Irvine, Calif. — Christian Pulisic said he was feeling positive about his recovery from a calf injury and hopes to play a role in the United States’ final World Cup group match against Turkey today, though his availability remains uncertain.
Pulisic has not played since being substituted at halftime in the victory over Paraguay after feeling discomfort in his left calf. He missed Friday’s 2-0 victory over Australia, despite saying he had been close to featuring in that match.
“I’m feeling good,” Pulisic told reporters at the U.S. training camp on Wednesday.
“I joined with the team in the last few days, so I’m feeling good, feeling positive, and hopefully I’ll be able to play a part tomorrow.”
Pulisic said the injury stemmed from a heavy kick to the calf he took in training a few days before the Paraguay game. He said he felt fine early in that match before the problem worsened during the first half.
“I don’t even know exactly,” he said when asked the exact nature of the injury.
“I took a big kick to the calf a couple days before the game. Throughout the first half I felt good and then I started to notice it a little bit. I think adrenaline definitely carried me through.
“I think I had a pretty strong contusion, strain, whatever you want to call it. But again, it’s been a lot better.”
The 27-year-old forward said sitting out the Australia match had been difficult.
“Honestly it was tough after the first game, just knowing that I felt a little something,” Pulisic said. “I never really feared the worst, but I obviously didn’t want it to keep me out any longer than I had to.”
The United States has secured qualification for the knockout rounds after winning its first two matches, making today’s game against Turkey at Los Angeles Stadium a dead rubber in terms of advancement.
“When you win your last game, you go into the next one with that little bit of extra good feeling,” he said.
“That winning mentality feeling sticks with you. My teammates have made it so much easier on me because they got another incredible win.”
Wednesday’s results
▶Switzerland 2, Canada 1: At Vancouver, Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi scored second-half goals for Switzerland as they qualified for the knockout stage as Group B winners, with the tournament co-hosts also progressing as runners-up.
Switzerland, who finished the group stage on seven points, will remain in Vancouver for its last-32 tie, while Canada, which would have won the group with a draw, ended three points behind them and will head to Los Angeles for their next game.
The sides managed to create a total of three attempts on goal in an uneventful first half only notable for two yellow cards handed out to Swiss captain Granit Xhaka and Canada striker Cyle Larin after the pair clashed over a quick free kick for Switzerland.
Although there was little quality on display from either side in a subdued first half, the Swiss came out firing after the break. Just a minute into the second period, 20-year-old attacker Manzambi shifted the ball to Vargas, who had plenty of space to set himself before coolly finishing at the near post.
Switzerland doubled its lead 11 minutes later. Breel Embolo held the ball up in the middle of the penalty area and laid it off for Manzambi who finished emphatically.
Canada pulled one back in the 76th minute after coach Jesse Marsch rang the changes. Substitute Promise David latched on to Nathan Saliba’s pass and guided a fine effort into the corner with his first touch after coming on, lifting the roof at BC Place.
Canadian fans continued to roar on their team, chanting “Let’s go Canada”, but Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel made a string of saves in a frantic finale. “I am disappointed that we were not able to get a win or a draw today to keep us here,” Marsch said. “I’m so thankful for the energy in the country, and certainly in the stadium here today. But we are going to go to LA. We’re going to go where it’s probably going to be an away crowd, and it’ll be a little bit tougher. But we still want to electrify our country and play really well down there and go after it still.”
▶Bosnia and Herzegovina 3, Qatar 1: At Seattle, Bosnia and Herzegovina kept its hopes alive thanks to a stunning goal from teenager Kerim Alajbegovic which powered to third place in Group B and eliminated their opponents.
The 18-year-old Alajbegovic broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, dancing past two tackles and firing an unstoppable shot past Mahmoud Abunada from the edge of the box, sending the thousands of Bosnian fans in the stadium wild.
Bosnia scored again five minutes later when a cross from captain Edin Dzeko, on his 150th international appearance, bounced off a defender and spun into the net.
The European side was well on top and Dzeko rattled the post before Hassan Al-Haydos halved the deficit to give Qatar hope three minutes before the break.
Qatar pushed for an equaliser but never really threatened before Bosnia substitute Ermin Mahmic scored 10 minutes from time to secure the victory that put his side on four points and in a good position to qualify as one of eight third-placed teams.
The Qataris finished bottom, though with their first World Cup point on their second tournament appearance, having also exited at the group stage in the 2022 finals which they hosted.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: World Cup: Christian Pulisic says calf better, hopes to face Turkey
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