Pulisic's World Cup Status
US Forward Christian Pulisic Recovers From Calf Injury, Trains Individually Ahead of World Cup Match
Christian Pulisic trained alone on Monday as the U.S. men's national team prepared for its next World Cup match. The AC Milan forward did individual field work and gym sessions in Irvine, California, while his teammates practiced as a group, according to AP News. The 27-year-old is recovering from a calf injury that forced him off at halftime of the Americans' 4-1 opening win over Paraguay.
The U.S. faces Australia on Friday in Seattle, with both teams sitting on three points at the top of Group D. The stakes are high — a win would likely clinch first place and a guaranteed spot in the knockout round, Newsday reported.
How the Calf Injury Happened and What It Means
Pulisic first hurt his left calf during a closed training session on June 7, a week before the Paraguay match. The team called it a kick to the calf and described it as not serious. He still started the opener and recorded an assist in the first half. But at halftime, coach Mauricio Pochettino pulled him out. Pochettino later told reporters that Pulisic "could not walk" at the break because his muscles had seized up, according to CBS Sports.
Pulisic himself played down the concern after the game. "I'm really hoping that it's nothing... I'm staying positive," he said, per Newsday. Teammate Tyler Adams backed that up, telling the media: "Christian will be ready, everyone. Let's relax." The team has not released a formal medical update.
A Record Win, But Questions About Over-Reliance on Pulisic
The 4-1 victory over Paraguay was the highest-scoring World Cup match in USMNT history, per AP News. Folarin Balogun scored twice, and Gio Reyna added a third. The first half, with Pulisic on the field, drew praise from analysts as the most fluid U.S. attack in decades. The second half, without him, was far less sharp.
The match drew 15.99 million English-language viewers on FOX — a record for a U.S. World Cup game, according to the Los Angeles Times. Attendance at SoFi Stadium was 70,492. Those numbers reflect how much domestic interest is tied to Pulisic's health and the team's performance.
Australia Arrives Confident After Beating Turkey 2-0
Australia beat Turkey 2-0 in Vancouver on June 13, setting up a first-place clash with the U.S. on Friday. Twenty-year-old Nestory Irankunda became Australia's youngest World Cup goalscorer in the match. Connor Metcalfe also scored, and goalkeeper Patrick Beach kept a clean sheet with 8 saves, per AP News.
Australian analysts are already eyeing Pulisic's injury as a tactical opening. Without a fully fit Pulisic, the U.S. may struggle to break down Australia's defensive low block. Group D standings now show both the U.S. and Australia at 3 points, with the Americans holding a slight edge on goal differential: plus-3 to plus-2, according to AP News.
Pochettino Faces a Key Call: Start or Rest Pulisic Against Australia
Pochettino has not confirmed whether Pulisic will start Friday. FOX Sports reporter Jenny Taft noted that Pulisic appeared to be "moving well" during his individual drills on Monday. The team is framing the separate training as a precaution, not a setback, per Newsday.
Some analysts suggest Pochettino may start Pulisic on the bench against Australia to keep him fully fit for the final group match against Turkey on June 25 in Los Angeles — or for the knockout rounds beyond that. The U.S. is in a strong position regardless. But losing Pulisic for any stretch of this home World Cup would be a major blow to the team's chances, AP News reported.
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