Christian Pulisic Eyes Return for USMNT Final Group Match Against Turkey
Christian Pulisic has expressed his desire to return to action for the United States in their final World Cup group stage match against Turkey this Thursday night. The AC Milan midfielder, who has been sidelined with a calf injury, stated that he feels "great" and is hoping to play a part in the upcoming fixture at SoFi Stadium.
Pulisic's injury began with a knock during training shortly before the tournament's opening match. While he played the first half of the historic 4-1 win over Paraguay, he was forced to leave the pitch at halftime due to stiffness. He subsequently missed the U.S. team's 2-0 victory over Australia last Friday, though he noted he was very close to being available for that match.
After a week of individual gym workouts, resistance training, and light ball work, Pulisic rejoined his teammates for full training sessions on Monday at Great Park in Irvine, California. Observers noted he participated in warmups and rondos without the leg sleeve he had previously worn on his left calf.
Despite his eagerness to return, Pulisic acknowledged that he may not play a full 90 minutes immediately upon his return. He indicated that his level of involvement will be determined through discussions with the medical staff and head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The match against Turkey is considered low-stakes, as the United States has already secured first place in Group D, while Turkey has been eliminated from the knockout rounds. This provides a potential opportunity for Pulisic to regain competitive minutes before the Round-of-32 match scheduled for July 1 in Santa Clara, California.
Pulisic expressed satisfaction with how the American attack performed in his absence, particularly during the win over Australia. He emphasized that he has remained active by touching the ball every day and believes he will be ready for the final group game.
