They brought out Chance the Rapper and performing dogs and US Soccer stars of yesteryear. They let off fireworks and flew two B52s over the stands of Soldier Field. But nothing stirs a crowd quite like a thunderbolt and a scrap.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team provided both in this World Cup send-off against Germany that answered many questions about the grit and quality of this US team but posed several more heading into a momentous summer.
After Kai Havertz’s early opener threatened to suck the life out of Soldier Field, the USMNT rallied before Antonee Robinson levelled the game with an outrageous volley.
That lifted the roof off this place and then, in stoppage time, substitute Tim Weah’s hefty tackle sparked a mass shoving match and cries of ‘U-S-A’ from the Chicago crowd.
There was only issue. In between those flashpoints, Leroy Sane had placed a shot into the bottom corner to condemn the US to defeat in this World Cup dress rehearsal.
Once again, there were more than enough shoots of optimism to suggest Pochettino’s team can go deep this summer. But also enough reminder of lingering frailties to temper expectations heading into next week’s opener against Paraguay.
This 2-1 loss was America’s ninth consecutive defeat against European opposition dating back to the 2022 World Cup. And that will sting for Pochettino and his players.
Germany beat the United States in their final World Cup warm-up game in Chicago on Saturday
Christian Pulisic and Co were beaten 2-1 at Soldier Field ahead of this summer’s tournament
Antonee Robinson scored a stunning volley to level the match shortly before halftime
Because this more than a final warm-up game. This was more than a send-off match sponsored by Coca-Cola. This friendly, against the four-time world champions, the No 10-ranked team in the world, was another chance to prove how good the US can be under Pochettino. To show that they can mix it with the best teams in the world.
Once more, the USA demonstrated that they can hurt anyone. They created ample chances to win this game. But once more this team was undone by soft goals at the other end of the pitch. And that is the nagging concern heading into next week.
Many of the American heroes of 1994 were paraded on the pitch shortly before kick-off. Hairlines have receded and waistlines have expanded since their heroics three decades ago. But the legacy of the last home World Cup lives on in this generation and after Pochettino’s players emerged from the tunnel to warm up, they locked arms with their forefathers for a group photo. A journey spanning 32 years captured in a single picture.
Alexi Lalas and Co were decked out in the same red and white stripes that the USMNT will wear this summer. So were thousands of fans in the streets of downtown Chicago and on the walk to Soldier Field.
Make no mistake, however, the battle for hearts and minds is not won: as soccer fans wandered through Grant Park, hordes of people headed in the other direction… toward Pokemon Go Fest. At one point, a group debating the qualities of Matt Freese were passed by a couple discussing the possible whereabouts of Pikachu.
There is plenty of work to be done on the pitch, too. That much became obvious after just 106 seconds, when Joshua Kimmich clipped a free-kick toward the back post, where Havertz was waiting. All alone.
The Arsenal forward had drifted off the back of Tim Ream and away from Miles Robinson. It was clever from Havertz and from Nico Schlotterbeck, who acted as a blocker to buy his teammate space. From an American point of view, however, it was painfully soft. Just like Senegal’s two goals last week.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team will kick off their World Cup campaign against Paraguay next week
Germany winger Leroy Sane (right) scored the winning goal during the second half in Chicago
The early setback silenced Soldier Field and, for a few minutes, the US were teetering. Havertz had the ball in the net once more, only for the US to be saved by the assistant’s flag. All of a sudden, the specter of Chris Richards loomed large. Without him, Pochettino had played a back four that looked brittle. They need the Crystal Palace defender back as soon as possible.
By half-time, however, Pochettino’s team were level and in the ascendancy. The USMNT gained a foothold long before Robinson’s thunderbolt. They looked dangerous, too.
Folarin Balogun flashed a teasing ball across goal; Alex Freeman carried the ball well from right back; Sergino Dest, a persistent menace in behind the Germany backline, fired over from inside the box.
Pulisic grew into the game, too, and after ending his goal drought against Senegal, the winger had a couple of promising openings here. Before half-time, Pulisic sent two defenders the wrong way, only for his shot to fly over the bar.
Thankfully Robinson’s thunderbolt soared the right side of the woodwork. It came after a USMNT corner was headed clear. The ball looped into the sky and landed on his left foot. It was a thunderous strike and just like that, the US were level and the fuse was lit heading into this summer’s World Cup.
It was a goal worthy of winning any game, a volley that set off flares and sparked renewed hope regarding the prospects of this US team. Unfortunately, after Sane stroked a shot past Freese midway through the second half, it was merely the highlight in another defeat.
