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USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to rotate his squad against Turkey after they sealed their Round of 32 berth in this year’s World Cup, following back-to-back wins against Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0).
Pochettino noted that Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Antonee Robinson, and Chris Richards have all picked up one yellow card during the Stars and Stripes’ opening two matches, so he won’t play them against the Crescent Stars in a dead rubber match to avoid a second yellow card.
“It’s unnecessary to take a risk and then take another yellow card and be not available for the next stage. I think that is a normal and easy answer,” Pochettino said via The Times’ Peter Rutzler. “I need to be sure that the team tomorrow wants to eat the grass at the SoFi, and play like it’s the final of the World Cup.”
Here in the World Cup, getting two yellow cards in the group stage would result in a suspension, and Pochettino cannot afford Adams, Balogun, Robinson, and Richards to be unavailable in the Round of 32, where they’ll likely face Bosnia and Herzegovina. The yellow cards are wiped after the group stage, however.
MORE:USA’s Chris Richards hits impressive feat in World Cup win against Australia
June 12, 2026; Inglewood, California, U.S.; U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino reacts. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Christian Pulisic hasn’t played since being substituted at halftime in the USA’s blowout victory against Paraguay, as the AC Milan forward felt discomfort in his left calf. After sitting out their win against Australia, Pulisic said that he is ready to play against Turkey if Mauricio Pochettino brings him back into the mix.
“I’m feeling good. I joined with the team in the last few days, so I’m feeling good, feeling positive, and hopefully I’ll be able to play a part tomorrow,” Pulisic told reporters during practice on Wednesday.
“Honestly, it was tough after the first game, just knowing that I felt a little something. I never really feared the worst, but I obviously didn’t want it to keep me out any longer than I had to,” he added. “When you win your last game, you go into the next one with that little bit of extra good feeling. My teammates have made it so much easier on me because they got another incredible win.”
Despite hearing this from Pulisic, Pochettino will have the final say on his status versus Turkey. Overall, the prudent decision for Pochettino is not to play Pulisic tomorrow to make sure he’s at 100% in the knockout phase.
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Pochettino noted that Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Antonee Robinson, and Chris Richards have all picked up one yellow card during the Stars and Stripes’ opening two matches, so he won’t play them against the Crescent Stars in a dead rubber match to avoid a second yellow card.
“It’s unnecessary to take a risk and then take another yellow card and be not available for the next stage. I think that is a normal and easy answer,” Pochettino said via The Times’ Peter Rutzler. “I need to be sure that the team tomorrow wants to eat the grass at the SoFi, and play like it’s the final of the World Cup.”
Here in the World Cup, getting two yellow cards in the group stage would result in a suspension, and Pochettino cannot afford Adams, Balogun, Robinson, and Richards to be unavailable in the Round of 32, where they’ll likely face Bosnia and Herzegovina. The yellow cards are wiped after the group stage, however.
MORE:USA’s Chris Richards hits impressive feat in World Cup win against Australia
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June 12, 2026; Inglewood, California, U.S.; U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino reacts. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Christian Pulisic offers encouraging injury update before USA’s World Cup match against Turkey
Christian Pulisic hasn’t played since being substituted at halftime in the USA’s blowout victory against Paraguay, as the AC Milan forward felt discomfort in his left calf. After sitting out their win against Australia, Pulisic said that he is ready to play against Turkey if Mauricio Pochettino brings him back into the mix.
“I’m feeling good. I joined with the team in the last few days, so I’m feeling good, feeling positive, and hopefully I’ll be able to play a part tomorrow,” Pulisic told reporters during practice on Wednesday.
“Honestly, it was tough after the first game, just knowing that I felt a little something. I never really feared the worst, but I obviously didn’t want it to keep me out any longer than I had to,” he added. “When you win your last game, you go into the next one with that little bit of extra good feeling. My teammates have made it so much easier on me because they got another incredible win.”
Despite hearing this from Pulisic, Pochettino will have the final say on his status versus Turkey. Overall, the prudent decision for Pochettino is not to play Pulisic tomorrow to make sure he’s at 100% in the knockout phase.
Continue reading...
