Chris Richards has been ruled out of the United States’ final friendly match against Germany, as confirmed by head coach Mauricio Pochettino during a press briefing on Friday.
The defender’s condition remains unclear as Pochettino awaits further evaluations, casting doubt on his participation in the upcoming World Cup.
“He’s still not prepared to compete and play,” Pochettino stated. “I believe we will have the chance in the next few days to evaluate his ankle and make a decision.”
Richards sustained an ankle injury during Crystal Palace’s penultimate Premier League game against Brentford. The specifics of the injury are not fully known, but Palace’s manager, Oliver Glasner, indicated that it involved torn ligaments. Consequently, Richards missed the final league match against Arsenal and was absent from the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano. Prior to the Arsenal fixture, Glasner had expressed optimism about Richards’ potential availability for the European final, which had momentarily lifted hopes regarding his readiness for the World Cup, especially considering reports that suggested confidence in his recovery.
On Friday, Pochettino reflected on Glasner’s earlier comments, indicating he believed Richards was approaching match fitness.
However, Pochettino and his coaching team now face the critical task of assessing whether a vital player can contribute in the World Cup, with the window for recovery narrowing as the group stage opener against Paraguay looms on June 12.
“Initially, we thought he might play in the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano,” Pochettino remarked in Spanish on Friday. “He was on the substitutes’ bench, if you recall. Afterward, we considered he could perhaps be involved against Senegal. Ultimately, the timelines are extending, which frustrates me. I’m unhappy about it because we recognize how important Chris Richards is to the team.”
During the pre-World Cup training camp, Richards focused on rehabilitation alone until a training session at the National Training Center on Wednesday. While the rest of the team engaged in their usual warm-up routines, Richards worked aside with trainers, focusing on resistance exercises to enhance his lateral movement.
“We will never make a decision to put a player at risk,” Pochettino emphasized on Friday. “It’s preferable to avoid any risk. That’s why the players who will start or come off the bench are fully healthy and 100% fit to play.”
Potential Replacements for Richards
In Richards’ absence during last weekend’s 3-2 victory over Senegal, Mark McKenzie filled the center-back role. Tim Ream played from the left flank, while Alex Freeman provided support by dropping deeper during defensive phases, assisting the build-up play from a wider position.
The uncertainty surrounding Richards highlights the depth of defenders included in Pochettino’s 26-man squad, which features five center-backs along with a few wide defenders capable of stepping into central roles. This group has had ample time to develop chemistry ahead of the tournament, reducing the necessity for a direct replacement in the event Richards cannot participate.
World Cup teams are permitted to make medically necessary adjustments to their rosters until 24 hours before their group-stage matches. Pochettino has until June 11 to decide whether Richards will be part of his World Cup plans.
“Ultimately, we can only hope Chris will be available,” Pochettino noted. “However, we are faced with having a player who hasn’t competed in a month, and we must determine if he is in shape to participate. There’s limited time remaining before the World Cup begins.”
