The US Men’s National Team (USMNT) is set to face Australia in a World Cup match in Seattle. The two teams previously met in a friendly match last October, which was marked by physicality and tempers boiling over.
Previous Match
Despite only two yellow cards being shown, the game was heated, with American defender Chris Richards saying, “They’re lucky it was a friendly. I was ready to go,” according to The Athletic.
US coach Mauricio Pochettino laid into his squad at halftime, giving them a talking to after Christian Pulisic was forced to leave the game with a leg injury. Pochettino’s words have become part of USMNT culture ahead of the crucial Group D kickoff.
Upcoming Match
The match will likely follow a similar theme, with both sides leaning into their physicality and willingness to ride the fine line between bossing play and racking up cards. Australian defender Alessandro Circati noted that the two national teams are more similar than different, with both being physical teams that give 100 percent in challenges.
American Tim Weah may see more playing time in the upcoming match, as Pulisic is nursing a calf injury. Weah said, “When you look at the Australian team, they’re a young team that has a lot of fight, a lot of grit, and a lot of hunger, just like us. We respect them in the same way that we respect any other opponent. I think it’s going to be a lovely game.”
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
