Zhipan Sport

US confirm Pulisic leg fracture in defeat by Belgium

Jul 10, 03:28 AM

The United States confirm that forward Christian Pulisic fractured his leg during his side's 4-1 defeat by Belgium in the World Cup last 16.

The United States Soccer Federation has confirmed that forward Christian Pulisic suffered a fractured leg during the team's 4-1 loss to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16. Pulisic was injured in the 32nd minute after a challenge and was stretchered off the field. Subsequent medical examinations revealed a fracture of the left fibula. The 22-year-old Chelsea winger was the focal point of the US attack, having scored two goals and provided one assist in the group stage. His absence dealt a severe blow to the team's offensive capabilities. The US ultimately fell 4-1 to Belgium, failing to reach the quarterfinals. Pulisic's injury is expected to sideline him for 6-8 weeks, potentially affecting his preseason preparations with Chelsea. US coach Gregg Berhalter said, "Losing Christian is extremely tough for us. He is the soul of this team. But we must move forward, and young players need to step up." For Belgium, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku each scored, while Eden Hazard netted a brace. The US's only goal came from substitute Jozy Altidore. Pulisic took to social media to thank fans for their support and vowed to recover quickly. His injury has also sparked discussions about the intense World Cup schedule leading to increased player injuries.