Amerika Serikat Bersiap Hadapi Australia pada Lanjutan Piala Dunia 2026

Tim nasional sepak bola pria Amerika Serikat bersiap menghadapi Australia dalam pertandingan kedua Grup D Piala Dunia 2026 di Stadion Lumen Field, Seattle, pada Sabtu, 20 Juni 2026, setelah kedua tim meraih kemenangan pada laga pembuka.

Pertandingan ini menjadi krusial karena pemenangnya dipastikan lolos ke babak berikutnya, namun Amerika Serikat menghadapi kendala setelah kapten mereka, Christian Pulisic, harus berlatih terpisah selama empat hari berturut-turut akibat cedera betis.

Pulisic mengalami cedera tersebut saat menang 4-1 atas Paraguay di Los Angeles, di mana Folarin Balogun mencetak dua gol, sementara Australia bermodal kemenangan kejutan 2-0 atas Turki melalui gol Nestory Irankunda dan Connor Metcalfe.

Pelatih Amerika Serikat, Mauricio Pochettino, menyatakan bahwa kondisi Pulisic saat ini sudah jauh lebih baik dibandingkan pekan lalu ketika sang pemain ditarik keluar pada babak pertama.

"We’ll see," kata Pochettino. "At the moment, we’ll see. If he’s not available for tomorrow, he will be available for the next game."

Pochettino menambahkan bahwa tim pelatih terus mengevaluasi segala kemungkinan untuk mengantisipasi absennya penyerang sayap AC Milan tersebut.

"At the moment, we are evaluating all possibilities just in case," kata Pochettino. "And then, we will decide if we have to go in one or another direction."

Gelandang Amerika Serikat, Weston McKennie, berharap Pulisic bisa segera pulih dan bermain karena sang kapten telah melakukan segala upaya untuk kembali bugar.

"I know he really wants to be in, and he’s doing everything that he can, and the staff is doing everything that they can as well," kata McKennie. "But, that’s also another question that’s better to ask him than me."

McKennie juga menegaskan bahwa kondisi mental Pulisic tetap terjaga dengan baik berkat dukungan penuh dari seluruh anggota tim selama proses pemulihan.

"I think mentally he’s great," kata McKennie. "I think it’s really hard for someone’s mental game to be messed up in these types of conditions in U.S. soccer, and all the guys around, we’re a big family. So, we’re always there to pick someone up if they’re down, and excel them even further if they’re not. So, I think he’s doing good mentally."

Sementara itu, gelandang Cristian Roldan mengungkapkan antusiasme skuad The Stars and Stripes yang merasakan besarnya dukungan publik domestik sepanjang turnamen ini.

"What excites me is that the entire world, the entire nation is behind us," kata Roldan. "I think that they enjoyed watching us play, and at the end of the day what we want to do is inspire and motivate the next generation. … We have to build off it, and that’s the truth. We can’t just talk about it: we have to show out against Australia."

Di kubu lawan, pelatih Australia Tony Popovic membuat keputusan berani dengan mencadangkan kapten Mathew Ryan dan memainkan kiper muda Patrick Beach yang melakukan delapan penyelamatan penting saat melawan Turki.

Beach mengaku sangat gembira dengan hasil pertandingan debutnya dan merasa kepercayaan dari pelatih serta rekan setimnya memberikan rasa percaya diri yang besar.

"Over the moon, buzzing with the result, buzzing with the boots, the staff, the amazing crowd, everyone back home in Australia," ujar Beach dilansir dari SBS. "We know what this result does for the sport and the whole country. I found out a few days ago and my immediate reaction was excitement and joy. Understanding of what my role was and having the backing from the boss and the boys as well instils me with a lot of confidence to play my game."

Pencetak gol kedua Australia, Connor Metcalfe, mengekspresikan rasa tidak percayanya bisa mencetak gol di pertandingan pertamanya pada ajang Piala Dunia.

"When I saw that ball go in, the feeling that went through my body, I can’t explain it," kata Metcalfe. "For it to be my first World Cup, my first game and to score, it can’t have gone any better. Honestly, I wasn’t really thinking.

I just took the ball, didn’t even look at anyone else, looked up, seen the goal and just shot. Luckily it was just perfect placement, I’ll take that every day. I’m so proud of all the boys.

The shift we just put in, we deserve it. It was unbelievable, everyone was switched on for 90 minutes. And when the subs came on they did their job.

We’re going to have a good time in the change room and enjoy this win. We’re used to being the underdog, but with our mentality I think we can beat anyone."