INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) 鈥� Top U.S. defender Chris Richards is officially healthy enough to play in the opener less than four weeks after a significant ankle injury.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino said Thursday that Richards 鈥渋s available to be selected鈥� when the Americans host Paraguay on Friday night.
鈥淲e will decide whether he’ll start from the beginning of the game or (come off) the bench,鈥� Pochettino added. 鈥淥ur medical staff and performance worked really hard (on Richards’) recovery. It’s a really good feeling to have 26 players available to be selected.鈥�
Richards is considered the team鈥檚 top central defender and a key component of the World Cup starting lineup, but he got injured . Eagles manager Oliver Glasner said he believed Richards tore two ligaments in his ankle, but the exact nature of the injury hasn鈥檛 been disclosed.
Richards missed the Americans’ two friendlies over the past two weeks, but he said Wednesday that his ankle was 鈥渇eeling good. Maybe a little swollen, but nothing tape can鈥檛 help. If there鈥檚 any time to sacrifice yourself, it鈥檚 now.鈥�
Richards’ presence will be important to the Americans’ hopes of slowing down the world’s best teams, and Paraguay presents an immediate challenge.
Paraguay qualified for its first World Cup since 2010 with strong defensive organization, potent counterattacks and a promising new generation of players leading the way.
The U.S. defense got a break last week when gifted Strasbourg playmaker Julio Enciso was injured, likely sidelining him for at least this match.
Pochettino also said he has for the opener, but declined to reveal his identity.
Matt Freese, the Americans’ starter for most of the past year, and Qatar World Cup starter Matt Turner are the two candidates.
鈥淚 don’t know if they know,鈥� Pochettino said with a laugh. 鈥淏ecause if I tell, if they know, you (the media) are going to start to call them.鈥�
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