As the U.S. Men’s National Team is finalizing its preparations ahead of Friday’s World Cup opener against Paraguay (6 p.m. PT), the biggest question facing head coach Mauricio Pochettino was the team’s defense.
And by that, the real question was about the health of defender Chris Richards and his balky ankle.
Michael Duarte of The California Post captured video Monday showing defender Richards participating in training with the squad at Great Park in Irvine, a notable development after the Crystal Palace center back missed both pre-tournament friendlies and recent team practices with an ankle injury.
Richards suffered torn ligaments in his left ankle during a Premier League match against Brentford on May 17. Although he finished the game, he has not appeared in a match since and spent much of the past week training separately from the group.
On Monday, however, Richards returned to full team activities, moving one step closer to being available for Friday’s showdown at SoFi Stadium.
When asked about Richards’ health, Pochettino stopped short of guaranteeing Richards’ availability but sounded optimistic.
“We will see,” Pochettino said. “Today is the first time with the team, and so it’s good to have nearly everyone ready to be selected for the game.”
However, Richards had a slightly different take when asked the question.
“I feel good,” Richards told Sports Illustrated. “When I first got into camp after two long days of travel, I had a bit of a swollen ankle, but I’ve been doing treatment almost 24 hours [per day], so I feel really good, and I’m getting ready for the opener a week from today. I’m really looking forward to it.”
While his teammates were preparing for their two pre-World Cup matches over the past week and a half, Richards had been rehabbing and working out away from the squad. He returned Monday and appeared to be in great spirits, constantly seen laughing and smiling with teammates and coaches before signing autographs for fans post practice.
But Monday’s development was a very big deal for the overall team’s chances as the World Cup as Richards may be the national team’s most important player.
The offense is expected to be just fine with superstar Christian Pulisic joined by Folarin Balogun and a solid contingent of depth and playmakers. The midfield has the ever-buys Tyler Adams in the middle with Weston McKinnie playing sidekick.
However, the defense is where most of the questions lie, especially with 38-year-old Tim Ream leading the way. That makes Richards, who plays for Crystal Palace in Europe, a vital piece of the defense as the calming and physical presence needed to be successful at this level. He’s the unquestioned best defender for the national team.
Richards’ expected return is also an important one for him personally, after he missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar while dealing with a hamstring injury.
If Monday’s training session was any indication, Richards appears to be trending in the right direction and should be on the field Friday night.
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