There are increasing fears over the fitness of Christian Pulisic after the USA superstar trained alone for the second straight day ahead of Friday’s clash with Australia.
The winger was instrumental as the USMNT kicked off this home World Cup with a dominant 4-1 win over Paraguay in Los Angeles.
But Pulisic was taken off at halftime after receiving 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.
Pulisic said after the game that he hopes the injury is ‘nothing’ and his teammates are confident he will be ready for Friday’s huge Group D clash with Australia in Seattle.
‘Christian will be ready,’ midfielder Tyler Adams said before Monday’s session. ‘Everyone, let’s relax.’
But on Tuesday, Pulisic was put on a ‘modified’, individual training program for the second consecutive day. He is said to be ‘day to day’ ahead of the game.
USMNT superstar Christian Pulisic trained alone for the second straight day on Tuesday
There are increasing fears over the winger’s fitness ahead of Friday’s clash with Australia
That meant Pulisic did not train alongside his teammates at the USMNT’s base in Irvine, which sits about 50 miles south of Los Angeles.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team will fly to Seattle on Wednesday afternoon, with their game against Australia kicking off at 12pm local time Friday.
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.
