SAN JOSE, Calif. — United States men’s national team forward Christian Pulisic expressed his readiness to play the full match in the team’s World Cup round-of-32 clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, regardless of the match’s duration.
Having fully recuperated from a left calf injury that impacted him earlier in the tournament, Pulisic is back to his best.
This injury sidelined him for the second group stage game against Australia and limited his play to just 32 minutes in the match against Türkiye.
“I felt fantastic in the previous game against Türkiye,” Pulisic told reporters after Tuesday’s training session. “I’m feeling good this week, and I’m definitely ready for [Wednesday].”
Defender Auston Trusty returned to training on Tuesday following an ankle injury, while midfielder Cristian Roldan participated in a modified training session.
Roldan is currently listed as day-to-day, and it appears unlikely he will be available for the match. Additionally, defender Mark McKenzie did not participate in training due to foot irritation.
With two of the Monday round-of-32 matches ending in penalty shootouts, the topic of tiebreakers was raised. Pulisic acknowledged the pressure that comes with taking a penalty kick.
“It’s definitely a tough task…those who step up to take penalties show a lot of courage; it’s not easy,” Pulisic remarked. “Goalkeepers improve every year, so players just have to rely on their confidence and individual style.”
While not every player may want to take a penalty during a shootout, Pulisic assured that the USMNT can find players willing to step up.
“The players who are the most confident to step up will want to take the shot. That’s normal,” he said. “Some may hesitate or not feel as good about it, but it shouldn’t be a significant issue.
“We haven’t gone through many shootouts together, but I believe we have a brave and courageous team. I think players will be willing to take their chances.”
Pulisic also emphasized that with 13 players from the current roster having participated in the 2022 World Cup, the team’s experience will be an advantage for the USMNT.
“We’re prepared for this moment,” Pulisic declared. “We’ve had strong performances this World Cup, and the experience from the last tournament will definitely help us approach this match more calmly and prepared.”