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U.S. Coach Unsure if Chris Richards Will Be Ready for World Cup
Mauricio Pochettino said he does not yet know whether defender Chris Richards will recover in time for the tournament. Richards was added to the 26-man roster on May 26 after suffering torn ankle ligaments with Crystal Palace.
May 26, 5:27 PM·1m read1 source
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U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino said Tuesday he remains uncertain whether defender Chris Richards will be fit for the World Cup. Richards was named to the 26-man roster the same day, less than two weeks after injuring his ankle with Crystal Palace.
The official squad list is due to FIFA on June 1, and teams may still make injury-related changes up to 24 hours before their opening match.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed Richards returned to training Tuesday ahead of the UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday. Glasner did not indicate whether Richards would be available for that match. Pochettino told reporters after the roster announcement that the team would reassess Richards' status the following day.
"We don't know, we'll see tomorrow if he plays, and then we'll decide," he said.
Richards was the only member of the squad absent from a roster reveal event in Manhattan. U.S. team opens the World Cup on June 12 against Paraguay. Richards has made 36 appearances for the national team, including every minute of last year's Gold Cup.
