On Tuesday, November 29th, 2022 Christian Pulisic guided and led his beloved United States men’s national team to a 1 – 0 win over Iran with his game – winning – goal that unfortunately resulted in an abdominal injury for him after colliding with Iran’s goal keeper, Alireza Beiranvand, but Pulisic continues to strongly confirm that he will be ready for this Saturday’s huge game versus The Netherlands in the knockout round of 16 at this year’s 2022 World Cup from Qatar.
The Chelsea superstar forward and native of Hershey, Pennsylvania in Pulisic posted to social media following the match on Tuesday night saying that he will, “be ready Saturday, don’t worry,” while his teammate Weston McKennie stated, “I sent him a text and checked on him, and he said, ‘Best believe I’ll be ready on Saturday.’“
The Injury after the Amazing Goal by Christian Pulisic
Pulisic spent a long moment laying on the pitch after the collision in the teeth of the goal in which he just scored in with merely just a few minutes remaining in the 1st – half of the match prior to having to leave the game action as he received medical attention from the team’s training / medical staff. Pulisic eventually came back in to finish the final couple of minutes that remained the 1st – half.
Replacing Christian Pulisic for the 2nd – Half
Brenden Aaronson came on in substitution for Pulisic after the half – time break as the United States narrowly led as well as controlled the pace of the game last Tuesday night. The United States national team announced that Christian was escorted to the hospital following the conclusion of the match vs. Iran, and he was diagnosed with a pelvic contusion. Pulisic’s status at the moment is said to be, “day to day,” for now.
“Obviously we’re very thankful that he threw his body there,” McKennie went on to say. “At the end it was a heart – drop sinking moment, but we got it done and we’re excited to still be here.”
The head coach of the United States of America, Gregg Berhalter, applauded Christian’s relentless hard work and mental as well as physical toughness following the hard – fought battle against Iran, and Gregg revealed that Pulisic and the rest of his U. S. A. teammates had a short video call with Christian from the United States’ dressing room.
“We got to speak to him and he’s in good spirits,” the head coach of the United States of America’s men’s national team, Gregg Berhalter, explained to the excited and clamoring major sports media outlets during his post – game news conference on Tuesday, November 29th, 2022. “That’s what he does, that’s the special quality he has and as soon as a goal is wide, he goes in with intensity. He crashes the box and makes it really difficult for defenders with his change of pace. It’s a wonderful thing when one of your best players is also one of the most – hard working. He’s certainly that. I can’t say enough positive things about Christian.”
The young but impressively composed captain of the men’s U. S. national team, Tyler Adams, disclosed that he was praying hard for his fallen teammate, and Adams also said it is goals like these he’s come to expect from the superstar winger in Pulisic.
“How many goals has he scored like that in his career? Back post arriving, he’s brilliant,” the U. S. A.’s captain, Tyler Adams, emotionally proclaimed. “The way that his timing is into the box and to get in front of that ball — he’ll do anything to this team in order for us to win. Huge player for us, obviously. Praying for him, hoping everything is OK. He’ll hang in there. I know he’ll do anything to play in the next game.”
Another United States Player was Injured vs. Iran
Josh Sargent also needed to be substituted for by Haji Wright during the 75th – minute of game play following Sargent landing very awkwardly on his right foot while he was attempting to evade a tackle from the opposition. Much like Christian Pulisic, Josh Sargent received medical attention on the pitch, but eventually he was able to walk off of the field under his own power while the game was temporarily experiencing a long and concerning injury stoppage.
The United States grinded out an extremely tough final 9 – minutes of the 2nd – half’s stoppage time in order to come out with the huge US victory which just so happened to be their first World Cup win since back in 2014.
Table at the Conclusion of the 2022 World Cup Group Stage (Group – B)
Team GP W D L GD PTS
1 – England* 3 2 1 0 + 7 7
2 – U. S. A.* 3 1 2 0 + 1 5
3 – Iran 3 1 0 2 – 3 3
4 – Wales 3 0 1 2 – 5 1
(* – Advance to Knockout Round of 16)
Both England as well as the United States of America have advanced on from the group stage to the knockout round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup tournament. Iran and Wales have both been eliminated following the 2 – decisive matches on Tuesday, November 29th, 2022. The United States of America will now face off against The Netherlands on Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 at 9:00 a. m. CT., and England will play Senegal on Sunday, December 4th, 2022 at 1 p. m. CT.
Christian Pulisic’s Soccer Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
Borussia Dortmund
- DFB – Pokal: 2016 – 2017; Runner – Up: 2015 – 2016
Chelsea
- UEFA Champions League: 2020 – 2021
- UEFA Super Cup: 2021
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2021
- FA Cup Runner – Up: 2019 – 2020, 2020 – 2021, 2021 – 2022
- EFL Cup Runner – Up: 2021 – 2022
United States U – 17
- CONCACAF Under – 17 Championship Third Place: 2015
United States of America
- CONCACAF Nations League: 2019 – 2020
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Runner – Up: 2019
Individual
- S. Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year: 2016
- UEFA Champions League Breakthrough XI: 2016
- S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year: 2017, 2019, 2021
- CONCACAF Best XI: 2017
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best Young Player Award: 2019
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2019
- CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI: 2021
Sources:
ESPN News Services. “USMNT’s Christian Pulisic will ‘be ready’ for Netherlands despite injury”. ESPN. Tuesday, November 29, 2022.
Football Reference News Services. “Christian Pulisic”. Football Reference. Tuesday, November 29, 2022.