Christian Pulisic has been lauded for playing well beyond his years, a 17-year-old participating for the U.S. men's national soccer team in the Copa America tournament.
His teammates and coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, praise his skill, mental toughness and poise. Yet he still showed his youthful enthusiasm before Thursday's training session at the University of Pennsylvania's Rhodes Field.
The U.S. team is gearing up for Saturday's Group A game against Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field. A win would advance the U.S. team to the knockout round, and a tie would almost certainly do the same.
What made Pulisic seem more like a teenager on Thursday than the poised midfielder who has impressed his much older teammates was a return to his home state and Philadelphia.