INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After coming off at halftime of the U.S. men’s national team’s 4-1 win over Paraguay to open the World Cup, superstar attacker Christian Pulisic said he expects to be fine.
“I just got a bit of a kick in the first half so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing,” Pulisic said. “Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I’m hoping I’ll be fine in the next few days.”
Pulisic later clarified that he was kicked in the back of his left calf.
With the USMNT nursing a 3-0 lead at halftime, there was little harm to operating with caution, as evidenced by Mauricio Pochettino’s choice to bring on Sebastian Berhalter in place of Pulisic.
The Americans have a full week before renewing their campaign against Australia next Friday in Seattle, in theory plenty of time to recover.
Pulisic, when he was on the field, was the USMNT’s best player throughout the first half. He played with confidence, taking on defenders 1-on-1 with ease, playing a key role in creating the Americans’ first goal and assisting Folarin Balogun on their second.
“I don’t think I’m surprised,” Pulisic said. “I’ve seen us play like this recently. The guys were up for it. We gave the ability to play, do the things that we do on the ball, score goals. But today just the effort, everything was there.”
The USMNT released footage of a Thursday night phone call from President Trump to the team, expressing his support.
Andrew Giuliani, the White House’s World Cup czar, was pictured in a 45-second video released on X by the men’s national team’s official account, taking a call from President Trump, who encouraged the team ahead of what will be arguably the biggest moment in its history.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino and captain Tim Ream are the only members of the team visible in the video, though Giuliani says that all 26 players are in the room before handing the phone off to Pochettino.
“I just called to say you’re a fantastic guy, a fantastic coach,” Trump tells Pochettino, who pulls a face after receiving the compliment. “I know about your record, your success and how great the players are. I think you’ve got a really good chance of going all the way so I just wish you a lot of luck.”
“Thank you so much for your support Mr. President,” Pochettino said. “We are going to do everything to make you proud and all the people here in this country.”
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