Chris Richards felt the worst in those first moments after the ankle injury. The Crystal Palace fixture, the swelling that followed, the transatlantic flight home, the memories of missing the 2022 World Cup entirely. For a defender who has fought to reach this moment, the prospect of sitting out the opener felt like a cruel repeat.
By Monday, less than a week before the United States opens Group D against Paraguay, Richards was back on the pitch at full practice. Whether he starts Friday remains uncertain, but the center-back has made his preference clear.
"Once I got the diagnosis, I was like, all right, cool. Whatever it takes, I have to make it for this first game," Richards said Wednesday. "I think the first time I really realized that I could be 100% for Friday was probably last week. It was a lot of massages, a lot of ice, a lot of compression, things like that. Once I was finally on the pitch, it felt good, and I think that was the main thing. I can play with pain as long as functionally, I'm good."
Richards occupies a singular role in Mauricio Pochettino's defensive architecture. Among 10 center-backs on the roster, he projects as the leader of the backline, his physical dominance and organizational clarity unmatched in the pool. He can muscle opponents off the ball while orchestrating the defense around him, a responsibility that shapes how everyone else moves.
Missing the 2022 tournament with a hamstring injury left deep scars. When the ankle flared up, Richards admitted the initial reaction bordered on devastation. "I was honestly fearing the worst, but I kind of forced myself back on the pitch to prove to myself that it was doable," he said.
Fellow center-back Mark McKenzie spoke to the strength of the group Richards helps anchor. "We have a really good group of center-backs. We've got a good range of experience, both at the international level and the club level," McKenzie said. "I think all that time together has built a really strong group. We have a lot of chemistry, and then on the field, it just helps with understanding each other's tendencies, habits, routines."
The United States beat Paraguay 2-1 in a friendly just weeks before the draw placed them in the same group. Neither Richards nor McKenzie appeared in that November match. Both teams have studied the footage extensively since December and monitored each other's performances across the intervening months.
Paraguay arrives without Julio Enciso, the midfielder creator who would have been among their most dangerous players. His absence may force the South American side into a more compact, defensive posture, seeking a crucial away result against a host nation facing immense pressure to win immediately.
Richards sees the stakes clearly. "If you can start off the World Cup with three points, not just for our confidence, but also to show the group that we want to be the top dogs in this group and we'll be the top dogs in this World Cup," he said. "I think with a statement hopefully on Friday and three points, I think that'll definitely set the tone for the World Cup."
The injury scare crystallized what this tournament means to him. After years of development and a previous World Cup lost to injury, Richards is determined to be on the field when it matters most.
"I'm experiencing these things for the first time, and it's very exciting," Richards said. "I think the last few weeks were very intense, and now it's time to just hone in on what we do best, and hopefully get some good results."
Author James Rodriguez: "A center-back fighting back from injury days before the biggest match of his career is classic World Cup drama, and if Richards plays Friday, Paraguay should worry."
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