USA vs. Germany preview: Team news and predicted lineups | OneFootball

Germany will contest their last warmup game before the World Cup against co-hosts USA on Saturday night. Both Julian Nagelsmann and Mauricio Pochettino won their penultimate friendlies against Finland and Senegal, respectively.

USMNT

The expectations were big when the USA won their bid to host the World Cup for the first time since 1994. However, the underwhelming results of the national team in several continental tournaments have now changed the perception. Moreover, the former Spurs coach is more likely to return to club football after this summer.

Convincing home defeats to Belgium and Portugal caused more stir during the last international break of the club season, but they returned to winning ways the past weekend against Senegal. Despite squandering their early two-goal lead following a resurgent performance by the current African powerhouse, Folarin Balogun secured their win around the hour mark.

Ex-Borussia Dortmund attacker Christian Pulisic was also on target after a difficult campaign with AC Milan. Chicago will not be part of this summer's big event, but Saturday's match will be played at Soldier Field.

Germany

Germany were the team who played the most games (3) at Soldier Field during the 1994 World Cup. After playing their first two group stage games there, Berti Vogts’ men returned to Chicago for the Round of 16 victory over Belgium. Nagelsmann's troops will now hope to avoid a shocking result like that quarter-final exit by Bulgaria some 32 years ago.

On Saturday, Germany played their last official friendly game in front of home fans before flying for the tournament. The comfortable 4-0 scoreline over Finland extended their winning streak to eight games before they played two 25-minute halves with the reserves against the same opponents the following day.

With back-to-back group stage eliminations after the fourth star in 2014, Germany are far from being one of the favorites for the spectacle in North American soil. Including Thomas Müller's winner in Brazil, they have beaten USA in all three World Cup encounters without conceding a goal. A year later, USMNT came from behind to beat Joachim Löw's side in a Köln friendly, with future HSV striker Bobby Wood scoring the winner three minutes before time.

Team News

Nagelsmann has only made four substitutions in the game against Finland, while Pochettino shared the minutes to 22 players in the win over Senegal. Both teams will be in action in the first three days of the World Cup as USMNT host Paraguay hours before Germany's game against debutants Curaçao in Houston.

Manuel Neuer missed both meetings with Finland, and will most likely sit out this one as well since he's yet to return to full training. On the contrary, Kai Havertz is embracing a reunion with former Chelsea teammate Pulisic after his Champions League Final heartbreak.

Predicted Lineups

USA: Turner; Freeman, McKenzie, Ream ©; Dest, Berhalter, McKennie, Robinson; Weah, Balogun, Pulisic

Germany: Baumann; Kimmich ©, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Goretzka, Kimmich; Karl, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz