Preview: USA vs Germany

Photo: Leslie Smith

CHICAGO, IL–The US Men’s National Team prepared for its final warmup before the World Cup at Chicago Fire’s Endeavor Health Performance Center on Friday. The USA will face Germany at Soldier Field (1:30pm CT, TBS/Telemundo/HBO Max/Peacock) and looking to build upon last Sunday’s 3-2 win over Senegal in Charlotte. The USA will also try to break an eight-match losing streak against European opposition.

Chris Richards will miss Saturday’s match due to his ankle injury. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed dissatisfaction about the news he received regarding Richards’s injury.

“When we decided on the squad list, we thought (Richards) could play in the UEFA Conference League final and that’s how we built the roster,” said Pochettino said. “At the time, the information we had suggested that he might be able to play in that final against Rayo Vallecano. In fact, he was on the bench, among the substitutes. Then we thought he might perhaps be available against Senegal, as well. But in the end, the timelines kept getting pushed back, and that frustrates me a bit.

“I’m not happy about it, because we know he’s an important player, of course we all know that. But when I talk about the information we were working with, sometimes there isn’t much clarity in the end. We can keep waiting and hoping that Chris will be available, but as you said, we may end up with a player who arrives (at the World Cup) without having competed. Then we have to decide whether he’s fit enough to compete or not, and there isn’t much time during the World Cup.”

The match against Germany represents a rare opportunity in this World Cup cycle to test itself against a perennial favorite. A win will most certainly energize the fan base in the lead up to the opening match against Paraguay on June 12, (6pm PT, Fox/Telemundo/Fox One/Peacock).

“It’s going to be a great test for us,” midfielder Weston McKennie said. “We’ll go out there with the same mentality that we always go out there with, and that’s to win.”

As for Germany, their group includes Curacao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador. They will be looking to get out of the first round after not doing so in the last two World Cups. Led by Julian Nagelsmann, Germany is looking for redemption and a return to the elite of World Soccer. They have won their last eight matches and qualified comfortably for the World Cup after an opening loss to Slovakia.

Kickoff is at 1:30pm CT on will be on TBS and HBO Max in English and Telemundo and Peacock in Spanish.

Photos by Leslie Smith