Pulisic Robinson and Zendejas May Miss US Friendly Against Ecuador
Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, and Alejandro Zendejas Face Uncertainty for USA’s Match Against Ecuador
Key Player Absences Loom Over USA’s Friendly Against Ecuador
Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, and Alejandro Zendejas might miss the United States’ upcoming friendly against Ecuador, scheduled for Friday. U.S. Coach Mauricio Pochettino revealed that there are concerns regarding these players’ fitness. “We have some issues with players like Christian, who didn’t train today, and Antonee Robinson, and we need to assess tomorrow if they can be available. We don’t think Alex will be part of tomorrow’s match,” stated Pochettino on Thursday.
Antonee Robinson’s Road to Recovery After Surgery
Robinson mentioned on Wednesday that he is still regaining his physical condition following surgery on his right knee in May. The current status of Pulisic and Zendejas has not been disclosed. The U.S. team, ranked 16th in the FIFA rankings, is set to face 24th-ranked Ecuador. Following that, the team will encounter Australia, also ranked 24th, in Commerce City, Colorado, on Tuesday.
Strategic Preparations Ahead of World Cup
Following these matches, the United States will only have four friendlies left before Pochettino calls the players for a pre-World Cup training camp. The scheduled friendlies include games against Paraguay and Uruguay in November, with another pair of matches to be determined for March. Mauricio Pochettino took command of the team in October 2024, three months after Gregg Berhalter was relieved following an early exit in the Copa América’s first round.
Changes Under Pochettino’s Leadership
The U.S. team lost in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Nations League in March, prompting Pochettino to comment on a culture of complacency within the team. “We knew something was wrong here because, otherwise, why would the federation call us? Why offer the job with not much time to build our ideas?” he remarked. “That was a moment to evaluate, to appear, and once we identified the issues, we began to dismantle and reconstruct from scratch.”
After the final phase of the Nations League, Pochettino rejuvenated the squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. “That was really a wake-up call because it showed why we were called,” he noted. “I believe we have worked intensely with the federation since then, attempting to change things that were not helpful.”
USA’s Recent Performance Highlights
The United States has achieved 11 victories and seven defeats under Pochettino’s leadership, breaking a seven-match winless streak against top 25 nations last month with a 2-0 win over a largely second-string Japanese team. “Now I promise you that no one is assured a spot on the World Cup 2026 roster,” affirmed Pochettino. “I don’t think it was the same before. But today, I promise you that all the players feel they need to fight to be there. And that is invaluable, because everyone feels they must step out of their comfort zone.”
Conclusion
With the international calendar edging closer to the World Cup, the upcoming matches will be crucial for the U.S. team, not only in assessing squad depth but also in setting a competitive tone under Pochettino’s guidance.
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