Why Pulisic is ready to take USA to next level - Giroud

Published 22 minutes ago It feels a little strange to be watching this World Cup from a TV studio, and not being involved on the pitch. Until this summer, I had been at every major finals with France since 2012 - four Euro Championships and three World Cups. Now, I am enjoying this tournament in a different role, as a BBC Sport pundit. France is still my team, of course. I am the number one fan of the French national side, and I wish them all the best, but 2024 was the right time for me to retire from international football. You need to know when to stop and, for me, that was the time. I was 37, the manager did not play me so much at those Euros and, also, I could see the numbers and the quality of the strikers coming through. I would be lying if I say I don't miss playing for France, and I have felt nostalgic this week, thinking about those past tournaments, but it is not like I have any regrets not being with them this time. I went to see them play against Northern Ireland on Monday in Lille, which is my club's stadium, and I was so proud of the team - to see them, and the fans. The expectations of the supporters is something you can't really see when you are on the pitch and focused on the game, but it is different now I am one of them. I want the same thing too - I just wish for them to bring the third star, for a third World Cup win, back home. That's the dream for everyone. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Giroud helped France win the 2018 World Cup and scored a record 57 goals in 137 appearances for Les Bleus between 2011 and 2024 The USA have always expected Pulisic to deliver I have some good friends playing for different teams at this World Cup, not just France. One of the players I know best and appreciate most is Christian Pulisic of the USA, who was my team-mate at Chelsea and AC Milan. I was not surprised at how well he played against Paraguay because I think that he has got what it takes to take the US team to the next level over the next few weeks - hopefully the calf problem that meant he came off at half-time is nothing serious. He was just a young kid when he came to Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in 2019 but even then he was an important player for his national team and they put a lot of hope, and also pressure, on him. At Milan we used to call him by his nickname, 'Captain America' because even when he wasn't wearing the USA armband he was their star player, with the biggest profile. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Pulisic has scored 33 goals in 85 games for the USA. He became the youngest captain of his country's men's team when he was first handed the armband, aged 20 He had a big responsibility because he was the main face of their team and he was also successful in Europe. It is the same now, even though he has only had a so-so season for Milan. He started well, but then the team collapsed and did not qualify for the Champions League, and he went a few months without scoring. But, whatever is going on w