Sudden center-back shortage offers USMNT a chance to try World Cup-style adjustments

• Chris Richards and Miles Robinson out for Belgium game

• Robinson to also miss Tuesday friendly v Portugal

• Richards arrived from Crystal Palace with knee issue

If the US men’s national team needed a test run for how a sudden injury crisis could affect preparations for games against top opponents at the World Cup, they have one now. Injuries to defenders Chris Richards and Miles Robinson have the US facing a sudden center-back shortage ahead of friendlies against Belgium on Saturday and Portugal on Tuesday – the final two games before head coach Mauricio Pochettino names his roster for this summer’s World Cup on home soil.

Richards, who is a presumed starter and unquestioned leader along the backline, was ruled out for the first friendly against Belgium with what Pochettino termed a “problem” with his knee, while Miles Robinson will miss both games after suffering a groin injury in training with the US earlier this week.