United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) star winger Christian Pulisic revealed in a social media post that he should be ready for the Round of 16 matchup with the Netherlands on Saturday (10 a.m. ET, FOX) at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar despite suffering an abdominal injury.
Pulisic provided the update shortly after the Americans defeated Iran 1-0 on Tuesday to punch their ticket to the knockout stage — the Chelsea product scoring the lone goal in the 38th minute while colliding with Iran keeper Alireza Beiranvand, picking up the injury.
He gutted out the final 10 minutes of the first half (including stoppage time) before bowing out for Brenden Aaronson to begin the second half.
“So f—ing proud of my guys,” Pulisic wrote on Snapchat while taking a photo in his hospital bed. “I’ll be ready for Saturday, don’t worry.”
USMNT captain Tyler Adams further confirmed that notion on Wednesday when speaking with Good Morning America.
“He’s doing alright. He’s in great spirits,” Adams said. “Feeling a lot better now. What a big player for us, showing up in the biggest moments. We rely on him a lot in the biggest moments but he’s doing alright. He’ll be ready for next game.”
The 24-year-old Hershey native is the engine that makes the United States’ attack run. He’s had a direct hand in both goals scored by USMNT at the World Cup, providing the assist on Tim Weah’s goal against Wales in the opening match before scoring the winner against Iran Tuesday.
“That’s what he does, that’s the special quality he has and as soon as a goal is wide he goes in with intensity,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter told reporters on Tuesday. “He crashes the box and makes it really difficult for defenders with his change of pace. It’s a wonderful thing when one of your best players is also one of the most hard-working.
“He’s certainly that. I can’t say enough positive things about Christian.”
Against a resolute Netherlands team that has allowed just one goal in three matches in Qatar and boasts one of the greatest center-backs on the planet in Virgil Van Dijk, Pulisic will be a necessity to help pull the strings of a threatening wing-centric attack that has an embarrassment of playmaking riches — whether it be wing-backs in Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest or midfielders Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah.
