The USMNT has momentum going into the World Cup, even after a loss
More than a few U.S. teams of recent years might have folded up after conceding an early goal against Germany. This one, though, took the game right back to the four-time World Cup champions,
CHICAGO — The big crowd was buzzing, the fireworks were rising, and local legend Jim Cornelison was belting out the national anthem in his famous way.
But the mood lasted barely 43 seconds after the U.S. men’s soccer team’s last World Cup tuneup kicked off.
That’s what the clock read when midfielder and longtime locker room leader Tyler Adams tripped up Felix Nmecha just outside the Americans’ 18-yard box. Joshua Kimmich of German club superpower Bayern Munich took the free kick, then Kai Havertz of newly crowned English Premier League champion Arsenal raced past Miles Robinson for an open header past a frozen Matt Freese.
Just like that, the good vibes were down the drain.
“I think we all looked at each other and said, ‘Well, it just got a lot more difficult, but we need to battle,’” Adams said.
“I think instantly, it was frustration,” said left back and fellow locker room leader Antonee Robinson, who scored the equalizer later in the half. “You could see that we don’t know how we’ve let quality players and quality opposition just get a free header in our box — that shouldn’t really be possible.”
» READ MORE: The USMNT falls to Germany, 2-1, in its last game before the World Cup
U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino was upset, too. But he quickly realized that he had a measuring-stick moment on his hands, and he started to relish it.
“I was thinking that we were lucky,” he said. “Because to face a situation — conceding a goal against a team [like] Germany is, with top players, was an amazing challenge for us. To see how we react, how we show character, how we show togetherness, how we start to play under pressure.”
More than a few recent U.S. teams might have folded. This one, though, took the game right back to the four-time World Cup champions and had the better play for much of the rest of the first half. The payoff came in the 37th, when Antonee Robinson belted in a highlight-reel strike from just outside the 18-yard box.
“The reaction was amazing, was really positive,” Pochettino said. “And that’s why it’s good, you know, that something not so good happened: to see the reaction and to create that atmosphere that we can deal with this type of situation that we can find in the future, and during the competition in the World Cup.”
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Robinson added: “I think that response shows that when things are going against us, which in tournament football is bound to happen, that we can come back from anything.”
Germany ended up winning the game, 2-1; Leroy Sané scored the winner just before both managers started making mass substitutions. For the casual fans just tuning in before the World Cup, the final score might be all that matters. But if you’re one of them, know that many U.S. diehards were pleased with the performance.
“I don’t think any of us are fazed by playing Germany,” Adams said. “To play a top team like that though, going into the World Cup. I think increased our confidence tenfold. I think for us, we already have a confident team, but to go toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the world, [it] shows that we’re ready and capable.”
The stats and the eye test backed that up. The Americans outshot their star-studded opponents, 16-12, with both teams registering four shots on target. Christian Pulisic had a double chance in the 48th minute that he should have converted, and Brenden Aaronson forced a big save out of Oliver Baumann in the 87th.
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“I don’t think this game is about the result,” Adams said. “This game is about again showing the character, the mindset, what we’re trying to be, what we’re trying to become.”
Perhaps if the U.S. had tied or pulled off an upset, Adams would have said something different. This was a moment for big-picture thinking, though, and he provided some.
“The final product and the result matters next week, obviously first and foremost,” he said. “But that being said, we showed our character. And we showed that we’re able to create a high volume of chances [and] not concede a high volume of chances against a really good team.”
With all due respect to Paraguay and Australia, the first two teams the U.S. will face at the World Cup, their attacks don’t have the firepower of Germany’s. Havertz scored in the Champions League final the previous weekend, and the starting playmakers behind him were Florian Wirtz of England’s Liverpool, Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich, and Sané of Turkey’s Galatasaray (and formerly Bayern and England’s Manchester City).
» READ MORE: Christian Pulisic’s first USMNT goal since 2024 lifted a big burden ahead of the World Cup
If that quartet clicks in the World Cup, they can carry the Mannschaft a long way — including a potential round of 16 game in Philadelphia, which a lot of local fans hope for.
The U.S., meanwhile, will have to have everyone clicking to make that round, and to a quarterfinal that is the bar for a successful run. These two warmup games have shown that they can do it, but the requirements are clear.
“We have to do it when it when it comes down to it for sure, when the World Cup starts and we have the big games,” Pulisic said. ”But it definitely helps us and makes us feel good. I feel like the last performances have been really good and absolutely it should you know keep us in high spirits.”
One of them is the return of centerback Chris Richards. Pochettino picked what might be 10/11ths of his World Cup starting lineup on Saturday, with the remaining one Miles Robinson. It didn’t take long to see how that turned out.
» READ MORE: The USMNT has a big decision to make soon about injured star Chris Richards
Still, the signs are there overall. If they were not, you’d see that said here.
Now it’s on to California, where the U.S. team’s World Cup base camp opens Monday with the lone open practice of the run in Irvine. The moment really has arrived, and at last, it really feels that way.
Nine nations will compete in five group stage matches this summer, plus two more in a knockout game on July 4. Here’s what you need to know about those countries — and what those fans need to know about Philly. Click here for more.
