WORLD CUP | Pulisic on bench for USMNT vs Türkiye after left calf injury

Christian Pulisic was named to the bench for the United States men’s national team match against Türkiye on Thursday night in Los Angeles after a left calf injury, according to Yahoo Sports. Pulisic, 27, has not played since going off in the first half of the USMNT’s World Cup opening win over Paraguay on June 12, and he had said Wednesday he expected to be available. With Pulisic watching, Mauricio Pochettino started two strikers, pairing Ricardo Pepi with Folarin Balogun. The U.S. has already clinched Group D and a place in the round of 32, and Pochettino also sat Tyler Adams, Balogun, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson to protect them after they picked up yellow cards in the opening two matches. The U.S. begins knockout play on July 1 at Levi's Stadium in Santa, Clara California.