FIFA schedule today puts the U.S. against Australia at 3 p.m. ET in its second group stage game, and Christian Pulisic is still uncertain after leaving the Paraguay match with a calf injury. A win would put the U.S. alone atop Group D with one group-stage game left.
Pulisic and the U.S.
The U.S. reached this spot by beating Paraguay 4-1 last week. Folarin Balogun scored twice, becoming the first American player to do that in a World Cup game since 1930, and Gio Reyna added a late goal.
Pulisic came off midway through that match, and his status hangs over today’s lineup. The U.S. has the points and the chance to control Group D, but the captain’s availability is the piece that can change how aggressively the team can start against Australia.
Australia at 3 p.m. ET
The kickoff time is fixed at 3 p.m. ET, so the U.S. has to deal with the uncertainty now rather than later. If Pulisic cannot go, the match becomes a test of whether the attack that produced four goals against Paraguay can carry the same edge without its most important creator.
That is the practical read for fans following FIFA schedule today: the U.S. still has a clear path to first place in the group, but the lineup decision around Pulisic is the variable that matters most before the opening whistle.
Canada and Ismael Kone
Canada’s 6-0 win over Qatar yesterday added another sharp result to the same day’s slate, but it was overshadowed by Ismael Kone’s injury. He was taken off on a stretcher at BC Place after Assim Madibo caught him from behind in the 54th minute, and Jesse Marsch said, “It happened right in front of the bench. We could all hear it,”
Marsch added, “I knew right away it was similar to when Tajon got hurt in training.” He also said, “Everyone could hear the bones snap,” after Kone suffered a broken leg, a reminder that the day’s scorelines have not been the only thing shaping the tournament picture.
