Germany’s final warm-up match before the World Cup ended in a 2-1 victory. However, a tournament-ending injury to emerging talent Lennart Karl and uncertainties surrounding veteran Manuel Neuer mean coach Julian Nagelsmann has plenty to address.
Germany secured their ninth consecutive win with a 2-1 victory over the USA in their final pre-World Cup fixture.
The triumph, thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane, marks four straight friendly wins, adding to their six World Cup qualifying victories. Yet Julian Nagelsmann is aware that sterner challenges lie ahead.
Just as he did for his club, Arsenal, in the Champions League final, Havertz put Germany ahead early, this time within two minutes. The striker, who joined the squad later than anyone else following that final, headed home from close range after just 120 seconds. Havertz was left unmarked to nod in a Joshua Kimmich free kick from the right, with the US defense absent.
Germany could not build on that early advantage and were pulled back by Antonee Robinson’s stunning long-range volley in the 37th minute. The left-back fired his shot past Oliver Baumann and into the top corner from just outside the box after Jonathan Tah’s clearing header fell to his left foot.
Havertz and Germany hitting form
After a stronger start to the second half by Germany, Havertz was again involved when they regained the lead in the 57th minute. The forward passed the ball to the advancing Leroy Sane in the box, who then drilled a low, first-time left-footed shot into the bottom corner. Both teams made several substitutions soon after, with Havertz and Kimmich among those given extra rest before Germany kick off their World Cup campaign against debutants Curacao on June 14.
"Overall, we played a good match. We're in good shape," Havertz told German broadcaster RTL after the game, adding, "We're going into the first match with our heads held high."
Further substitutions from both sides slowed the game even more, but Brendan Aaronson came close to equalizing for the USA in the final minutes, only to be denied by Baumann, allowing Germany to hold on.
Karl injury sours Germany mood despite win
While the clash in Chicago may have given Germany the chance to field most of their likely starters ahead of the tournament in North America, any boost from the victory was dampened by injury news that surfaced in the buildup.
Bayern Munich’s attacking midfielder Lennart Karl, 18, was something of a surprise pick for Julian Nagelsmann and could have provided the spark often missing on Saturday. Karl broke through for the German champions this year and earned a spot in the national team conversation with a series of bold, creative performances. He started and set up a goal in Germany’s last friendly, a win over Finland, and appeared poised to play a key role in the tournament.
However, a thigh injury suffered in the final training session before Saturday’s match forced Karl to bid an emotional farewell to the rest of the squad. Since nations can make injury replacements to their squad up to 24 hours before their opening game, RB Leipzig’s Assan Ouedraogo will take his place.
"I feel incredibly sorry for Lenny," Julian Nagelsmann said before the match. "It's a huge shock for him and all of us that he's missing the World Cup. It's only a small consolation that he's young and has many tournaments ahead of him. We would have loved to have him on the team."
Neuer short of fitness ahead of Germany World Cup opener
Nagelsmann also had some concerns at the other end of the pitch, and on the age spectrum. The coach convinced Karl’s Bayern Munich teammate Manuel Neuer, 40, to come out of international retirement for one last shot at a second World Cup win, but Neuer has missed both pre-tournament friendlies with a calf injury. Although Neuer has vast experience, he has not played a match since being substituted in Bayern’s last Bundesliga game on May 16 and missed the German Cup final.
But the Germany coach said after Saturday’s win that he is confident Neuer will start the World Cup opener despite offering a "huge compliment" to Baumann, who will make way for the veteran.
Even if they go into that Curacao match on the back of nine straight wins and with Neuer fit, the loss of Karl means Nagelsmann has work to do to lift the group before the serious action has even begun.
Edited by: Rana Taha