WORLD CUP | Pochettino to rest four US starters vs Türkiye to avoid knockout-stage suspensions

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said he plans to sit four starters in jeopardy of suspension for the start of the World Cup knockout stage in Thursday’s final Group D match against Türkiye at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, with the Round of 32 set for Wednesday in Santa Clara. He said he will make careful decisions on Christian Pulisic, returning from a calf injury, and Cristian Roldan, who is nursing a quadriceps ailment and has not trained fully this week, according to Yahoo Sports. Pochettino is not expected to change the entire lineup, with goalkeeper Matt Freese likely to keep his spot, and he could again use Weston McKennie and striker Ricardo Pepi. Tyler Adams, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson and Folarin Balogun are among those carrying yellow cards, and Pochettino indicated it is in his interest not to play any of them because yellow cards that do not lead to suspension are wiped out after the group stage.