U.S. star Christian Pulisic cleared to play in World Cup match against Netherlands
DOHA, Qatar — U.S. forward Christian Pulisic, who celebrated the team’s qualification for the World Cup’s Round of 16 in the hospital, has been cleared to play in Saturday’s knockout game with the Netherlands.
Pulisic scored the only goal in the Americans’ 1-0 win over Iran on Tuesday that allowed the team to advance out of group play. But he was injured on the play when he collided with Iran’s goalkeeper and was taken to a hospital at halftime.
U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter and some players learned keys to soccer in the Netherlands. Now the Americans aim to knock the Dutch out of the World Cup.
Pulisic followed the game on a mobile phone while he was being examined for what was eventually diagnosed as a pelvic bruise.
He was cleared to play after Friday night’s training session. A win Saturday would send the U.S. to the World Cup quarterfinals for just the second time in the tournament’s modern era.
