DOHA, Qatar (AP) – Christian Pulisic became America’s star with the winning goal and the injury he sustained, advancing America to the last 16 in the World Cup.
He injured a bone in his pelvis when he collided with the Iranian goalkeeper who sent him to the hospital on goal as the United States won 1-0 and advanced in football’s biggest tournament, Pulisic said. It pointed out.
Pulisic will be in Saturday’s game when the USA face the Netherlands in his stage of knockout.
Everyone expected him to be on the field before doctors gave him the green light on Friday.
“I will work with this medical team and do everything in my power to get him playing,” Pulisic said of his intentions to take the field. The United States is looking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002 and continues to wow American viewers who watched the first three games in record numbers.
A win over the Netherlands might be enough to convince home fans that the United States can compete on football’s greatest stage.
“The support from the United States was a little surreal,” said captain Tyler Adams. And then I got family videos, videos of all the watch parties in my town, and so on. “It’s really, really cool to see how just one competition can change the way people view football.”
The United States has failed to beat a European team in its last 11 World Cup games, losing five straight and drawing six. On Saturday, the Americans will meet the Dutch team, who, like several other World Cup teams in this tournament, are battling the flu, an error passed through the US squad last week.
Dutch coach Louis van Gaal gave his team a day off on Thursday instead of playing a typical 11-a-side game.
“We gave them a day off,” Van Gaal said Friday. “In this group, they tell me that. I listen to the players.”
He declined to elaborate on how many players were affected, but by abandoning his normal training schedule, van Gaal fueled speculation that at least six players had fallen ill.
“I’m not going to elaborate on that,” he said. “But I’m worried about going around in a group.”
Frenkie de Jong said he had an itchy throat during the match against Qatar that prevented him from communicating, while Marten De Loan told reporters he caught a cold earlier this week.
Dutch midfielder Cody Gapko is looking to become the first player in his home country to score in four consecutive games. “We are committed to using this World Cup to boost football in the United States,” said U.S. coach Greg Berhalter. I want you to be proud of me.”
