Chris Richards says he expects to be ready for Paraguay, less than four weeks after a significant left ankle injury. He joined the USMNT at their Orange County training base on Wednesday, returned to full practice this week in Irvine and missed the Americans’ two friendly matches over the past two weeks.
“It’s the World Cup, so I was going to make myself ready regardless of injuries.”
Why Richards is pushing to play
Richards did not sound like a player trying to talk his way into the squad. He said, “If there's any time to sacrifice yourself, it's now. I know I'm able to play Friday, but I don't make those decisions.” He also added that he had been thinking about Paraguay from the moment he got the diagnosis.
That is a useful distinction. The ankle is still not nothing, with Richards admitting it is “Maybe a little swollen, but nothing tape can't help.” But the player himself is clearly leaning toward being available, and the recovery work has been pointed at one game rather than a vague return date.
The match matters because Chris Richards is not just another fit-again option. He is described as the team’s top central defender, and the USMNT have already had to manage without him in the two friendlies he missed.
Pochettino still has to make the call
Mauricio Pochettino has not named his starting lineup yet, and that keeps the door open on whether Richards goes straight back into the back line. The article says a healthy Richards seems likely to start alongside Tim Ream and Alex Freeman, but that is still only likely, not final.
That matters because the U.S. are trying to settle a defence before Friday’s opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. With the lineup still unrevealed, this is not a completed decision. It is a manager waiting on one of his most important defenders to prove the ankle can hold up.
Richards has also framed the issue in purely functional terms. “I wouldn't put myself in this position if I didn't think that I could do everything 100%,” he said. That is probably the most realistic way to read this situation. He wants to play, he thinks he can play, and the final choice now sits with Pochettino before kickoff on Friday night.
FAQ
Will Chris Richards play for the USMNT against Paraguay?
Richards says he knows he is able to play Friday and feels good enough to be involved after a significant left ankle injury. He returned to full practice this week in Irvine after joining USMNT camp at the Orange County training base on Wednesday. Mauricio Pochettino has not named his lineup yet.
Why is Chris Richards’ fitness such a big issue for the USMNT opener?
The reporting frames Richards as the team’s top central defender, so his availability matters more than a standard injury update. He missed the Americans’ two friendlies over the past two weeks, and the U.S. face Paraguay on Friday night at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
How long has Chris Richards been recovering from his ankle injury?
Richards suffered a significant left ankle injury less than four weeks ago. He joined the USMNT at their Orange County training base on Wednesday and has since returned to full practice in Irvine, which is why he is pushing to be ready for the opener.
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