The stage is set, and the countdown to the World Cup has begun.
On Saturday, the US men’s national team wrapped up its pre-World Cup matches with a 2-1 defeat to Germany at Soldier Field, drawing a vibrant crowd of 63,636. Fans flocked to the iconic venue on a summer day in Chicago, experiencing a mix of sweltering heat and light rain.
Antonee Robinson netted the only goal for the United States with a stunning volley, while Germany struck twice—once in each half.
Despite a tumultuous preparation period, Saturday’s performance demonstrated the team’s readiness as they gear up for Group D’s kickoff in less than a week.
Questions still linger about effectively providing support to the agile Balogun, who had only 20 touches in his 72 minutes on the field, closely marked by the imposing Jonathan Tah. Both Christian Pulisic and Sergiño Dest found it challenging to make a mark on the wings, highlighting Germany’s disciplined approach and their eagerness to stifle US momentum.
Even after conceding the first goal, the US team maintained focus and avoided making critical errors, marking a significant improvement from their prior friendlies against Belgium and Portugal in March.
Germany Establishes Dominance Early
Germany wasted no time asserting its authority in the match. Following a foul by Tyler Adams near the penalty area, Joshua Kimmich delivered a curling indirect free kick. Clever screening allowed Kai Havertz to evade his defender Tim Ream, while Miles Robinson fell a step behind. Havertz easily converted with a header from close range, sending the home crowd into a state of dismay just as a brief rain shower began.
By the 12th minute, the clouds parted, giving way to the US’s initial strong surge following Havertz’s goal. The team displayed fluid play, with Dest actively participating in his wing-back role while Alex Freeman often positioned himself more like a right-back rather than part of a three-man defense. The US maintained possession for substantial periods and showed resolve to quickly regain control whenever Germany forced a misplay. However, a long-range effort from Dest sailed over the crossbar, and subsequent attempts were either blocked or cleared before reaching their target.
A cooling break in the 23rd minute disrupted the flow of the game. Both teams struggled to regain rhythm, with ambitious passes going astray and the match becoming increasingly physical.
Finally, Antonee Robinson ignited the home crowd into cheers. Positioned just outside the penalty area, he capitalized on a corner kick that came his way after an initial header. The Fulham defender struck the ball before it touched the ground, launching a powerful volley past Oliver Baumann for his fifth international goal.
Physical Play and Resilience
Germany continued to play aggressively, with Tim Ream enduring a neck foul at one point, and Pulisic briefly hitting the ground after a tackle from behind by Leroy Sané. The Chilean referee, Piero Mazo, who will not officiate at the World Cup, allowed both teams to engage physically without issuing many fouls, frustrating the home crowd, especially as Germany concluded the first half without receiving a yellow card. Nevertheless, there were signs of encouragement in how the US responded to an early setback.
As the second half commenced, both teams retained their starting eleven, but Germany’s solid defensive setup made it difficult for the US to threaten Baumann’s goal again.
The challenge intensified when Germany reclaimed the lead. A swift through ball from Jamal Musiala reached Sané, who was a step ahead of a trailing Tyler Adams. Sané calmly placed his shot into the far corner, evading a diving Freese and restoring Germany’s lead in the 57th minute.
Late Game Developments
Substitutions began at the hour mark, disrupting the US’s high-pressing strategy and leading to confusion off the ball during possession. Freese was the only starter to complete the full 90 minutes, alleviating concerns about the starting goalkeeper for the World Cup after Pochettino had previously rotated between Matt Turner and Chris Brady in their warm-up against Senegal.
As both teams continued to shuffle their lineups, the match settled into a slower rhythm. The final quarter-hour saw both goalkeepers tested but managing to keep the score unchanged, while Sebastian Berhalter showcased his impressive movement and skills on the ball, making a compelling argument for a starting position against Paraguay.
The US bench erupted in support of Weah following a sliding challenge on David Raum, leading to confrontations with Nico Schlotterbeck and Tah. The crowd responded enthusiastically to Weah’s tackle, erupting in chants of “U-S-A” as Mazo sought to restore order.
This display of solidarity in defense of Weah proved to be as uplifting as Robinson’s goal. As the US approaches the World Cup, they appear to be more unified than ever, fully embracing Pochettino’s strategy, with only one player (Richards) facing injury concerns.
Few would argue that the tournament co-hosts failed to hold their own against teams aiming for the quarter-finals or beyond. Now, they look ahead to the grand stage of the World Cup.
