World Cup stories: US sensation picks out the ones to watch for the national team this summer

The USA will head into the World Cup in 82 days, with the added pressure of having an expected home crowd watching on. 

As joint-hosts of the tournament alongside Mexico and Canada, the US will be determined to make their mark on the competition, much like the national team did the last time the country hosted the finals in 1994. 

With Mauricio Pochettino in charge, the American side have one of their strongest ever squads competing at the tournament, with many of them playing in Europe's elite leagues. 

• Read next I 83 days - What can Thomas Tuchel learn from a 35-man squad as he looks to the World Cup?

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However, speaking exclusively to DAZN News thanks to Nettotobak, former teenage superstar Freddie Adu championed three of the current crop of US stars who will make the most difference this summer. 

"I've talked a lot about Gio. Gio Reyna," Adu said. 

"Simply because he has a skillset that no one else has been able to, I guess, bring to the national team, or to this national team at least. 

"But, I mean, obviously, the most important players are going to be Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, obviously.

"But I also actually think a guy like [Falorin] Balogun is going to be important. He's playing for Monaco right now and we need a clinical finisher, and I think right now he's in great form.

"He's scored a lot of goals in the league, got a lot of goals in this year's Champions League, and he's in good form for Monaco.

"So, I think he'll be a very important player as well. I feel like those three guys plus Tyler Adams."

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Adu was thrust into the spotlight as a 14-year-old and hailed as the future of football in the States when he made his debut in the MLS. He'd go on to win 17 caps for his country in a career that took him all over the world. 

Looking ahead to how the current side could fare at this summer's festivities, Adu has high hopes for the US and believes that they could have a memorable campaign. 

Adding, "I think we're actually going to do pretty well, having our home fans behind us. I think, not our ceiling, but I think we can go as far as making it, hopefully, to the semi-finals.

"But getting to the second round and maybe quarter-finals, I think, is very, very doable with the team we have right now." 

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