The United States are already through to the knockout stages of World Cup as group winners, but the co-hosts will look to build on their gathering momentum as they face already-eliminated Turkey in Los Angeles.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team have been one of the standout sides of the World Cup so far and were dominant against Australia as the USMNT secured back-to-back wins to start the tournament for the first time since 1930.
But it leads to a dilemma for Pochettino and his players for the dead-rubber against Turkey: does the USA coach stick with the same winning team and try to continue their winning rhythm, or will he rest his key stars ahead of the knockouts?
The USA, meanwhile, could be boosted by the return of star forward Christian Pulisic, who was a livewire in their impressive opening win over Paraguay but missed the victory against Australia due to a calf injury.
Follow all the latest updates from USA v Turkey, below
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USA v Turkey LIVE: Latest World Cup updates
- USA face Turkey in final match of World Cup Group D | Live 5pm PT / 8pm ET / 3am BST
- USA are already through as group winners after two wins from two games
- Preview: What can USA gain from Turkey dead rubber? This speech tells us everything
- Team news: Christian Pulisic available to return but USA set to make changes
All eyes on star man Christian Pulisic and his fitness
19:14 , Jamie BraidwoodWill he start? Christian Pulisic, hampered by a left calf injury, returned to team training on Tuesday and will be keen for some minutes. If he misses out completely, the AC Milan winger will have had a 19-day absence from his first-half cameo against Paraguay to next week’s last-32 clash. Not disastrous, but hardly ideal.
"We need to decide if it's possible to play [him] from the beginning or be on the bench,” Mauricio Pochettino said of his star man’s availability. “Maybe to play in the second half. That is the situation."
This baffling Fifa decision could ruin the World Cup’s famous group stage drama
18:44 , Jamie BraidwoodBut is the decision expand the format to 48 teams and switching tiebreakers to head-to-head harming the drama of the World Cup? Tonight’s dead-rubber is just one example, as Miguel Delaney writes.
This baffling Fifa decision could ruin the World Cup’s famous group stage drama
Who has qualified for the knockout stages and which teams have been eliminated from the World Cup?
18:14 , Jamie BraidwoodThe United States are not the only team to have sealed their progress after two games.
They joined Germany, France, Norway, Argentina and Colombia in wrapping up their business early.
Who has qualified for World Cup’s last-32 and who has been eliminated?
Mauricio Pochettino set to rest key players who are on yellow cards
17:44 , Kieran Jackson in Los AngelesFor the USMNT tonight, some team news decisions are blindingly obvious. Four key players – Folarin Balogun, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams and Chris Richards – are a booking away from being suspended for the last-32. Expect them to watch on from the bench.
"I think it's an easy answer for the guys that have yellow cards," Mauricio Pochettino said, at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday. "I think it's unnecessary to take a risk and then take another yellow card and be not available for the next stage. I think that is a little bit of a normal and easy answer to not play with them from the beginning."
It's clear where the USMNT's priorities lie
17:22 , Kieran Jackson in Los AngelesSuch has been the USA’s dominance in Group D and the questionable tie-break switch from goal-difference to head-to-head top spot is already wrapped up.
Contrastingly, Thursday’s opponents at the Los Angeles Stadium, perennial underachievers Turkey, are guaranteed to finish bottom even if they thrash the US later tonight.
It makes the contest a largely unsatisfying dead rubber, even in an expanded tournament where third-place could be enough for a knockout berth.
But for Mauricio Pochettino, it’s less a dead rubber and more a free hit. While there will be temptation to maintain the status quo and a perfect group-stage record, the US boss is set to rotate his starting XI.
They already know their last-32 match-up will be in Santa Clara next Wednesday against a high-ranked third-place team (which would currently be Bosnia and Herzegovina). Rest and rotation are clearly the priority.
Will Christian Pulisic return for USMNT after calf injury?
17:02 , Jamie BraidwoodThe major question revolves around USA star Christian Pulisic, who was substituted at half-time in their opening win over Paraguay before missing the victory against Australia altogether.
“It was impossible for him today to play,” Mauricio Pochettino said, referring to the forward’s hamstring injury. “We hope that next game he will be available, but if we want to win the competition, we need the whole team. All of the players need to be important but of course Christian is one of the best players in the world and I hope that he can recover as soon as possible and can show it on the pitch and help the team.”
What can USA gain from Turkey dead rubber? This speech tells us everything
17:01 , Jamie BraidwoodThe United States are guaranteed Group D winners while Turkey will definitely finish bottom – yet there is still plenty Mauricio Pochettino can learn, not least about the fitness of key man Christian Pulisic ahead of the knockout stage, writes Kieran Jackson in Los Angeles.
What can USA gain from Turkey dead rubber? This Pochettino speech tells us everything
Hello and welcome
17:00 , Jamie BraidwoodIt’s been a dream start to the World Cup for the United States. With excitement around the USMNT growing, can they continue their momentum against Turkey in Los Angeles to bolster their emerging status as tournament contenders?
The USA, on paper, have nothing to play for. After wins over Paraguay and Turkey, they are safely through to the knockout stages as winners of Group D. Turkey, too, have no skin in the game. They are already out after two defeats.
But the USA will want to fuel the belief that this could be a special summer, as Mauricio Pochettino’s team returns to the So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles, the scene of their impressive opening victory over Paraguay.
Kick off is at 5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET, which works out to 3am BST.
