Find the opponent: USA vs. Germany in World Cup warm-up friendly final

I’ve been to a World Cup and I understand how the U.S. national team prepares – and what matters most. There is still one game left before the Americans begin their tournament against Paraguay on June 12, and it is important to approach the match with confidence. This time I have a different challenge. I’ll break down the United States throughout its journey to the 2026 World Cup, starting with a final warm-up match against Germany. Here are my keys to the game and a preview of what to expect from Germany and the United States. When looking at the German national team, the first names that come to mind are probably Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz or Joshua Kimmich. The player I’m watching in this matchup, however, is someone who can exploit a potential weakness in the U.S. defense. Sane is the player I highlight because it ties into what worries me with the United States. The former Manchester City star is a speedy left-footed winger who usually plays on the right side. He can dribble in both directions, step in on his left foot or slide the ball towards the sideline. Tim Ream and Antonee “Jedi” Robinson, on the left side of the US defense, will defend Sané. When Robinson is high up the pitch and Germany gets the ball in transition, there’s a chance you’ll have Sane against Tim in open space. After watching the friendly against Senegal, it wouldn’t be ideal for this American team. This will be less of an issue in the World Cup group stage for the United States against Paraguay, Australia and Turkey. However, as we approach the Round of 16, you will face players who can exploit this pace and potentially cause Ream problems. Ream will be important in controlling Team USA’s preparation, but in the first 20 minutes against Senegal last Saturday, he had some unusual turnovers that led to dangerous chances. Additionally, there were a few moments where the ball went wide and Ream wasn’t immediately close enough. He did the right thing in this situation by delaying the attack and waiting for help, but his ability to defend wingers in dangerous positions will play a vital role in the tournament. Alex Freeman will look to build on his performance against Senegal and should also find himself in more one-on-one moments against Germany. I’m curious to see how Wes plays and how much of the game he can dictate. We know how good he is on offense, but can he be effective on both sides of the ball? Wes played the second half against Senegal after Pochettino made 10 changes at half-time. He did very well, especially defensively, showing courage and leadership that came with wearing the captain’s armband for the second half. Wes should start in midfield alongside Tyler Adams, who can cover a lot of ground defensively and potentially give him the freedom to move forward. Still, against a team like Germany that can cause the U.S. problems quickly in transition, my former U.S. teammate needs to make a strong shift on both ends of the court. I know he can do it, having played with the famous “MMA” midfield of Tyler, McKennie and Yunus Musah during the 2022 World Cup. Adams covered the middle of the field, while Wes and Yunus covered the rest of the midfield, all the way to the sideline. It will be a good test against Germany entering the tournament. How well McKennie plays and how much of the play the U.S. midfield can dictate will determine what the U.S. can get out of the game. The United States might need a different mentality against Germany compared to how they started against Senegal. The starting lineup played 45 minutes together before 10 substitutions at halftime. Mauricio Pochettino wants his team to press high and you are going to empty the tank when you know you will only play 45 minutes. I was very impressed with the compactness of the team against Senegal and I hope we see that again against Germany. Offensively, there were so many positive combinations and scoring chances from the attacking group in the previous game. Let’s see if the team can continue to look dangerous against Germany. I would expect us to see more minutes from the starting XI against Germany to get the fitness needed for the World Cup while trying to stay safe and healthy. My guess is that the starting lineup plays at least 60-70 minutes in this one. Can the United States be as aggressive against Germany as it was against Senegal? It is unlikely that the Americans will have as much possession of the ball as in their first friendly match. This matchup may require them to get into a low block, sit back, and defend more. If Pochettino starts with three central defenders, as he did against Senegal, how does the United States fall back on defense? When they go into a low block, does it turn into a 5-4-1? Will the United States be content to concede space and possession? I’m curious to see how the team will position itself against a potential title contender. With this, can the United States find the right balance between offense and defense? Can the team say, “Hey, we’re not just going to be passive, can we go out there and be aggressive at the right times?” “Based on the Senegal game, I expect the Americans to at least try to be very aggressive in the first 10 or 15 minutes. Finding this balance will require a lot of maturity, both from the technical staff and the players on the pitch. Hopefully we can find the right balance between pressing and sitting back against a team that will be considered a superior opponent. I think Germany will score a goal in transition. There are two things that worry me about the United States in the World Cup, and they both concern their defense. The first, as I already mentioned, is how this team will defend in transition when the opposition is on the counterattack. Germany have players like Sane, Musiala and Wirtz, who can cause problems when given space and time on the ball. The other thing I’m worried about – and maybe not necessarily related to this game – is how the US will be able to play against a tall striker. Fortunately, Germany doesn’t have one, and defender Chris Richards would give the U.S. a different piece of defense if he’s fit. Against Senegal, a few direct balls were played towards the US defense which Mark McKenzie and Ream did not handle smoothly. The addition of Richards should help in this area, and I hope we see a little more control over this in the future. Playing against a big striker will test this American backline both in the hold-up game and deep in the penalty area.