Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards is ruled OUT of the World Cup through injury as USA suffers blow on the eve of Gregg Berhalter’s 26-man roster announcement
USMNT defender Chris Richards has suffered World Cup heartbreak after revealing he cannot play in the tournament due to injury.
The Crystal Palace center back’s season has been plagued by a leg injury and he has not recovered in time to head to Qatar in less than two weeks. USA head coach Gregg Berhalter is sweating on a number of players.
Richards, who has been sidelined since August 27, announced his crushing news on his Instagram profile Tuesday.
USMNT defender Chris Richards has not recovered from injury in time for the World Cup
Richards, who has been sidelined since August 27, announced his crushing news on Instagram
His post read: ‘Gutted that this injury has ruled me out of the World Cup but I know that the boys will go crazy regardless… will be rooting for y’all the whole way,’ followed by a red love heart.
‘Go out and make history.’
Central defense has been one of the areas of concern for Berhalter, who will name his 26-man roster for the showpiece tournament on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old has joined Atlanta United’s Miles Robinson in the treatment room, leaving New York Red Bulls captain Aaron Long and Nashville SC star Walker Zimmerman likely to lock the center-back spots.
USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter will name his 26-man roster for World Cup on Wednesday
Richards is one of USMNT’s top prospects following his move from Bayern Munich to England’s Premier League over the summer.
He made the switch in a $9.8million, five-year deal and then featured in Palace’s first four games.
The defender swapped Dallas for Munich in 2018 and he gained experience out on loan at Hoffenheim since February 2021.
Berhalter said last week he’d assess injured players on ‘case-by-case basis’ before the tournament start on November 20.
Celta Vigo midfielder Luca de la Torre is out with a hamstring injury until just before that date, while Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie is currently sidelined with a quad injury although his place in the squad isn’t in doubt.
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