Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane powered Germany to a 2-1 win over World Cup co-hosts the United States in Chicago on Saturday, in both teams’ final warm-up game before the tournament kicks off next week.
Despite the loss it was a promising performance for the US, who created a flurry of chances including a remarkable Antonee Robinson strike from outside the box to level the game, before four-time World Cup winners Germany regained the lead.
A packed 64,000 Chicago crowd began the afternoon in boisterous mood, with expectations sky high. Having dispatched Senegal 3-2 last weekend, US coach Mauricio Pochettino picked a close-to-first-choice lineup.