Pulisic trains – Christian Pulisic trained separately for a fourth straight day with a left calf injury, leaving his availability uncertain for the U.S. against Australia in Seattle on Friday. Coach Mauricio Pochettino said Pulisic is “much better” than last Friday, but that h
SEATTLE — Christian Pulisic spent Thursday training away from his U.S. teammates again, marking a fourth straight day with his left calf injury, and his status for Friday’s World Cup match against Australia remains unclear.
The worry is immediate and practical. Pulisic did not join the Americans earlier in the week at their Orange County base, and he also did not work with the group Thursday morning at Husky Soccer Stadium on the University of Washington campus.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said Pulisic is in a “much better” spot than he was last Friday. That was the day Pulisic came off at halftime of the Americans’ 4-1 victory over Paraguay after feeling stiffness from a calf injury picked up during training. Pochettino explained that Pulisic’s availability will be determined after he and his assistant coaches meet with the team’s performance staff on Thursday night.
“We’ll see,” Pochettino said. “At the moment, we’ll see. If he’s not available for tomorrow, he will be available for the next game.”
Thursday’s routine showed what the injury has looked like up close. Pulisic joined the U.S. team for a pre-warmup huddle while wearing a compression sleeve on his calf. then went inside to do individual work in the gym. Midfielder Weston McKennie. who spoke at training. said he didn’t know much about how Pulisic’s recovery had progressed. even as the hope was obvious.
“I know he really wants to be in, and he’s doing everything that he can, and the staff is doing everything that they can as well,” McKennie said. “But, that’s also another question that’s better to ask him than me.”
Pulisic, 27, has been central to the U.S. in this tournament. In the opener against Paraguay, he helped create an own-goal by Paraguay in the opening minutes and also assisted on Folarin Balogun’s first of two goals.
If he can’t go against Australia, the U.S. would be trying to sustain its momentum after its highest-scoring World Cup performance. Midfielder Cristian Roldan said the Americans are fully aware of the hype around the group, and what comes with it.
“What excites me is that the entire world, the entire nation is behind us,” Roldan said. “I think that they enjoyed watching us play. and at the end of the day what we want to do is inspire and motivate the next generation. … We have to build off it, and that’s the truth. We can’t just talk about it: we have to show out against Australia.”.
Pochettino has kept his options open. He did not name a specific player Thursday, but said the staff is evaluating possibilities “just in case.”
“At the moment, we are evaluating all possibilities just in case,” Pochettino said. “And then, we will decide if we have to go in one or another direction.”
The most likely changes, based on how Pochettino discussed replacing Pulisic, point toward Brenden Aaronson, a winger who had four goals and five assists for Leeds last season, and Tim Weah, the Marseille forward who can affect a game with speed on either wing.
Other offensive options Pochettino referenced include Gio Reyna. who scored the Americans’ final goal against Paraguay and has provided dynamic playmaking from the wing. Sebastian Berhalter came on at halftime for Pulisic in the opener. while starting midfielder Malik Tillman raised his already impressive game in Pulisic’s absence.
McKennie’s message wasn’t only about tactics. It was about how a leader handles uncertainty when the body is fighting back.
“I think mentally he’s great,” McKennie said. “I think it’s really hard for someone’s mental game to be messed up in these types of conditions in U.S. soccer, and all the guys around, we’re a big family. So. we’re always there to pick someone up if they’re down. and excel them even further if they’re not. So, I think he’s doing good mentally.”.
Christian Pulisic U.S. national team World Cup Australia Seattle left calf injury Mauricio Pochettino Weston McKennie Cristian Roldan Brenden Aaronson Tim Weah Gio Reyna Malik Tillman Sebastian Berhalter
Calf injuries always sound minor until they’re not. Hope he’s good for Australia.
So he trained separate AGAIN… why does it feel like this happens every tournament? If he can’t play, just say it already.
Didn’t he already play fine last week though? Like they said he was much better than last Friday, but now it’s “unclear” again… sounds like coach just doesn’t wanna commit.
I swear the U.S. always has someone hurt right before the big game. Also the part about meeting the performance staff Thursday night—like, are they gonna magically heal him after hours? Anyways Seattle weather probably isn’t helping that calf.