Germany beat US 2-1 in co hosts’ final World Cup warmup

Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane powered Germany to a 2-1 win over World Cup co-hosts the United States in Chicago on Saturday, in both teams’ final warm-up game before the tournament kicks off next week. Despite the loss it was a promising performance for the US, who created a flurry of chances including a remarkable Antonee Robinson strike from outside the box to level the game, before four-time World Cup winners Germany regained the lead. A packed 64 000 Chicago crowd began the afternoon in boisterous mood, with expectations sky high.

Having dispatched Senegal 3-2 last weekend, US coach Mauricio Pochettino picked a close-to-first-choice lineup. His side got off to a nightmare start. Tyler Adams conceded a free kick just outside the box.

Joshua Kimmich curled a perfect cross onto the head of Havertz, who nodded it into the net with just two minutes gone. Both US center-backs were at fault, with 38-year-old captain Tim Ream too slow and Miles Robinson — auditioning to start in place of the injured Chris Richards — left flat-footed. It nearly got much worse for the hosts.