USA train for the final time before Round of 16 clash with Holland, as Christian Pulisic returns to practice following pelvic injury that threatened his availability for game
The USA were spotted training Friday night in Qatar for a final time before their Round of 16 clash vs. Holland, with Christian Pulisic on the grass following an injury scare earlier in the week.
The Chelsea winger left the decisive group stage match vs. Iran at halftime after suffering what the team later called a ‘pelvic contusion,’ but the team announced Friday he was cleared to play vs. Holland.
He and his teammates looked focused as they took the field at Al Gharafa SC.
Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream are good bets to start once again on Saturday
Meanwhile, Sergino Dest looks set to start against his birth nation at right-back
Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic looked focused during practice on Friday
Josh Sargent also took part in practice but his chances of playing a role vs. the Oranje look bleaker after suffering an injury of his own vs. Iran.
‘He’s another one we’re going to test in training, see where he’s at,’ USA coach Gregg Berhalter said of Sargent.
‘We’ll see. I mean, he’s going to test, he’s going to go at this time.’
Meanwhile, Holland also got a training session in at Qatar University ahead of the knockout clash.
Luca de la Torre (left) has yet to see the field for the USMNT in this tournament
Tyler Adams has been hugely impressive as captain and in the heart of the midfield
And while the USA seem to mostly have a clean bill of health, Holland have more concerns heading into the match.
Coach Louis Van Gaal revealed Friday that several players in the squad were battling flu symptoms, and expressed his fear of the illness spreading through the group.
Taking in feedback from his players, Van Gaal elected not to put players through their usual 11 vs. 11 in practice on Friday, though no one in the squad was missing from the session.
The winner of the USA-Holland match will likely face Argentina in the quarterfinals.
Forwards Wout Weghorst and Memphis Depay looked relaxed ahead of the USA game
The Netherlands practiced at Qatar University ahead of the knockout clash on Saturday
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