Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that the USMNT will make a last-minute call on whether Christian Pulisic is ready to face Australia on Friday.
The winger, who is the face of Pochettino’s team, was taken off at halftime of the USA’s World Cup opener against Paraguay. He received a kick to the back of his left leg that left him struggling to walk. He had taken a knock to a similar area in training a couple of days earlier.
Since then, Pulisic has been on a ‘modified,’ individual training schedule, with fears increasing over the course of this week that he will miss the game in Seattle.
Pochettino addressed the winger’s fitness in his pre-game press conference, revealing that he will have a meeting with medical staff hours before the game.
‘He was training in an individual way all week but like always, tonight, the day before the game, we have a meeting with the medical team,’ Pochettino said.
‘We will assess the whole group, the players, and tomorrow we will communicate what we agree.’
The USMNT will make a last-minute call on whether Christian Pulisic is ready to face Australia
‘If he is not available for tomorrow he’ll be available for the next game,’ Pochettino said
The USA coach insisted Pulisic – who was seen wearing a compression sleeve earlier this week – is in a ‘much better’ condition than when he came off against Paraguay.
‘He’s evolving… we will see. If he is not available for tomorrow he’ll be available for the next game [against Turkey on June 25]. He’s doing a massive effort to be available,’ Pochettino said.
‘For a player that loves their country it’s a massive opportunity to play and win games. So when this happens it’s painful but Christian is strong with a great mentality.. he’s doing his best to be ready as soon as possible.’
The USA took a huge step towards the knockout stages with victory over Paraguay. Pochettino’s team is level with Australia on three points after the Socceroos upset Turkey in their own World Cup opener.
That means Friday’s game at Lumen Field could have a huge say over which team tops Group D and opens up a more favorable path in the knockout rounds.
Pulisic had a hand in two of the USA’s three first-half goals before coming off against Paraguay.
The 27-year-old, who is the face of this team, combined with Weston McKennie for the own goal that set the USMNT on its way. He then crossed for the first of Folarin Balogun’s two goals.
