USA loses Pulisic and Stefan to clash with El Salvador
American Christian Pulisic, Chelsea forward, and Jack Steffen, Manchester City’s goalkeeper, were ruled out of Thursday’s game against El Salvador for the CONCACAF qualifiers for the Qatar-2022 World Cup, coach Greg Berhalter confirmed on Wednesday.
Pulisic, the legendary North American team star, remains in a Nashville concentration recovering from a coronavirus infection.
Meanwhile, Stefan was dropped from the team due to a back cramp during training.
On Wednesday, Berhalter announced that Matt Turner of the New England Revolution would be the starting goalkeeper on Thursday in San Salvador, where the United States begins the final round of the CONCACAF playoffs.
In the previous edition of the Gold Cup, Turner shone by keeping the American goal unbeaten five times.
“We think Matt is the keeper in the best shape right now,” Berhalter told reporters. “I have full faith in him and what he can do. The next step is to see if he can translate that into these highly-competitive games.”
Pulisic, meanwhile, could be replaced in the starting lineup by Red Bull Salzburg’s Brendan Aaronsson or Marseille winger Konrad de la Fuente.
Thursday’s clash opens a span of three internationals for the United States, with one at home against Canada on Sunday, followed by the road in Honduras next Wednesday.
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