Christian Pulisic was not in the starting lineup for the United States' friendly against Ecuador, sparking questions about his fitness.
The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, was a test of tactical maturity and squad depth under new coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Mauricio Pochettino drops concise seven-word explanation
Pochettino's decision to bench Pulisic was a bold tactical call that left fans and pundits buzzing.
Author's summary: Pulisic benched in USMNT friendly match.