AL RAYYAN, Qatar – United States midfielder Christian Pulisic said on Thursday he’s going to “do everything in my power” to be able to play in Saturday’s World Cup round of 16 match against the Netherlands.
Pulisic’s official status remains “day-to-day” with a pelvic contusion according to a U.S. Soccer Federation spokesperson.
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He suffered the injury moments after scoring against Iran in the final group stage game on Tuesday. The U.S. ultimately prevailed 1-0, a result that saw Gregg Berhalter’s side finish second in Group B. Now the question is whether he’ll heal up in time to play.
“I’m going to go meet now with the team medical staff and make a decision on [training] today, just kind of see how I’m feeling, taking it day-by-day,” Pulisic said in Thursday’s news conference. “Right now I’m doing everything in my power to be able to be out there on the field on Saturday.”
Pulisic later clarified that he “didn’t get hit in the balls. I’m alright,” but that he got hit in the pelvic bone.
“It was very painful. That bone is there for a reason to protect you, I hit it well,” he said. “It was sore, but it’s getting better.”
Pulisic’s status remains the biggest concern heading into Saturday’s match against the Netherlands. The U.S. struggled mightily without him in the second half against Iran, even as it was able to see the game out.
But Pulisic said he remains confident that no matter who is on the field, the team will get the job done, and that takes pressure off of him.
“Honestly, this team helps me so much to take the pressure off of me,” he said. “A couple of years ago, there were times maybe I felt like I needed to do more.
“But with these guys, I don’t feel that way at all to be honest. I know they have my back. I know when I went down, and I see Brendan [Aaronson] running onto the pitch, I’m not worried at all because I know these guys.
“I mean, you see the talent. You see the work that they put in. Just the unity of this group is what makes it special and takes any pressure that there might be off of me. They know that I got their back. They [have] got mine.”
A U.S. soccer spokesperson added that forward Josh Sargent is also day-to-day with right ankle soreness.
