Antonee Robinson’s volley lights up USMNT loss to Germany amid cramp scare | OneFootball

Antonee Robinson lit up the USMNT’s World Cup send-off with a blistering volley and a backflip, yet a 2-1 defeat by Germany and a late cramp scare tempered the celebrations.

According to NY Times, the left-back went off in the 63rd minute in Chicago, with Robinson and staff believing it was cramp rather than a new problem.

His strike, the United States’ only goal and his fifth for the USMNT, came from the top of the penalty area after a corner was cleared, thumped first time. Captain Tim Ream marvelled and later asked if he had ever hit one cleaner, which Robinson eventually admitted he had not.

The moment carried extra weight after a gruelling 2025-26, when knee surgery and a stuttering rehab left Robinson out for 16 months between caps and doubting his progress. He returned in March and said at times the season felt endless before confidence and fitness began to return.

Post-match he said he was not entirely sure about the issue but it had settled, and he came off because he did not feel he could continue. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino also said the medical view was cramp, though staff were not totally sure, while Tyler Adams joked about the heat and felt he would be fine.

Ream, a former Fulham team-mate, said Robinson deserved the moment and looked close to full tilt. The squad left Soldier Field reasonably content with their display and feeling ready for the tournament six days out.

Source: NY Times