Jozy Altidore's status up in air after straining hamstring
United States' Jozy Altidore grimaces after pulling up injured during the group G World Cup soccer match between Ghana and the United States at the Arena das Dunas in Natal, Brazil, Monday, June 16, 2014. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa) Credit: AP
Jozy Altidore hobbled into the mixed zone underneath Arena das Dunas and a reporter asked him how he was doing.
"I'm OK," he said. "How are you?"
Well, at least the U.S. striker still had a sense of humor after straining his left hamstring during the Americans' 2-1 World Cup win over Ghana last night.
UPDATE: Jozy Altidore unlikely to play in USA's next game against Portugal
So Altidore was in a good mood, all things considered.
"We won the game in dramatic manner, like usual," he said. "It was fantastic."
His status for the rest of the Group G games against Portugal on Sunday and Germany on June 26 will be up in the air until he is examined at the team's home base in Sao Paulo Tuesday.
"I don't know. I hope so," he said of returning. "At the end of the day, what matters is the team. We had three points tonight. It was a tough game. It's looking good."
Altidore went down in agony, clutching his left hamstring after chasing the ball on the left flank in the 18th minute.
"I was sprinting and I felt something," he said. "We'll see what happens. I'm praying for the best."
This wasn't the first time the 24-year-old striker had hamstring problems. He missed the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Mexico with that injury. So it's no surprise how badly Altidore wants to return for the World Cup.
After enduring a marathon scoring slump that spanned seven months for club and country, Altidore got his game together, scoring both USA goals in a 2-1 win over Nigeria in Jacksonville, Florida, June 7.
"We rely a lot on Jozy," midfielder Michael Bradley said. "That's no secret. To lose him at that point is difficult."
