US look to keep World Cup momentum going against eliminated Turkey

LOS ANGELES – The United States will look to maintain their momentum and protect several key players from suspension when they face already-eliminated Turkey in their final World Cup Group D match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 25.

The Americans secured top spot with back-to-back wins to open their campaign, including a 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle on June 19 that ended with a sold-out crowd serenading the team with John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads.

The mood was far different later that day in Santa Clara, where Turkey’s hopes were extinguished with a 1-0 defeat by Paraguay, their second straight scoreless outing.

Although the match is effectively a dead rubber, US coach Mauricio Pochettino still has decisions to make, with forward Folarin Balogun, midfielder Tyler Adams and defenders Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson all carrying yellow cards.

Any player booked twice during the three group-stage matches is suspended for the next game, meaning Pochettino is likely to rest or limit the minutes of the quartet before their last 32 match on July 1.

That could open the door for fringe players to press their case, while also giving Pochettino a chance to manage the fitness of talisman Christian Pulisic.

The forward has not played since coming off at half-time in the opener against Paraguay with a left calf injury, although he returned to full team training this week.

Pochettino started Ricardo Pepi in his place against Australia and must now decide whether to give Pulisic minutes against Turkey, or hold him back as a precaution.

The US players, meanwhile, said on June 23 that they were determined not to let their standards slip.

“You don’t want to go into a knockout round having a bad feeling about how the last game went,” winger Max Arfsten said.

“So although we have advanced, I don’t think it changes anything in terms of preparation or mentality.

“It’s very important to try and continue to ride the wave of good performance.”

The Americans have previous experience of being in such circumstances. At the 2002 World Cup, with a place in the knockout stage secured, the US were beaten 3-1 by already-eliminated Poland in their final group match. They went on to beat Mexico 2-0 in the last 16 but lose 1-0 to Germany in the quarter-finals.

Turkey, making their first World Cup appearance in 24 years, will be desperate to avoid going home without a goal, let alone a win.

In the other match, Australia head into their final group match against Paraguay with their fate in their hands, needing only a draw to reach the knockout phase, with the result also likely to enable the South Americans to progress.

But Australia and Paraguay – both on three points – will also know that finishing second could earn a potentially easier opponent in the round of 32.

The US have already sealed top spot. REUTERS