World Cup: USA’s Christian Pulisic hopes he can play on Saturday

Christian Pulisic learned that the US has advanced world CupRound 16, looking at a mobile phone in a hospital exam room. Which is strange because it was Pulisic goal who sent the Americans there.

But the scoring game ended with Pulisic sliding into Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, whose knee slammed into Pulisic’s knee… well, we’ll get to that in a minute. Main ball hit the net, USA expected to win 1-0 and will face the Netherlands on Saturday in the first round of the knockout games.

Meanwhile, Pulisic ended up in the hospital where he was diagnosed with a bruised pelvis, a condition that is far more painful than it sounds. But it doesn’t seem to hurt as much as it could.

“I mean, it’s a pelvic bruise,” he said. “At the same time, I didn’t get into [testicles]. It hurt a lot, and, you know, this bone is there for a reason to protect you. I hit well. It was painful. But it’s getting better.”

Whether that bone will protect Pulisic well enough for him to play Saturday night is not known before the game kicks off. But his absence would be a big blow to the US as the Americans only scored two goals in this World Cup and Pulisic created one goal while scoring another.

“Now I’m working day in and day out, but doing everything in my power to be on the field on Saturday,” said Pulisic, who was extraordinarily upbeat and engaged during Thursday’s 14-minute press conference at the US training facility. .

Although the players have chosen Tyler Adams as their captain, Pulisic has been the team’s public face for a long time and it is clear that the players are fueled by his tenacity and determination. It will be difficult to replace him if he cannot play against the Netherlands, who are ranked eighth in the world and have not lost in 18 games in a row.

“Obviously he’s a very important player for us,” Adams said of his teammate. “I know that he will do everything to play in the next match. So let’s count on him.”

“Just showing his courage,” midfielder Kellin Acosta said of the goal Pulisic scored, knowing a clash was coming. “He wanted it so much. I’m glad he was finally rewarded with a goal. He’s very hungry.”

This World Cup was supposed to be Pulisic’s exit after he and the US missed the tournament four years ago. He has since spent two seasons in the German Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund and four in the English Premier League with Chelsea. He also appeared in 47 Champions League games, most often for the American. It’s already a Hall of Fame resume and Pulisic is only three months past his 24th birthday.

What was missing from this recap, however, was a twist under the red-hot light of the world spotlight that this tournament provided.

“In no way do I want this to be the only thing I remember from this tournament. This team and I still have a lot ahead of us.”

— Christian Pulisic

Team doctors assisted Christian Pulisic of the United States after he scored his team's first goal.

Christian Pulisic is helped off the field after scoring during a World Cup group match against Iran on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar.

(Luca Bruno/Associated Press)

“It’s the biggest sport. We’re on stage,” teammate Tim Weah said. “We have to go as far as we can and make sure we’re making a statement.”

But when Pulisic got the opportunity to make a statement about his performance in Qatar, he turned his attention back to his team.

“I’m here to score a goal and help the team in any way I can,” he said. “I want to play big and I want to do everything in my power to help this team.”

“It’s nice to score at the World Cup,” he added.

Well, maybe it wasn’t that great at the time.

“I paid a little for it,” he said. “I got on my knee. It wasn’t good; it was obviously very painful.”

Pulisic said he knew he had scored but was unsure the goal was scored because his teammates weren’t celebrating.

“I was a little confused,” he said. “I think they were trying to keep their distance and make sure I was okay. I was worried it was offside. You never know these days.”

Given the importance of this goal for the US to reach the round of 16 – without it Iran would have advanced and the US would have gone home – Pulisic’s score can be compared to Landon Donovan’s stoppage time score against Algeria in the group. play the final in South Africa in 2010. Without this goal, the US would have been eliminated; with him the Americans won the group.

Donovan celebrated his goal by having a beer in the locker room with Bill Clinton. Pulisic celebrated it in the hospital.

“That was the hardest part,” he said. “They checked my blood sugar and all that; he flew through the roof. Just the stress of watching the game. As soon as the final whistle blew, I was obviously very happy.”

Pulisic denied any resemblance between his goal and that of 2010. First, Donovan has never won a single World Cup match. In the meantime, Pulisic plans to score many more memorable victories.

“I hope I haven’t had that moment yet, to be honest,” he said. “I hope it’s in front of me.”

“In no way do I want this to be the only thing I remember from this tournament,” he added. “This team and I still have a lot ahead of us.”