Christian Pulisic Out for USA vs Australia with Injury

Christian Pulisic will not be on the field for the U.S. men’s national team in their upcoming game against Australia at the World Cup, following a calf injury that has sidelined him. Pulisic had been removed as a precaution during halftime of the team’s first match against Paraguay, which they won 4-1.

Since that game, Pulisic’s condition remained uncertain as he has engaged in modified training sessions separate from the rest of the team. His coach, Mauricio Pochettino, spoke on Thursday, indicating that while Pulisic had shown improvement, his availability was in doubt for the clash on Friday in Seattle.

“Christian is not available. The evolution is really well,” Pochettino stated during a pre-match interview with Fox. “Today, he was training in the morning in the camp, and I’ve seen the feelings are good. I hope as soon as possible he can be ready to be selected again and to be part of the team.” His absence is lamented since the player was eager to contribute in such a crucial match.

In Pulisic’s place, Ricardo Pepi will step into the lineup, prompting a shift in formation for the U.S. as Pepi, who is with PSV, will likely partner with Folarin Balogun in the forward positions. This substitution marks the only change for the squad that triumphed over Paraguay last week.

The stakes for the upcoming game are high, as the winner is set to emerge as the favorite to top Group D, securing a more advantageous path in the knockout stages of the tournament.