Updated

Updated · NBC News · Jun 19

U.S. Eyes Knockout Berth Against Australia as Pulisic's Status Remains Unclear After 4-1 Win

Updated

Updated · NBC News · Jun 19

U.S. Eyes Knockout Berth Against Australia as Pulisic's Status Remains Unclear After 4-1 Win

Q: Is winning the group's top spot worth risking Christian Pulisic’s fitness for the entire World Cup tournament?

No. The smarter play is to protect Pulisic unless U.S. medical staff are convinced he can start without meaningful re-injury risk. The upside of beating Australia is real: it would likely put the United States in control of Group D and improve its Round of 32 path, since a group winner is more likely to draw a third-place team than a stronger runner-up from another group. But that advantage is still a medium-term bracket benefit, not a must-win survival scenario. In the 48-team format, the U.S. is already in a strong position after the 4-1 win over Paraguay, and even second place can be enough to advance comfortably. The downside is much larger. Pulisic’s issue is a calf injury that was already aggravated once, and calf problems are among the injuries most likely to linger or worsen if a player returns too soon. He has trained separately, remains day-to-day, and has a history of soft-tissue injuries. That makes this less about pain tolerance and more about whether one group match could cost the U.S. its best attacker for the knockout rounds. There is also a practical football reason for caution: the U.S. has alternatives. Giovanni Reyna, Timothy Weah, Brenden Aaronson and Alejandro Zendejas give Mauricio Pochettino enough attacking depth to manage one match without forcing Pulisic back. If Pulisic is fully cleared, playing him makes sense. If there is real doubt, preserving him for the latter group stage and knockout matches is the better tournament decision.

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Jun 19

Friday's Group B match will send the winner to the knockout round after the U.S. opened with a 4-1 rout of Paraguay and Australia beat Turkey 2-0.
Christian Pulisic remains uncertain for the game after aggravating a left-leg injury in the opener; he has trained separately this week, and Mauricio Pochettino said only, "we'll see."
The U.S. is using a 2-1 win over Australia seven months ago as a warning against complacency, with players recalling Pochettino's halftime demand to match the Socceroos' physicality.
That message has carried into this tournament despite the U.S. surge — including Folarin Balogun's 2-goal opener — as players say they must stay humble against an Australia side dangerous on the counter.