Chris Richards is racing against time to be ready for the United States' World Cup opener against Paraguay, as the center-back returned to full training this week after an ankle injury. The Crystal Palace defender, a key figure in Mauricio Pochettino's squad, admitted he feared the worst when he was forced off in the Premier League, but he is now confident of featuring in Friday's Group D clash.
Richards Back in Full Training
Richards, who missed the 2022 World Cup with a hamstring injury, has been a full participant in practice since Monday. The 26-year-old revealed that his ankle was severely swollen after the incident, but after receiving the diagnosis, he was determined to make it for the first game. "Once I got the diagnosis, I was like, all right, cool. Whatever it takes, I have to make it for this first game," Richards told the media on Wednesday. "I think the first time I really realized that I could be 100% for Friday was probably last week. It was a lot of massages, a lot of ice, a lot of compression, things like that."
Anxious Wait for Defender
The waiting period was understandably tense for Richards, who also had to contend with a transatlantic flight that may have complicated his recovery. Having missed the previous World Cup, it was difficult not to revisit familiar feelings of possibly missing out on a hard-earned career milestone. "When I first came out with the injury, I was pretty devastated," Richards said. "I was honestly fearing the worst, but I kind of forced myself back on the pitch to prove to myself that it was doable."
US Defense Relies on Richards
Richards is one of 10 defenders selected by Pochettino, but he projects to start at the heart of the backline. His ability to muscle opponents off the ball is unparalleled in the pool, and he helps organize the defense while clarifying roles for his teammates. Fellow center-back Mark McKenzie praised the defensive unit, saying, "I think we have a really good group of center backs. We've got a good range of experience, both at the international level and the club level, but we also shared this opportunity now with the national team for a number of years now. I think all that time together has built a really strong group."
Paraguay Without Key Player
Richards' return to fitness is an unwelcome development for Paraguay, who will be without their creator Julio Enciso due to injury. His absence could mean Paraguay retreats more tactically in hopes of claiming a crucial result against the host nation. Richards is eager to make a statement: "If you can start off the World Cup with three points – not just for our confidence, but also to show the group that we want to be the top dogs in this group, and we'll be the top dogs in this World Cup. I think with a statement hopefully on Friday and three points, I think that'll definitely set the tone for the World Cup."
The United States and Paraguay have met before in a November friendly, which the US won 2-1. Both teams have had plenty of time since December's draw to revisit that tape and monitor each other's performances. For Richards, this World Cup is a long-awaited opportunity: "I'm experiencing these things for the first time, and it's very exciting. I think the last few weeks were very intense, and now it's time to just hone in on what we do best, and hopefully get some good results."
