IRVINE, Calif. — U.S. men’s national team defender Chris Richards has expressed confidence in his recovery from a sprained ankle, declaring himself “ready” to compete against Paraguay in the team’s upcoming World Cup opener on Friday.
The Crystal Palace player has dedicated the last few weeks to getting fit enough for the match against La Albirroja and believes he is in a good position to take the field.
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“I’m ready,” he told reporters on Wednesday. “It’s the World Cup, so I’m going to make sure I’m prepared no matter what. I’m feeling good, maybe a bit swollen, but that’s what tape is for.”
Richards missed both of the USMNT’s pre-World Cup friendly matches. U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino noted prior to last weekend’s loss to Germany that the information he received from Crystal Palace about Richards’ condition was a bit “annoying,” as the rehabilitation took longer than anticipated.
Despite this, Richards felt that the recovery timeline was manageable. “Rehab is never fun,” he acknowledged. “It involved long days of working on my ankle and managing the swelling. It took about as long as I expected. Initially, the diagnosis was day-to-day, but I thought it would be closer to two or three weeks for me.”
He admitted there was a moment of concern that he could miss his second consecutive World Cup due to injury. “When I first got hurt, I was pretty devastated and feared the worst,” he shared. “But I motivated myself to get back on the pitch and show that it was possible.”
Once he received the diagnosis, Richards focused on preparing for the match against Paraguay. “I’ve been dedicated to recovery and doing everything possible to make sure I’ll be available for the first game,” he said.
Richards feels confident in his movement and readiness. “I wouldn’t put myself out there if I didn’t feel capable of performing 100%,” he stated. “In this sport, some pain is inevitable, and I’m comfortable with that as long as I’m functional, which is my main priority.”
The key question now is whether Richards has healed enough to start the match. Many believe the U.S. team is significantly stronger defensively with him on the field. “Every time they’ve asked me, I’ve said I’m good, even from the start of camp,” he explained. “I believe they’ve seen my progress over the past few weeks.”
“Personally, I feel good on the pitch now and hope my presence has been beneficial to the team. I’ve consistently expressed that I’m ready. Whatever decision the coaches make on Friday, I’ll support, but I definitely want to be on the field.”