World Cup hopes are waning
Just a shadow of earlier days
June 7, 2026 – 10:15 a.mReading time: 3 minutes
In the last test before the World Cup, the DFB team achieved a narrow victory over the USA. But of all people, the two hopefuls for the tournament disappear.
William Laing reports from Chicago
The German national team was not able to fully convince in the last test before the start of the World Cup. In the end, at Soldier Field in Chicago against the co-host USA, the scoreboard that rose in front of the skyline of the metropolis was 2-1 from the DFB team’s perspective. The goals from Kai Havertz (2nd minute) and Leroy Sané (57th) gave Julian Nagelsmann’s team their ninth win in a row in humid temperatures. The German selection seems ready, at least on paper, for the XXL tournament in North and Central America that starts in a few days.
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But because not everything at the dress rehearsal went according to plan, this assumption must be viewed at least a little with caution. For example, the German defense against the USA revealed several gaps. In attack, Kai Havertz was able to shine with a goal and an assist, but behind that, the two hopefuls for a successful tournament put in a shockingly dull performance.
Not the day for the two exceptional talents
It just wasn’t Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz’s day. The two exceptional talents were never able to leave their mark on the German game in Chicago. This time there was no sign of the magic that usually surrounds the duo’s style of play.
Musiala acted like a shadow of earlier days, especially in the first half. The Bayern professional lacked the right feeling in his actions. He dribbled away, appeared sedate and inhibited at times. It became clear that Musiala has still not reached his top level after his serious injury around a year ago. After all, he knew how to improve a bit in the second half and was directly involved in Sané’s winning goal with a clever pass to Havertz, who provided the assist.
Wirtz completely missed such a moment. The Liverpool player could hardly be denied the effort throughout his entire appearance. But this time he just didn’t succeed. So the game went past the 23-year-old for long stretches.