USMNT’s Final Warm‑up Against Germany Offers Insight for Paraguay Opener

CHICAGO – In the final days before the World Cup, the U.S. men’s national team continued to test their resilience after a 2‑1 loss to Germany. Just two minutes into the match, a free header from Kai Havertz put the visitors ahead before the United States had fully settled.

“I was upset, of course,” head coach Mauricio Pochettino said of the early setback. “But it was a good reminder of how the squad reacts. Their response was positive, and that’s exactly what we need for the tournament.”

Germany dominated the game, finishing with 12 shots for an expected‑goals value of 1.47, while the USMNT generated 16 shots worth 0.99 xG. The loss highlights the challenges American attackers will face against European opposition, especially with a group‑stage match against Turkey looming on June 26. Nonetheless, the performance can be seen as a step forward with the World Cup opener against Paraguay only six days away at SoFi Stadium.

Following a 3‑2 victory over Senegal a week earlier, Pochettino’s philosophy of “offense as defense” was on display, though Germany’s early goal exposed some defensive frailties. The United States rallied before the halftime break and stayed competitive after Leroy Sane’s second goal in the 57th minute.

“When you get punched in the mouth, you have to stand up and punch back,” captain Tim Ream said. “We talk about mistakes and how we respond. It’s about the next play and how we react. If we don’t respond, the game gets out of hand.”

The disappointment of a 5‑2 defeat to Belgium in March—where the U.S. led at halftime before collapsing—served as a cautionary tale. Full‑back Antonee Robinson, who scored against Germany, embraced an attacking mindset, even as he left the field with a limp. “I’m not 100 % sure, but I feel fine now,” he said.

Pochettino also highlighted the versatility of midfielder Malik Tillman, who was deployed as a link‑up player between Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie. He cited Tillman’s performance for Bayer Leverkusen against PSV as evidence of his ability to operate in multiple zones on the pitch.

“He can play in any space, and today he gave us what we needed,” Pochettino explained. “He was a bit tired, which is normal after a limited season, but his contribution was valuable.”

Adams added, “Having another attack‑oriented player helps us break lines and find solutions. We still have defensive tweaks to make, especially against teams that overload the midfield, but Tillman performed well.”

This match marked the last experimental lineup of the Pochettino era before the World Cup. With defender Chris Richards still recovering, the squad appeared as close as possible to a starting XI. After 18 months of evolution, the team now resembles a project completed just before the deadline—ready to deliver when it matters most.

As Pochettino told the players before departing for the World Cup base in Irvine, “We are entering a decisive week.”

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