Christian Pulisic is Training Alone and The USMNT Has No Answer For Australia

Alright, Seattle, listen up! We just got hit with some nerve-wracking news from the World Cup. Our main man, Christian Pulisic, the USMNT star we all count on to light up the pitch, is a massive doubt for Friday's crucial Group D showdown against Australia. USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino confirmed he’s meeting with the medical staff tonight, Thursday, to figure out if Pulisic can even lace up. Talk about a gut punch before a must-win game!

The Calf Issue That's Got Us All On Edge

So, what's the deal? Pulisic was out there shining in the USMNT's 4-1 victory over Paraguay last week, putting in a strong performance, but he got pulled at halftime with a calf issue. Turns out, he took a knock to his left calf and then, get this, got kicked in the *exact same spot* during the game. Pochettino made the call to pull him as a precautionary measure, which, honestly, we all appreciate, but it has left us holding our breath all week. Since then, Pulisic hasn't trained with his teammates. He's been grinding in the gym and doing some ball work, but only with members of the team's technical staff, not the full squad. If you've been watching, you've seen him sporting a sleeve over that left calf on both Wednesday and Thursday. It's a tough look when you know how much he wants to be out there.

Pochettino's Tough Call and the Looming Uncertainty

Coach Pochettino spilled the beans yesterday, Thursday, saying, "Tonight, the day bef

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ore the game, we have a meeting with our medical area and we will assess the whole group, the players and tomorrow we will communicate on the things that we cannot agree [on] tonight." That's coach speak for, "we're still figuring it out." He did say Pulisic is "much better from Friday," which is a glimmer of hope, but the fact that he's still a question mark this close to game time? Not exactly comforting. The good news, if there is any, is that the other 25 members of the World Cup squad are expected to be available for selection. Pochettino noted, "after three, four weeks working together, only we have one doubt for tomorrow." He's confident Pulisic isn't looking at a long-term absence, stating, "I think at the moment if he is not available for tomorrow, he will be available for the next game, but he's doing a massive effort to be ready." You know Pulisic's got that dog in him, as Pochettino put it, "Christian is strong and [has] a great mentality and is doing a fantastic effort to try to be ready as soon as possible." Still, a big decision looms over who will step up if he can't go, with Pochettino admitting they're "evaluating all the possibilities." This Friday's match against Australia is absolutely crucial for the USMNT. It's a Group D showdown that will play a huge role in deciding who tops the group. We're all here in the Emerald City, glued to our screens, hoping for some good news after that medical meeting tonight. We need Pulisic, but if he can't go, we need someone to step up big time. Let's get it done, USMNT!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.