United States 1-3 Germany (Oct 14, 2023) Match Analysis
Julian Nagelsmann’s new experience leading the German national team came to a 3-1 win over the USA in a friendly in East Hartford this Saturday, with Barcelona’s Ilkay Gundogan leading the German comeback.
It qualified automatically for the 2024 Euro Cup, where hosts Germany chose the United States to begin its build-up under Nagelsmann and goals from Gundogan, Niklas Fulkrug and Jamal Musiala overcame Christian Pulisic’s excellent early goal.
The former Bayern Munich and Leipzig coach, who was named as the twelfth German coach in September after the departure of Hansi Flick, received positive responses from his players led by Gundogan and youngsters such as Musiala, who favored a flag like Thomas Müller. Asking to steer a new course after recent negative results.
A year ago, Germany had a group stage bye to the World Cup in Qatar and added its second straight elimination from the tournament after Russia 2018. Generational change is not entirely plausible, but awaits greater intelligence. In the game, the German team was able to celebrate three points.
It was not a comfortable victory. Under the rain at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Nagelsmann’s team tried to win the ball, but the U.S. outplayed them in intensity and saved a Pascal Cross shot. Christian Pulisic scored a great goal in the 27th minute.
The Italian Milan winger, who gave the ‘Rossoneri’ a long-lasting win at Genoa in Serie A, dribbled past Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger to celebrate his fourth goal in the last five with a curling right-footer into the top corner. International Games..
Marc-Andre der Stegen had no choice as he once again defended the German goal against the United States on American soil. He did the same ten years ago when he scored an own goal in a 4-3 loss at Washington.
Germany had a tough time of it at times, but on the brink of half-time Guntungen capitalized on a loose ball in the penalty area and then Leroy Sane’s effort was parried by goalkeeper Matt Turner to level the match.
That goal interrupted America’s rhythm and revived the spirit for Germany, which dominated the restart and scored two goals in three minutes, on the hour mark, to clinch victory.
Fulcrug put the Germans ahead with his eighth international goal in the 58th minute, and in the 61st minute, Musiala made it 3-1 with a three-way play with the Borussia Dortmund striker. The 20-year-old midfielder had not scored at international level for two years when he scored against Macedonia.
The U.S. could not react, and Germany, who also featured Kai Howards, Leon Goretzka and Müller, secured a comfortable win.
A new friendly awaits Germany on American soil against Mexico on October 17 in Philadelphia. The USA will face Ghana in another friendly on the same day.