Christian Pulisic was substituted at halftime during the United States’ 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup opener, after experiencing tightness in his calf, according to U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The Hershey, Pennsylvania, native, who plays for AC Milan, assisted on the team’s second goal, scored by Folarin Balogun, and was one of the most active players in the first half. When the team emerged for the second half, Pulisic was replaced by Sebastian Berhalter, son of former U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter, though the reason for the change was not immediately disclosed.
During the FOX Sports broadcast, it was reported that Pulisic told family members in the stands he was okay after the substitution. Pochettino later explained that Pulisic took a kick to the calf that caused some tightness, and the decision to remove him was precautionary.
Pulisic’s recent injury history has raised concerns among fans. He sat out last summer’s Gold Cup to rest after a busy club season with AC Milan, and has dealt with various injuries since then, including a lower-back issue last month, according to ESPN.
The U.S. team’s victory was notable, but Pulisic’s absence in the second half was a visible loss. Pochettino emphasized that the substitution was cautious, but fans will likely await further updates on the star’s health before feeling assured.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
