Having missed his team’s warm-up friendly as he competed in the Champions League final with Chelsea, Pulisic was brought straight back into the starting line-up by manager Gregg Berhalter for their first competitive fixture since November 2019.

Pulisic went close to opening the scoring in the first half of an evenly matched semi-final against Honduras in Colorado. He was slid in on the left of the penalty box by his former Borussia Dortmund team-mate Giovanni Reyna and did well to open up a chance to shoot on his left foot, but his effort from a tight angle was blocked at the near post by goalkeeper Luis Lopez.

That was probably the Americans’ best chance of the game until the 89th minute, when Jordan Siebatcheu, who had come off the bench for his competitive debut, scored a dramatic late winner with a close-range diving header.

Pulisic was then replaced by fellow Chelsea man Matt Miazga, who spent the past season on loan at Anderlecht, in the last minute of added time.

The USA will now face Mexico, who beat Costa Rica on penalties in the other semi, in the first-ever CONCACAF Nations League final in Denver late on Sunday evening, UK time.

Jorginho was named in the Italy starting line-up for their friendly with the Czech Republic in Bologna as they continue preparations for Euro 2020, despite only meeting up with the squad on Wednesday.

The Azzurri cruised to a 4-0 victory over the Czechs, with Jorginho playing a key role at the base of their midfield and registering an assist for their second goal, shortly before half-time, when he exchanged passes with fellow midfielder Nicolo Barella, whose deflected shot from outside the box looped in.

Jorginho was replaced midway through the second half, at the same time as Emerson Palmieri was introduced from the bench by manager Roberto Mancini.

Cesar Azpilicueta was given a longer rest following the Champions League final by Spain manager Luis Enrique, as he remained as an unused substitute throughout his country’s 0-0 friendly draw against Portugal in Madrid.