The United States men's national team (USMNT) will not start any of its four players on yellow cards in Thursday's World Cup match against Turkey, coach Mauricio Pochettino confirmed. The decision affects defenders Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson, midfielder Tyler Adams, and forward Folarin Balogun, who are all on bookings. The USMNT has already secured top spot in Group D, while Turkey has been eliminated, making the match a dead rubber.
Pochettino emphasized the importance of winning despite the lack of stakes, stating that the selected players must demonstrate a strong desire to compete. He noted that the yellow-carded players would likely not feature at all, as another booking would rule them out of the knockout stages and potentially affect their on-field aggression.
Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic's availability remains uncertain. The AC Milan forward, who has been managing a calf injury, told reporters he feels '100%' and is ready to play. However, Pochettino has yet to decide whether to start him or bring him off the bench. Pulisic missed the USMNT's 2-0 win over Australia and played only the first half against Paraguay due to the injury.
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella expressed his team's determination to play for pride, despite their elimination. He highlighted the pain of criticism from fans and media, emphasizing his players' belief in their quality. Pochettino acknowledged Turkey's motivation, calling the match an opportunity for them to prove themselves.