Berhalter 鈥榟opeful鈥� on Pulisic fitness for World Cup last 16

Head coach Gregg Berhalter of the US pats Christian Pulisic on the back as he returns to the pitch after being assisted during the World Cup group B match against Iran at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on Nov. 29, 2022. (AP)
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  • Chelsea star Pulisic suffered a pelvic contusion following a heavy collision while scoring the winning goal in Tuesday's 1-0 victory over Iran
  • Berhalter said Pulisic was on the mend and would be tested later Friday during training

DOHA: United States coach Gregg Berhalter is 鈥渉opeful鈥� Christian Pulisic will be fit to face the Netherlands in Saturday鈥檚 World Cup last-16 clash but striker Josh Sargent remains a fitness doubt.
Chelsea star Pulisic suffered a pelvic contusion following a heavy collision while scoring the winning goal in Tuesday鈥檚 1-0 victory over Iran.
The 24-year-old was subsequently substituted and went to hospital following the game for tests.
Berhalter said Pulisic was on the mend and would be tested later Friday during training.
鈥淩egarding Christian, we鈥檙e going to see him on the training field today,鈥� Berhalter told a news conference on Friday.
鈥淚t looks pretty good, but we鈥檒l have to see him on the pitch to get confirmation of that.鈥�
However, there remain concerns over Norwich striker Sargent, who also picked up a knock in the win over Iran.
鈥淲ith Christian we鈥檙e hopeful, with (Josh) a little less so,鈥� Berhalter said.
鈥淏ut we鈥檒l see. At this stage of the tournament it鈥檚 go time. If you can push through it, you do. I鈥檓 sure he鈥檒l have that mindset.鈥�
The United States advanced to Saturday鈥檚 second round meeting at the Al Khalifa Stadium after finishing second behind England in Group B.
Captain Tyler Adams said the American squad had been energised by the support at home, where record numbers of viewers have tuned into the USA鈥檚 games in Qatar.
鈥淭he support from the US has been surreal 鈥� it鈥檚 really cool to see how much a tournament can change the perspective of people watching soccer,鈥� Adams said.
鈥淭hat was one of our goals coming into the tournament. The further we go, the more support we gather. We want the next generations to come to have that support.
鈥淲hen we can play an attractive style, and fight and represent the country in the right way, you鈥檙e going to gather that support.鈥�
Berhalter said the US squad had 鈥渇elt a responsibility to use this World Cup to create momentum in the United States for soccer.鈥�
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we want to keep going and do well and make the country proud,鈥� he added.