USA vs Australia: More of the Same from Stars and Stripes?
by Bradley Gibbs | by Tyler Doty
Co-hosts couldn’t be held back in California
The Stars and Stripes could’ve been forgiven for making a nervy start in that Group D World Cup opener against Paraguay, but any pre-game nerves were quickly settled when Christian Pulisic darted into the penalty area after only six minutes, laying off to West McKennie, whose square pass was diverted into the Paraguay net.
After taking the lead, the co-hosts stepped on the gas, adding a second goal through Folarin Balogun, who doubled his tally with a fine finish just before half time. The Paraguayans pulled one back in the second period, but that was merely a consolation, with the US dominating throughout, earning a deserved winning margin of three goals when substitute Gio Reyna fired home at the death.
Pulled off as a precaution or was it more?
With his men three goals to the good as the half-time whistle sounded in Los Angeles a week ago, Mauricio Pochettino opted to preserve the fitness of Christian Pulisic, who played a key role in the USA’s opening goal, or so it seemed.
It looked as if Pulisic was taken off to ensure that he’d be at 100% for this game, but it turns out that the substitution may have been more than a precaution. Over the last few days, there have been several reports suggesting that Pulisic, who has always been something of a sufferer of regular injuries, is carrying a knock, a knock that may well be severe enough to prevent him from starting this game.
Ahead of the USA’s next assignment, check out our USA vs Australia pick. Will it be more of the same from Pochettino’s men?
Who can replace the main man?
If Pulisic isn’t close to 100%, then it’s unlikely that Mauricio Pochettino will risk the AC Milan star, who needs to be fit and ready to roll as this tournament progresses. Thankfully, the Stars and Stripes are in a strong position after that win against Paraguay, so playing this game against the Australians, who will try to be defiant but may be offensively limited, without Pulisic won’t be too disastrous.
The question is who comes in for the creator-in-chief? Let’s consider the options:
- Sebastian Berhalter
- Gio Reyna
- Brendon Aaronson
- Max Arfsten
- Timothy Weah
- Ricardo Pepi
Sebastian Berhalter replaced Pulisic at half time in the previous game. The Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder, who has ten goals and assists in 14 MLS appearances to his name in 2026, is clearly an option, but he may not be first choice as a starting replacement.
Following that wonderful goal, Gio Reyna is likely high on the list of likely replacements, especially as creativity is very much his thing.
Brenden Aaronson, coming off the back of a solid season in the English Premier League, is another option. He certainly brings both tenacity and creativity in the final third, while if Pochettino is looking to shift things a little and replace Pulisic with more width, the marauding Max Arfsten provides that.
Maybe the injury to Pulisic will prompt a switch in formation, with either Timothy Weah or Ricardo Pepi coming in to partner Folarin Balogun in a front two.
Clearly, the absence of the star man after just one game is not what the doctor ordered, but Pochettino has squad depth, there’s no denying that, and there are several routes that the Stars and Stripes boss can take.
Whichever direction Pochettino goes in should Pulisic prove to be less than fit enough to start Friday’s game, the co-hosts are nicely poised after that thumping win, so they’ll fancy themselves to get the positive result that puts them in pole position to qualify as group winners.
