The group stage is just around the corner, and the anticipation is palpable.
On Saturday, the US men’s national team wrapped up its pre-World Cup preparations with a 2-1 defeat against Germany at Soldier Field, where a spirited crowd of 63,636 fans gathered under a Chicago sky that fluctuated between sweltering heat and light drizzle.
Antonee Robinson netted the sole goal for the United States with a stunning volley, while Germany scored twice, once in each half.
This year has presented numerous challenges for the United States, yet Saturday’s performance demonstrated the squad’s readiness as they gear up for the Group D opener.
Questions still linger about effectively providing support to the agile Balogun, who was limited to just 20 touches during his 72 minutes on the field, closely marked by the formidable Jonathan Tah. Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic and Sergiño Dest struggled to make a significant impact from the flanks, highlighting Germany’s organized defense and determination to stifle the US before they could build momentum.
Even after conceding a goal, the United States seemed to maintain focus, minimizing errors—a notable improvement compared to their March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal.
Germany wasted no time establishing dominance. Following a foul by Tyler Adams near the penalty area, Joshua Kimmich delivered a curling indirect free kick that found Kai Havertz, who was cleverly screened from Tim Ream. Havertz easily converted with a header from close range, sending a wave of disappointment through the home crowd, just as a light rain began to fall.
As the 12th minute approached, the clouds cleared to expose the US’s first notable offensive sequence following Havertz’s goal. With a fluid playing style, Pochettino’s squad saw Dest actively engage in his wing-back role, while Alex Freeman often positioned himself more like a right-back than part of a central defense trio. The US maintained possession effectively but struggled to convert opportunities, with Dest’s long-range effort sailing over the crossbar and subsequent attempts being blocked or cleared.
A cooling break in the 23rd minute disrupted the flow of the game, leading to a series of unproductive passes and petty fouls from both sides.
Then, in a moment of jubilation, Antonee Robinson scored, igniting cheers from the home crowd. Positioned just outside the box, he connected with a corner kick that had looped to him after a preceding header, striking the ball before it touched the ground and sending a powerful volley past Oliver Baumann for his fifth international goal.
The Germans continued to play aggressively. Tim Ream suffered a neck foul at one point, while Pulisic found himself on the ground, clutching his back after a tackle from behind by Leroy Sané. Referee Piero Mazo, who won’t officiate at the World Cup, allowed both teams to engage physically without issuing many cards, which frustrated home supporters as Germany went into the half without receiving a yellow card. Nonetheless, the US’s response to an early setback offered plenty of reasons for optimism.
Both teams retained their starting eleven as the second half commenced, but Germany’s defensive setup posed challenges for the US in threatening Baumann’s goal.
The situation became more difficult for the US after Germany regained the lead. Jamal Musiala delivered a quick through-ball to Sané, who had a slight edge over the trailing Tyler Adams. Sané placed his shot into the far corner, eluding a diving Freese and restoring Germany’s one-goal advantage in the 57th minute.
Substitutions began at the hour mark, disrupting the US’s high pressing and resulting in disorganized off-ball movement. Freese was the only starter to complete the full match, addressing questions about the starting goalkeeper position after Pochettino rotated between Matt Turner and Chris Brady in the earlier warm-up against Senegal.
As personnel changes continued, the match settled into a slower exchange of plays. Both goalkeepers faced testing shots in the closing quarter-hour, yet neither conceded. Sebastian Berhalter showcased his movement on the pitch, maintaining possession and displaying flashes of skill around the area, making a strong argument for a starting position against Paraguay.
The US bench erupted in defense of Weah after the Marseille winger executed a sliding tackle on David Raum, prompting Nico Schlotterbeck and Tah to confront him. The crowd rallied behind Weah, cheering loudly and chanting “U-S-A” as Mazo attempted to resume the match.
This collective support for Weah served as a testament to the squad’s unity—an encouraging sign as the US approaches the World Cup, showcasing their cohesion under Pochettino, with only one player (Richards) facing fitness concerns.
Few could claim that the co-hosts embarrassed themselves against two teams aiming for a deep run in the tournament. Now, all eyes are on the grand event ahead.
