Christian Pulisic is ready to get back on the field. The U.S. men’s national team star said Wednesday he’s feeling “great” after missing the team’s last World Cup match with a calf injury, and he’s pushing to play in Thursday’s group stage finale against Turkey.
Pulisic hurt his calf during the first half of the Americans’ 4-1 win over Paraguay nearly two weeks ago. He played through it that night but was pulled at halftime after the injury flared up. It kept him out of the U.S. 2-0 win over Australia last Friday, though he said he was close to being available for that one.
“I never feared anything worse,” Pulisic said at training Wednesday. “I was pushing, and I was really close to trying to be available for the last game, for sure. I did feel a little something (against Paraguay), but I definitely was able to push through in the first half.”
The AC Milan midfielder spent last week doing individual work before rejoining the team for practice this week in Seattle. He’s been back with the group for full training and sounds optimistic about getting minutes against Turkey, even if he’s not expecting to play the full 90.
“I’m hoping to play a part, for sure,” Pulisic said. “I’ll discuss that with my coaches and the medical staff. Obviously not a good chance I’ll probably go and play 90 (minutes) right away after you come back and miss a game, but we’ll see.”
No Stakes, But Plenty of Reasons to Get Pulisic on the Field
Thursday’s match means nothing for the tournament standings. The U.S. already locked up first place in the group, and Turkey is eliminated. So coach Mauricio Pochettino has a decision to make: rest his stars or let them stay sharp ahead of the knockout round.
Given the circumstances, it’s a good bet Pochettino will rotate his lineup. That could mean Pulisic gets some run without the pressure of needing a result, which would be ideal for knocking off any rust before the Round of 32 game on July 1 in Santa Clara.
Starting center back Chris Richards isn’t worried about the break messing with the team’s rhythm. “Our trainings are pretty intense,” he said. “I think fitness won’t be an issue. I don’t think sharpness will be, either.”
What Pulisic Saw From the Sideline
Watching from the bench in Seattle, Pulisic saw something he liked. The U.S. handled Australia comfortably, scoring twice in the first half and controlling the game without their best attacker on the field. It was the team’s first consecutive World Cup wins since 1930.
“It’s not surprising to me,” Pulisic said. “I see what this team can do. We have depth. We have really strong players in a lot of positions. I don’t need to do everything.”
That depth will be tested soon enough. The knockout stage starts next week, and the U.S. will need everyone firing. For Pulisic, that means getting back on the field Thursday and proving his calf is no longer an issue.
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