US soccer coach Mauricio Pochettino is suddenly facing a challenge with his starting lineup for Thursday’s Group D finale against Turkey in the ongoing World Cup.
Christian Pulisic has been nursing a calf injury ever since his exit in the Group D opener against Paraguay and was scratched from Team USA’s following win over Australia.
Now, with defensive midfielder Tyler Adams still carrying the yellow card he received in the win over Paraguay, one of his potential backups is also nursing an injury. As the USSF revealed Monday, midfielder Cristian Roldan has a muscle strain and is unlikely to train for the time being. He is being listed as day to day by the USSF.
The US is already through to the knockout stage, where the yellow-card tally will reset, so Pochettino does have the option of sitting Adams.
The good news for Team USA is that Pulisic was back at practice on Monday, but that doesn’t necessarily solve Pochettino’s dilemma in the defensive midfield.
Both Weston McKennie and former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter’s son Sebastian can step in at defensive midfielder, but Pochettino could be forced to go with a different formation against Turkey.
Christian Pulisic and Cristian Roldan were both reserves in the win over Australia
Pochettino (left) has a decision to make with Adams (right) and some other starters
And Adams isn’t the only player with a yellow card entering Thursday’s Group D finale. Star striker Folarin Balogun, left wing-back Antonee Robinson and central defender Chris Richards have all been carded.
What’s more, Fox Sports has reported that Pochettino could sit all four players against Turkey.
It is still to be determined who the United States will play on July 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Whomever it is will be one of the third-place qualifiers from another group.
Should the US win that game, they will remain on the west coast for a round-of-16 game back in Seattle on Monday, July 6.
Before they can get to the knockout stage, though, the current USMNT squad can become the country’s first to go a perfect 3-0 in group play. Thursday’s kickoff with Turkey is scheduled for 10pm at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, just outside of Los Angeles.
