USA go into their World Cup opener against Paraguay with a genuine defensive decision hanging over [Mauricio Pochettino](plain text only). Chris Richards only resumed full training on Monday morning after tearing ankle ligaments midway through May, missed friendlies against Senegal and Germany, and is now unlikely to start. [Matt Freese](plain text only) has also definitively taken over from Matt Turner as first choice.
Why Richards' fitness changes the shape of the game
That is not a minor detail. Richards has been one of the clearest question marks in the camp, and if he is not ready then USA are asking a back line with very little recent security to deal with a team that can make matches awkward. The numbers are not especially reassuring, either: USA have kept only one clean sheet in their last 13 games and have conceded 11 goals in their past four.
There is a case for treating Richards' situation as uncertainty rather than absence, because no source here says he is definitively ruled out. Even so, the direction of travel is obvious enough. The opener is unlikely to be the night for risk-taking if Pochettino wants the defence settled quickly.
Why Paraguay can make this uncomfortable
Paraguay do not arrive with a huge scoring record, but that is part of the problem for USA. They scored only 14 goals in 18 CONMEBOL qualifying matches, and their top scorer was Antonio Sanabria with four, three of them as a substitute. That profile points to a side that can stay in games, slow them down and lean on structure.
Their ranking also explains why this matters. USA are the highest-ranked side in Group D at 17th, with Paraguay at 41st, and that gap is one reason the hosts are expected to win the opener. Cobi Jones' view is the sensible one here: "It's not the be all and end all, but getting three points at the beginning really helps your chances and establishes you as the leaders of the group."
The problem is that USA have not looked remotely locked in at the back, and Paraguay do not need many invitations to turn an opener into a slog. If Richards cannot go from the start, Pochettino's choice will say plenty about how he wants the tournament begun.
The next question is simple enough. Can USA find the right balance before Paraguay test them on Friday night in Los Angeles?
FAQ
Will the USA beat Paraguay in their World Cup opener?
USA are the highest-ranked team in Group D at 17th, but their defence has only one clean sheet in the last 13 games and 11 goals conceded in the last four. Paraguay scored 14 goals in 18 qualifying matches, so they can make the game uncomfortable. The opener looks like a real test rather than a routine home win.
Is Chris Richards expected to start for the USA against Paraguay?
Chris Richards only resumed full training on Monday morning after tearing ankle ligaments midway through May. He missed friendlies against Senegal and Germany and is now unlikely to start, so the opening-night defence is still unsettled.
Why is Matt Freese now first choice for the USA?
Matt Freese has definitively taken over from Matt Turner as Mauricio Pochettino's first choice. That matters because Richards is a major doubt, which puts more pressure on the rest of the back line before Paraguay arrive.
How dangerous are Paraguay in World Cup qualifying?
Paraguay were not prolific in qualifying, scoring 14 goals in 18 matches. Antonio Sanabria finished as their top scorer with four goals, three of them as a substitute, which underlines how much they rely on control and structure.
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