Germany Football Seals Ninth Straight Win As Sane Fires National Team To Victory Over United States

Germany finished World Cup preparations with a 2-1 win over co-hosts United States at Soldier Field in Chicago, as Leroy Sane struck the decisive goal. The friendly offered a final competitive look at both squads. Germany extended an impressive winning run, while Mauricio Pochettino’s team showed late threat but lacked accuracy at key moments.

Kai Havertz opened the scoring less than two minutes into the match, heading in Joshua Kimmich’s free-kick from close range after losing the marker inside the six-yard box. Antonee Robinson then produced a powerful 25-yard volley eight minutes before half-time, drawing the United States level after Germany failed to clear a corner effectively.

Germany entered this match under pressure to change recent World Cup stories, after back-to-back group-stage exits at the last two editions. Julian Nagelsmann’s squad responded with a ninth consecutive victory in all competitions, building a 29-6 aggregate score across that stretch. The run offers confidence before facing Curacao in Group E.

Havertz continued strong form, following an early strike in last weekend’s Champions League final by scoring again in Chicago. The forward also had another effort ruled out after four minutes, when the ball crossed the byline before Sane pulled it back. That influence keeps Havertz in contention to lead the attack at the tournament.

The United States recorded an expected goals figure of 0.98 from four shots on target, one being Robinson’s fierce equaliser into the roof of the net. Pochettino’s side controlled 52.3% possession and ended strongly, yet the result followed a mixed pattern from the last 10 friendlies, featuring five wins, four defeats and one draw.

The hosts sought an equaliser throughout the second half after Sane restored Germany’s lead in the 57th minute. A flowing move ended with Havertz slipping a pass to Sane inside the area, where Sane drilled low beyond goalkeeper Matt Freese. Defensive space allowed Sane time to select the finish and punish the United States back line.

Germany’s victory also reflected key moments from the opening period. Early on, Havertz capitalised on Kimmich’s precise delivery to score with a simple header. Soon after, another Havertz finish was disallowed once officials ruled the ball had already travelled out of play before Sane’s cut-back. Robinson then responded with that thunderous long-range volley from the cleared corner.

Pochettino’s players applied late pressure, creating several chances. Joe Scally saw a curling long-range attempt pushed away by Oliver Baumann, who also blocked a fierce strike from Brenden Aaronson three minutes from time. Between those efforts, Nadiem Amari went close at the opposite end, shooting narrowly wide as Germany threatened to extend the advantage.

Germany leave Chicago with nine wins from nine and growing belief ahead of the World Cup, having combined early attacking sharpness with late defensive resilience. The United States again showed patches of quality but inconsistency in preparation. The co-hosts still target a first World Cup knockout victory since 2002 when the tournament begins.