The USMNT dropped their final World Cup tune-up friendly 1-2 to Germany in Chicago on Saturday night. Antonee Robinson was the standout performer for the Americans, scoring the lone goal and earning the Man of the Match honors with a 7.83 rating from fans. Robinson received 120 of the 122 total votes cast, with two ballots discarded for being overly skewed.
The U.S. started the match with a high-energy approach, pressing aggressively and creating early chances. Robinson’s goal in the 27th minute gave the home side a 1-0 lead at halftime. The goal came after a well-worked sequence that saw Christian Pulisic draw defenders before setting up the full-back. Robinson’s strike was clinical and ended a 445-minute goal drought for the U.S. in this year’s friendlies.
Germany responded in the second half, equalizing in the 62nd minute and then taking the lead in the 83rd. The turning point came when the U.S. failed to clear a routine set piece, allowing Germany to capitalize on a defensive breakdown. The loss drops the U.S. to 1-2-1 in their last four friendlies, a record that will concern manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Pulisic led the U.S. attack with a 7.16 rating, playing 78 minutes before being subbed off. Dest and Balogun each received 6.57 and 6.16 ratings respectively. The backline was under constant pressure, with Tim Ream and Miles Robinson earning the lowest marks at 5.68 and 3.50 respectively. Robinson’s low score came after a pair of defensive errors that led to German chances.
Seven substitutes were used by Pochettino, including Tyler Adams and Gio Reyna, who each played 28 minutes. Adams earned a 6.03 rating while Reyna scored a 5.43. The U.S. manager received a 6.3 rating from voters, while referee Piero Maza was the lowest-rated at 4.29.
With the 2026 World Cup just over a year away, the U.S. will have more tune-ups in the coming months. The team will look to build on their performance against stronger international competition as the tournament approaches. The next friendly is scheduled for next month, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.
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