USMNT vs Germany: Big Questions and Bold Plans in Chicago

Mauricio Pochettino and Julian Nagelsmann meet in Chicago with more than a friendly on their hands. It’s a tune‑up, yes, but it’s also a test of ideas, depth, and nerve just days before the World Cup begins.

And both managers look ready to lean into risk rather than hide from it.

USMNT: Pochettino Weighs Continuity vs. Competition

The biggest cloud over the U.S. camp hangs above the back line. Chris Richards arrived from Crystal Palace carrying ankle ligament damage, and his situation has deteriorated enough that Pochettino may be forced into an injury-driven roster change before the World Cup even kicks off. One thing is already clear: Richards will not feature in Chicago.

That absence sharpens the focus on everything else. Pochettino now faces a familiar pre‑tournament dilemma: stick with something close to his first-choice XI and then unleash a wave of second‑half substitutions, or flip the script and give his supporting cast the early minutes, saving his presumed starters for a late run-out.

His behavior against Senegal offers a strong clue. He changed all but one outfield player by halftime, a sweeping rotation that suggested he wanted to stress-test his depth without losing the shape and identity of the side. The smart money says he’ll again start with a strong core and use the bench aggressively once the game opens up.

There should still be adjustments. Folarin Balogun, who began on the bench six days ago, looks primed to step into the No. 9 role from the first whistle. Weston McKennie, too, is a leading candidate to be promoted into midfield from the start, adding bite and vertical running next to Tyler Adams.

One more change feels almost certain. Matt Freese, the only goalkeeper who did not see the field against Senegal, is expected to get his audition in goal at Soldier Field.

The projected U.S. lineup in a 3-4-3, from left to right:

Matt Freese (GK) – Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie, Alex Freeman – Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Sergiño Dest – Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna.

It’s an aggressive shape. Width from Robinson and Dest, craft and chaos from Pulisic and Reyna, and a penalty-box focal point in Balogun. Pochettino looks prepared to lean into the team’s attacking chemistry, even if the defensive structure is still a work in progress without Richards.

Germany: Nagelsmann Ready to Rotate After Finnish Rout

Germany arrive with momentum and questions of their own.

In Mainz, they brushed aside Finland 4–0 in their sendoff match, killing the contest in a ruthless 29‑minute spell between the 34th and 63rd minutes. Deniz Undav, fresh off an outstanding Bundesliga season with Stuttgart, scored twice and continued to turn club form into national-team relevance.

That performance came at a cost, though. Nagelsmann rode most of that side for the full 90 minutes, then put them on a transatlantic flight to the United States just two days later. The schedule almost demands rotation against the USMNT.

The goalkeeping situation adds another layer. Manuel Neuer, back from international retirement for a fifth World Cup, is an injury doubt for Saturday. That opens the door for Oliver Baumann to step in and stake a claim for minutes behind the veteran.

Kai Havertz, absent from the Finland game as he wrapped up duties with Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League squad on June 30, is now in the frame and should slot into the attacking midfield band. Behind him, Pascal Groß is expected to finally see the field after staying on the bench in Mainz, giving Germany a seasoned, controlling presence at the base of midfield.

Nagelsmann’s projected 4-2-3-1, left to right:

Oliver Baumann (GK) – David Raum, Nico Schlotterbach, Waldemar Anton, Joshua Kimmich – Leon Goretzka, Pascal Groß – Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Leroy Sané – Nick Woldemade.

On paper, it’s still a side loaded with quality. Wirtz between the lines, Sané stretching defenses, Havertz drifting into awkward pockets, Kimmich inverted from full-back, and Goretzka driving from deep. But it is also a team in flux, with roles, partnerships, and even the goalkeeping hierarchy still being hammered into shape.

Expect Goals, Not Caution

Strip away the names and reputations and the two teams share a similar tension. Both have high-profile, intense managers. Both are still negotiating the peaks and dips of those tenures. Both know they need clarity before the World Cup starts.

Neither man looks inclined to get that clarity by parking the bus.

Pochettino’s U.S. side showed against Senegal that it can be open, ambitious, and at times vulnerable. Nagelsmann’s Germany is almost constitutionally incapable of playing within itself; his best work comes when his teams press high, attack in waves, and accept the risk that comes with it.

That combination usually produces one thing: goals.

The setting might tilt the emotional balance. Soldier Field will technically be a home ground for the United States, but Chicago’s deep German-American roots could blunt that advantage and give the match the feel of a neutral venue.

On pedigree, a full-strength Germany would still be favored. The European giants have more global stars, more experience at the sharp end of tournaments, and a deeper bench. But with rotation expected, and with both managers likely to prioritize attacking cohesion over conservative control, the contest tightens.

The most plausible outcome? A high-tempo, high-scoring draw that leaves both coaches with plenty of film to study and a few more sleepless nights.

Prediction: USMNT 2, Germany 2.