IRVINE, Calif. – Prior to the World Cup, the U.S. men’s national team’s group finale against Turkey was expected to be anything but a dead rubber. Instead, the USMNT find themselves in a unique position, having punched their ticket to the knockout rounds of a World Cup with a game to spare, while Turkey have been eliminated.
It’s a strange situation.
Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun, Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards – all key players for Mauricio Pochettino – are each one yellow card away from suspension. Additionally, Thursday’s match has no bearing on the U.S.’s path for the rest of the tournament. They’re already locked into the top spot in Group D and know they’ll be playing in Santa Clara on July 1st. There is, then, a virtual guarantee of rotation.
The World Cup is here. So is our biggest discount ever.
Exactly how much rotation Mauricio Pochettino believes in is the question that’s been hovering over U.S. camp this week. Should there be wholesale lineup changes to maximize rest? Would minutes off the bench benefit Christian Pulisic’s sharpness and fitness on the runway to the Round of 32?
“Our trainings are pretty intense. I think fitness won’t be an issue,” Pulisic said. “I don’t think sharpness will be either. Obviously, it’s good to keep into some sort of rhythm, but again, I think these guys deserve [it] if they get the chance tomorrow. So, I think we’ll be fine when it comes to the next game.”
