Pulisic returns to training as USA and Netherlands prepare for World Cup last 16 showdown

Christian Pulisic looks set to be passed fit for the USA's 2022 World Cup last 16 showdown with the Netherlands, according to manager Gregg Berhalter.

Chelsea winger Pulisic, one of the US's key players, suffered a pelvic contusion while scoring the winner against Iran on Tuesday, which sent his side through to the knockout stages.

The United States camp have been cautiously optimistic that Pulisic would be fit to face the Netherlands, and Berhalter said the signs are good.

“We’re going to see him on the training field today,” the manager said. “What I think is, it looks pretty good, so we’ll have to see him today on the pitch to get confirmation of that.”

Indeed, Pulisic did train with his teammates at the Al-Gharafa SC Stadium as the United States took part in a final session ahead of taking on the Netherlands.

Over at Qatar University, the Netherlands also hit the training pitch one last time before the match at Khalifa International Stadium, and manager Louis van Gaal is expecting a tough encounter.

"The USA has demonstrated that it has an excellent team, I would even say one of the best teams, a team that is fine-tuned (but) it's nothing we can't overcome," Van Gaal said.

"The USA that is a very energetic squad, they have physically strong players and that is tough for any opponent, and you can tell from their results, but we will do everything we can to win and to beat USA, that's it."

Check out the best photos from the USA and Netherlands training sessions in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.

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The language of diplomacy in 1853

Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)

We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.

Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale