Christian Pulisic left the field at halftime during the United States' 4-1 victory over Paraguay, but the team is projecting confidence that the midfielder will be available for Friday's World Cup showdown with Australia.
Pulisic played well in the opening 45 minutes before being substituted. After the match, he downplayed the injury concern, saying he had taken a kick but was hopeful it would not sideline him.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino offered minimal commentary on the situation Monday when Pulisic trained separately from the squad. "Good," Pochettino said simply when asked about the midfielder's status.
Teammate Tyler Adams was far more direct, essentially telling skeptics to stand down. "Christian will be ready, everyone. Let's relax," Adams said. He explained that Pulisic had picked up a knock before the Paraguay match and then took another blow to the same area during the game itself. Adams suggested that the 15-20 minute halftime break had tightened things up, but that Pulisic would recover in time.
The timing matters. Both the US and Australia opened their World Cup campaigns with victories. The Socceroos defeated Turkey 2-0, setting up what could be a group-deciding clash on Friday. With both teams undefeated, the winner likely secures a favorable path forward in the tournament.
Pulisic has been a focal point for the American attack, and losing him to injury would force a significant tactical adjustment. The fact that the coaching staff is already planning around his availability for the Australia fixture suggests they expect him to feature.
The team's messaging has been deliberate: don't worry, he'll be there. Whether that confidence proves justified will become clear when the teams take the field Friday.
Author James Rodriguez: "Adams's bluntness cutting through the typical injury fog tells you everything about how seriously the US is taking this one."
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