Christian Pulisic did not feature for the United States against Australia, a setback that forced Mauricio Pochettino to adjust his plans in a match that mattered for Group D leadership. The decision followed a calf injury that kept one of the USMNT’s most influential players out after an early exit from the opener.
At Lumen Field, Pochettino confirmed to Fox Sports before kickoff that “Christian is not available,” while adding that the staff hopes he can return to selection soon. The cautious approach reflected the risk of turning a short-term issue into something that could threaten the rest of his World Cup.
A careful call after the Paraguay match
Pulisic had been a key part of the 4-1 win over Paraguay in Inglewood, California, before aggravating a problem that began in training a few days earlier. He left that game at halftime and then did not take part in full training during the week.
U.S. officials had been hopeful that he might recover in time for Australia, but they also knew the importance of avoiding a more serious setback. On Thursday, Pochettino said, “Christian is strong and with a great mentality, and is [making] a fantastic effort to try to be ready as soon as possible.”
What changed without him
During the early-week sessions at base camp in Irvine, California, Pulisic worked with trainers on the side and did some ball work. In the portion of Thursday’s training at the University of Washington that was open to reporters, he was not involved.
Without him, Pochettino chose Ricardo Pepi to start against Australia, a move that stood out because Folarin Balogun has often been preferred as the lone center forward. Other possibilities had included Tim Weah, Alex Zendejas, Sebastian Berhalter, and Gio Reyna.
Berhalter had replaced Pulisic in the opener, while Malik Tillman moved into a more advanced role. Pepi had already made his World Cup debut in that match, coming on for Balogun in the 72nd minute after the striker had scored twice.
