USA to bench four players on yellow cards for Turkey matchup

[p]The U.S. have already guaranteed top ‌spot in Group D, and with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/turkey/QeijuHo5/"]Turkey[/a] already out, the match is a dead rubber. ‌However, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pochettino-mauricio/zuJM7XDg/"]Pochettino[/a] said the players he picks need the hunger to ‌win.[/p][p]Although he has not made a final decision on whether to play forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pulisic-christian/vTuaEfRq/"]‌Christian Pulisic[/a], whoever he selects must have a desire to "[b]eat the ‌grass,"[/b] he told reporters on Wednesday.[/p][embed guid="27d86af5-0cf5-44a3-ac1e-92e8554624f2" url="https://x.com/YahooSports/status/2067750544119144952?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Argentine Pochettino has decided not to start with the four players on bookings - defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/richards-chris/fVGFlDh2/"]Chris Richards[/a], wing back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/robinson-antonee/ppHdaUtm/"]Antonee Robinson[/a], midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/adams-tyler/CWnkAe9t/"]Tyler ‌Adams,[/a] and forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balgun-folarin/rVZLmUsU/"]Folarin Balogun[/a] - which means they are ⁠unlikely to feature.[/p][p]The yellow cards ‌are a problem not just because another booking would see players ruled unavailable, but ​also because it could cause them to be less aggressive on the pitch.[/p][p][b]"I think that this is a little bit normal ​and an easy answer, you know, not to play them from the beginning,"[/b] Pochettino said. [b]"Of course, we are qualified (for the last 32). But ⁠for sure we want to ​win,"[/b] he added.[/p][p]Pulisic has been managing a calf muscle problem and, even though he has been passed fit, Pochettino and the medical staff must decide whether to start him or bring him off the bench.[/p][embed guid="2ff890ba-ae7e-4447-984d-50a9f22f8d87" url="https://x.com/TelegraphDucker/status/2069914577656291509?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The stakes in ‌Thursday's match might not seem that high to an outside observer, but it was clear from both camps on Wednesday that they have other reasons to seek a victory.[/p][p]Turkey coach [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/montella-vincenzo/vcAWhGM6/"]Vincenzo Montella[/a] spoke at length and repeatedly about his side's belief in their quality, despite losing both matches so far, and the pain that criticism from some fans and media has caused the players.[/p][p]He sounded like a man with something to prove, and Pochettino also noted that Turkey would be determined to get a result.[/p][p][b]"It ‌is an opportunity for them to play for pride, for their country, ​for their flag,"[/b] he said.[/p][image alt="USA-Turkey win probability" id="0f315760-2835-46d7-b10f-38926f5f2e17" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="8f28ee44-d759-4382-bdb8-eb13fad903e6" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]The U.S. come into the match in ‌an unfamiliar position, having become a national sensation in a country that normally does not prioritise soccer except at a local level.[/p][p]The U.S. team's players, like Pulisic, appear in mainstream television ads and are becoming household names to millions.[/p][p]Pochettino described the public support seen ⁠and felt by the players as ⁠being like the difference between [b]"day ‌and night"[/b] from the situation before the tournament.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]