The availability of U.S. men’s national team star winger Christian Pulisic will be determined before the critical Group D showdown against Australia in Seattle on Friday afternoon, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said.

“We will see,” Pochettino said on Thursday. “If he is not available for tomorrow, he will be available for the next game. … He’s doing a massive effort trying to be ready.”

Pulisic sustained a left calf injury and was subbed at halftime of the 4-1 victory over Paraguay on June 12. He has been limited in training since Monday and was seen with a compression sleeve on his left leg on Wednesday, but he has not participated in full team training.

“I think as you know he was training individually all week,” Pochettino said. “Like always, I think tonight or the day before the game we have a meeting with our medical area, we will assess the whole group, and tomorrow we will communicate if we agree on something tonight. He is evolving, he is much better from Friday. We’ll see.”

If he is unavailable, options to take his place include Sebastian Berhalter, Gio Reyna, Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson or Alejandro Zendejas.

But nobody can replace the dynamism of Pulisic, who contributed to the first two goals against Paraguay in the group-stage opener and was a menace on the left flank.

“Hopefully he can be there tomorrow,” midfielder Weston McKennie said on Thursday. “I know he really wants to be and he’s doing everything he can, and the staff is doing everything they can as well.”

The statement victory in Inglewood, Calif., galvanized the nation and drew a record TV audience. More of the same is expected in Seattle.

“We still have a lot more games to go, and against a lot of good teams,” Berhalter said. “But we want people to believe, we want people to be excited about this team.”

Standing in the way is upstart Australia. They were predicted to be an afterthought in the group but stunned Turkey 2-0 on Sunday.

A few derisive comments in the U.S. media, including a TV analyst calling the game a “layup,” added fuel for the Aussies.

“I’ve never wanted to win a game more than this one, I can tell you for free,” Australia defender Kai Trewin said. “I’ve never wanted to win a game more than I’ve wanted to win this game against the U.S. for sure.”

The match sets up intriguing scenarios:

–The U.S. and Australia each would advance to the Round of 32 with a victory.

–The U.S. would win the group by defeating Australia and Paraguay winning or tying vs. Turkey later on Friday. The USMNT only won its World Cup group in 1930 and 2010.

–Australia would win Group D with a win and a Turkey win or draw.

The Aussies employed a young, physical squad against Turkey and more of the same is expected vs. the U.S.

Nestory Irankunda, 20, was a surprise starter for coach Tony Popovic and responded with a goal.

“For the people that doubted us, there’s still plenty more to come,” Irankunda said.

The other startling move was benching goalkeeper and captain Mathew Ryan, who started in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups, in favor of Patrick Beach, who made eight saves vs. Turkey in just his third international match.

“They were really comfortable defending and they put everything on the line, and obviously they were a real big threat on the counterattack as well,” U.S. defender Antonee Robinson said.

–Group C: Scotland vs. Morocco in Foxborough, Mass.: The Scots, who won their opener 1-0 vs. Haiti in their first World Cup since 1998, will advance to the knockout stage for the first time with a win. They can win the group with a victory and a Brazil tie or loss to Haiti. Morocco, buoyed by a 1-1 tie with Brazil in their opener, will look to Ismael Saibari for scoring, as he did vs. the Brazilians.

–Group C: Brazil vs. Haiti in Philadelphia: Brazilian star Neymar, 34, may be available for the first time since sustaining a right calf injury on May 17. Haiti will be eliminated if they lose to Brazil and Morocco beats Scotland.

–Group D: Paraguay vs. Turkey in Santa Clara, Calif.: Five Paraguay players, including forward Miguel Almiron of Atlanta United, are sitting on yellow cards. Paraguay will be eliminated with a loss and an Australian win or draw. Turkey can’t finish in the top two of the group if they lose and the U.S. win or tie.

–Field Level Media