Pulisic Suffers Ankle Injury in World Cup Knockout Match

During the World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium, Christian Pulisic had to leave the game early in the second half due to an ankle injury.

Landon Donovan, a notable figure in U.S. soccer, commented on the situation, suggesting he would have approached it differently. He expressed that Pulisic hasn’t consistently excelled in high-stakes games.

On the Unfiltered Soccer podcast, Donovan, alongside former goalkeeper Tim Howard, reflected on the USMNT’s disappointing 4-1 defeat, emphasizing that Pulisic isn’t the key player the national team needs.

Donovan acknowledged his own underwhelming performance in the 2006 World Cup and his own criticism that followed, calling Pulisic’s recent tournament effort “disappointing.” He pointed out that although Pulisic is regarded as the team’s best player, things just didn’t pan out as expected for him.

Pulisic had missed last year’s Gold Cup aiming to prepare for this World Cup, but his injuries limited his playtime, resulting in only one assist over four matches.

“He is the star player, but it just didn’t happen for him this time,” Donovan remarked to Howard. “I want to tread lightly here because I know people hold him in high regard. But it’s unfortunate. I was eagerly waiting for him to deliver, and that moment never came.”

Donovan noted a concerning trend regarding Pulisic’s performances, contrasting his success in easier matches to his struggles during critical moments.

Initially, Pulisic had suffered a calf injury in the opening match against Paraguay, sidelining him for the subsequent victory against Australia. He returned for the final group game against Turkey and played through the knockout stage. However, he was injured again in the 59th minute against Belgium, shortly before they scored their third goal.

With the game nearing its end, Pulisic was limping and ultimately had to leave the field.

“Honestly, if I had been in his position, I would have fought to stay on the field,” Donovan said, speaking to the intensity of the competition. “I mean, I would have insisted on not being pulled off, no matter what.”

Pulisic has faced significant criticism lately, even from former U.S. women’s national team stars like Carli Lloyd and Sydney Leroux.

After the loss, Pulisic shared on FOX that he would take the time needed to rest his injured ankle. “It’s really frustrating to see things end this way,” he said. “But I’m hopeful. I think I’ll be okay after some rest.”