Pulisic’s calf healing up ahead of final World Cup group game

Christian Pulisic is back in training and feeling better after a calf injury nearly kept him out of the World Cup. The U. S. forward took a hard knock during practice right before their first match against Paraguay. He managed to play the first half but had to come off early when the pain got worse. Later, he missed the next game against Australia entirely, even though he was close to playing. "Things are looking good now, " Pulisic told reporters this week. "I’ve been training with the team for a few days, and I’m feeling much more confident. " Still, he’s being cautious about his return. The exact injury type isn’t clear—he describes it as a deep bruise or strain—but he says it’s healing steadily. Adrenaline helped him push through the first half in Paraguay, but he doesn’t want to risk more damage.The U. S. team has already booked their spot in the next round, so Thursday’s match against Turkey in Los Angeles won’t change their standing. But Pulisic isn’t treating it as just another game. "Winning your last match gives you momentum, " he said. "The team’s energy makes it easier for everyone to stay sharp. " Being sidelined wasn’t easy for him. After the Paraguay game, he knew he wasn’t 100%, but he never panicked. His biggest concern was staying out longer than necessary. Now, he’s focused on contributing if he gets the green light to play.