Christian Pulisic, the star of the United States Men’s National Team, aimed to recover in time for the team’s second World Cup match. However, one week proved insufficient for his calf injury to heal.
After suffering the injury in the team’s opening match, Pulisic participated in minimal practice throughout the week. Consequently, he will not compete against Australia, as confirmed by Manager Mauricio Pochettino on FOX Sports’ pregame show.
Pulisic, who assisted in the United States’ victory over Paraguay, was unable to continue past the first half due to his injury. Pochettino frequently faced questions regarding Pulisic’s availability for the subsequent match. He stated that, despite his player’s significant progress, Pulisic would not participate against Australia but could potentially play in the final group stage game next week against Turkey.
The team and Pulisic were set to convene on Thursday night for a final decision, which did not yield a positive outcome. Pochettino acknowledged Pulisic’s substantial efforts to rejoin his teammates on the field.
During Thursday’s practice, Pulisic engaged in modified training activities instead of full team sessions. Sebastian Berhalter replaced Pulisic at halftime in their previous match, while Malik Tillman excelled in Pulisic’s absence.
The upcoming match against Australia, who defeated Türkiye in their opener, has significant stakes. The winner will secure first place in Group D. Victory for the United States would mark their first consecutive wins in a World Cup since the inaugural tournament, assuring their progression to the knockout stage.
However, without Pulisic, the challenge is intensified for the U.S. team. The match’s outcome holds critical implications for their World Cup journey.