IRVINE, Calif. – While the United States men’s national team executed a spirited round of rondos–essentially keep-away passing drills–to open Monday’s training session in the foreground at Great Park in Irvine, Christian Pulisic took to the pitch in the background.
At least, it looked like Pulisic. He was quite far away on the next field over. (Reporter’s Note: This is just for storytelling flair. It was definitely Pulisic stretching, lunging and hopping about, as seen and confirmed by U.S. Soccer.)
Pulisic was on a modified training plan for the day consisting of individual work. This coming three days after he subbed off due to calf tightness at halftime of the United States’ 4-1 World Cup-opening win over Paraguay.
Is the USMNT star in doubt for Friday’s battle for group supremacy in Seattle against the suprising Socceroos of Australia? Is there a wet blanket to throw on the excitement of the best American men’s World Cup single-game performance of all time?! Is disaster afoot for the States in this home-soil tournament?!?!
“C’mon, Christian will be ready, everyone,” U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams said before training on Monday. “Let’s relax.”
Pulisic spoke to the media postmatch on Friday, and both he and coach Mauricio Pochettino said the halftime sub was a precautionary move. Pochettino followed up informally with reporters on Monday and said “He’s good” before going into the gym to speak with Pulisic.
Adams reiterated Monday how Pulisic had described the injury last Friday.
"I think that he picked up a knock a few days before the game, and I think he got kicked in the same spot again during the game," Adams said. "When you go in at halftime, things obviously get tight within the 15-20-minute break, but he'll be fine."
It’s certainly something the entire soccer nation will be watching ahead of the clash with Australia this Friday.
Chris Richards Hits Historic Passing Mark in Return
Pulisic’s calf concern makes it two consecutive weeks of World Cup training that have opened with eyes on the injury list for the United States.
Last week, it was defender Chris Richards’ presence on the training ground that was most notable, as the Crystal Palace backliner made his return from an ankle injury.
After Richards made his first full return to USMNT training last Monday, the 26-year-old Birmingham, Alabama native was fit and available for selection in Friday’s World Cup opener, and he made his World Cup debut in the Starting XI.
It was a huge moment for Richards, who missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a hamstring injury. When he tore two ankle ligaments on May 17 with Palace, Richards did everything possible to get himself into playing form for this World Cup, even with his Premier League team’s European run to the UEFA Conference League title.
“I’m ready. I mean, it’s World Cup, so, I’ll make myself ready regardless,” Richards said in the lead-up to the opener. “I’m feeling good. Nothing tape can’t help… If there’s any time to sacrifice yourself, it’s now.”
Against Paraguay, Richards played centrally in the four-man backline with Tim Ream, and not only was he fit enough to play, he was everything the USMNT needs from Richards.
While not tested a ton defensively, Richards controlled play out of the back completing all 83 of 83 passes – the most passes with a 100% accuracy rate in a World Cup since 1966.
“It’s a nice stat. Playing it safe a lot of the time,” Richards said with a laugh on Friday. “Have to get in the statbook somehow.”
Matt Freese Wins Goalkeeping Battle
Aside from Richards, the other main roster question for the USMNT entering Friday against Paraguay was who would be manning the net–World Cup veteran Matt Turner or young up-and-comer Matt Freese?
Both Turner, 31, and Freese, 27, ply their trade in MLS with the New England Revolution and New York City FC, respectively, and both had posted similar club stats.
In addition to the World Cup experience, Turner has had stints in Europe with Arsenal, Nottigham Forest and Crystal Palace in the Premier League and is currently on loan to the Revolution from French side Lyon.
Freese has spent his pro career in MLS with Philadelphia Union and now NYCFC, but over the past year, Freese had been getting more and more run from Pochettino and the national team.
The reason why may come down to a slight difference of styles working better for Pochettino’s aggressive attacking system–and yes, that even matters for the last line of defense in the goalkeeper.
Freese is adept at playing the ball and distributing plays out of the back. He can be a pressure-release valve for defenders under fire and is comfortable in that role. Turner is less skilled in that area and has more value as a pure shot stopper.
Ultimately, Pochettino seemingly put more value in Freese’s skills, as he has most of the run up to the World Cup, and it was the Harvard grad in net for the USMNT against Paraguay.
Freese wasn’t tested all too much with nine total shot attempts with just one on target. However, that one found the back of the net, but the blame shouldn’t lie with Freese there, as the U.S. defense fell a bit asleep and lost a battle in the box on the 73rd-minute strike.
Tyler Adams Unbothered by Yellow Card
Only one American entered the referee’s book on Friday, and it was a likely culprit, as midfielder Tyler Adams earned a yellow card against Paraguay.
In the World Cup, yellow cards are not just carried within the game but across several games, and if two are accumulated, the booked player will be suspended for a match.
In this expanded World Cup, card counts are reset after the three-game group stage and again after the quarterfinals three games later.
All of that means, if the ever-aggressive and physical Adams receives a yellow card in either of the of the USMNT’s group stage games against Australia or Turkey, he would be suspended for the next game.
However, as a midfielder always playing on the edge, that doesn’t bring too much concern for Adams.
“I live with yellow cards,” Adams said with a smile on Monday. “I think that for me its something you have to manage of course, but especially in the second game, you can’t take your foot off the gas. I think you have to be really aggressive. I think in the third game, obviously, it weighs a little bit heavier, because if you get another one, you’re out for the knockout.”
So, look out, Socceroos. Adams is still set to go full bore against Australia on Friday in Seattle.