyon's 1-0 victory over Angers, a result that put the club in a tie atop the Ligue 1 table, behind AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain on goal differential. Not bad for a team that was threatened with relegation due to financial irregularities before the start of the season."
The European club season has provided U.S. men's national team players abroad opportunities to establish themselves, with varied early results as some struggled while others excelled. Early UEFA Champions League fixtures proved especially difficult for some players, while MLS-based players have maintained match rhythm. Christian Pulisic has led the U.S. presence in Europe for nine years and has five goals in all competitions this season. Tessmann surged by scoring the lone goal in Lyon's 1-0 win over Angers, lifting the club into a tie near the top of Ligue 1 despite recent financial threats. A weekly countdown through June 11 will track the player pool to inform the final 26-man World Cup roster; 260 days remain.
Read at ESPN.com
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