USMNT Lose Christian Pulisic vs. Australia in Devastating Blow

The United States Men’s National Team got some bad news an hour before kickoff as star man and captain Christian Pulisic was ruled out of action.

“Christian is not available. The evolution is really well,” head coach Mauricio Pochettino told Fox ahead of the game.

In his place, the Americans will rely on Ricardo Pepi, who plays for PSV in the Netherlands, to add some attacking punch to the lineup.

He will be joining Florian Balogun as the two main points of attack for the USMNT. Pepi came in for Pulisic at halftime against Paraguay, meaning he already had some run during the World Cup.

Still, it cannot be overstated how much of a loss this is. A matter of years ago, this would have made the United States absolutely weaker, but there is so much attacking talent that they can compensate very well.

Pulisic, however, comes with a ton of experience and leadership, having seen some of the lowest points in American soccer and steered the team into a new golden age.

Now, the team will need to show what they can do without him, and in terms of potential, they have the ability to thrive. Sadly, Pulisic will only be able to watch rather than join the fun himself.

“Today, he was training in the morning in the camp and I’ve seen the feelings are good,” Pochettino added. “I hope as soon as possible he can be ready to be selected again and to be part of the team. Now, we need to be focussed on our team and the players that are going to play.

“We have ahead a very important game and Australia is going to be really tough. A little bit sad because he wanted to stay, wanted to participate today.”

With the World Cup being on home soil, the American does not need to go far for support.

“I think mentally he’s great,” team leader and midfielder Weston McKennie said.

“He’s being able to play in a World Cup, and he’s here on home soil. Family’s out here. We’re not staying at a bad hotel — I mean, we get to wake up and see the beach. So I think it’s really hard for someone’s mental game to be messed up in these type of conditions.”

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