FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Chris Richards was on hand here in the Atlanta suburbs on Saturday, but won’t travel to Charlotte for Sunday’s game against Senegal.
The status of Richards, the best defender on the US national team, seems to be very much a question mark for the World Cup, according to coach Mauricio Pochettino, as he deals with an ankle injury that kept him out of the last two games of Crystal Palace’s season.
“I think he needs to keep doing his rehab,” Pochettino said. “I think it’s much better to stay here and plan to train and [see] next week how it is.”
Richards arrived at USMNT camp on Friday, after the other 25 players because Palace had a European final to play on Wednesday in Leipzig, Germany. He was available as a substitute for that victory, but didn’t play, and has yet to train with the USMNT.
A source with knowledge of the situation told The Post last week that he is expected to be ready for the World Cup, but Pochettino did not seem to be as optimistic.
“I was asking from yesterday when he arrived to [assistant coach] Jesús [Pérez] 100 times, ‘What do you think, what do you think, which formation we have?’ ” Pochettino said. “Wait, wait, wait, wait. The answer was ‘Wait, wait, wait.’ It’s too early. We need to see. The next few days are going to be key to see the possibilities to be ready or not for the World Cup.”
Though the U.S. has named its 26-man squad for the World Cup, final rosters aren’t due to FIFA until Monday, and injury replacements can be called in until 24 hours before the first game.
Next weekend’s friendly against Germany, the last send-off match before the USMNT opens the World Cup against Paraguay on June 12, will be a key milestone for Richards to play.
Richards is arguably the single most important player for the USMNT. Their depth at center back is shaky. Richards is by far the most trusted player at the position and would be a lock to start and play every meaningful minute of the World Cup if healthy.
If Richards can’t go, the possibilities to replace him on the roster would likely include Vancouver Whitecaps defender Tristan Blackmon and Toronto FC’s Walker Zimmerman.
Moving Alex Freeman inside to play as a center back would also appear to be an option, with Joe Scally capable of doing the same.
