Germany completed its final World Cup warm-up match with a 2-1 victory over the United States at Soldier Field, stretching its winning sequence to nine matches. Goals from Leroy Sané and Kai Havertz secured the result for the side currently ranked 10th in the world.
The Germans entered the contest dealing with fresh injury concerns after midfielder Lennart Karl suffered a thigh problem during training the previous day. As a result, the 18-year-old was unavailable for the match and has since been ruled out of the tournament.
Attention now turns to Germany’s opening Group E fixture against Curaçao on June 14. The team will also face Ivory Coast on June 20 and Ecuador on June 25 during the group stage.
Karl’s World Cup dream comes to an abrupt end
Karl’s absence is a significant blow after a breakthrough campaign with Bayern Munich. During that season, he became the club’s youngest player to score in the Champions League and had emerged as one of Germany’s most promising young talents.
Defender David Raum spoke about the disappointment surrounding the youngster’s injury, describing him as both an excellent person and an outstanding footballer. Raum also reflected on the bond they developed during their time together in camp and the regular training sessions in which they often faced each other.
The midfielder later addressed the situation on Instagram, admitting that missing the World Cup was extremely painful. He added that injuries can sometimes arrive at the worst possible moment.
Ouédraogo called up as replacement
Germany responded to Karl’s withdrawal by bringing Assan Ouédraogo into the squad. The midfielder plays alongside Raum at Leipzig and has already represented the national team once.
Ouédraogo marked that appearance with a goal during a 6-0 victory over Slovakia in November. Raum welcomed his arrival and expressed confidence that the newcomer could make a valuable contribution during the tournament.
The selection ensures Germany maintains midfield depth as it prepares for the start of the competition.
Neuer continues recovery as Baumann starts
With Manuel Neuer still recovering from a calf injury, Oliver Baumann was chosen to start in goal against the United States.
Neuer’s situation remains unusual, as the 40-year-old is preparing for the World Cup despite not having played for Germany in nearly two years. He stepped away from international football after the 2024 European Championship before agreeing to return to the national team last month.
While Baumann handled goalkeeping duties in the final friendly, Germany will hope Neuer’s recovery continues positively ahead of the challenges awaiting them in Group E.