USA Set to Face Australia at FIFA World Cup Amid Pulisic Injury Concerns

Sports analyst Dan Dakich has shared insights about the upcoming FIFA World Cup match between the USA and Australia, particularly focusing on the injury concerns surrounding key player Christian Pulisic. Dakich pointed out that Australia has a solid squad, which has shown marked improvement since a coaching change, making them a formidable adversary. He stressed that proper preparation will be crucial for the U.S. team as they head into this knockout stage clash, also mentioning the U.S. Open golf tournament briefly.

The USA has already secured their position at the top of Group D following victories against Paraguay and Australia. So, while their final group stage game against Turkiye won’t affect their standing, Pulisic’s health continues to be a focal point for the team. He missed the latter half of the Paraguay match due to a calf injury and sat out the game against Australia.

Pulisic recently shared his thoughts with FOX Sports’ Jenny Taft about training for the upcoming match. “Yes, I’m feeling really good. I think the team is doing well as well. I’ve been able to join up with the team over the past few days, and I’m feeling healthy and ready for this game,” he said. This is promising for the U.S. squad, especially when he was asked if he felt 100%. He replied, “Yes, I think so. I definitely felt very close yesterday and I would say 100%.”

However, there’s a dilemma for head coach Mauricio Pochettino: is it worth risking Pulisic’s health in a match that carries no weight for advancing? On one hand, the USA has performed admirably in the tournament so far, yet the real challenge lies ahead in the knockout stage, where having a fully fit Pulisic could make all the difference.

There’s a bit of a catch here—Pulisic has only played a limited role so far in the tournament, and getting game time against an actual opponent could benefit him more than practicing with teammates. After all, momentum is crucial, especially going into potentially high-stakes matches.

Additionally, Taft noted that the players haven’t formally been informed about their participation yet. Pochettino must also keep an eye on the yellow card situations for several other players, as any further bookings could lead to suspensions at a critical juncture.

Prior to this World Cup, Pulisic faced his own hurdles with injuries, which limited his playing time since early May. He had only been on the pitch a few times for his club, AC Milan, and didn’t feature in the full complement of U.S. friendlies leading up to the tournament.

Still, Pulisic remains confident that time away from the field hasn’t impacted his sharpness, and the decision awaits whether Pochettino will put him in the lineup during Thursday’s match in Los Angeles. Following their recent 3-1 victory, the USA is set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.