Robinson's Spectacular Volley Falls Short as USA Loses to Germany 2-1

Antonee Robinson’s stunning volley couldn't prevent the United States from suffering a defeat against Germany ahead of their home World Cup campaign. The match concluded with a 2-1 victory for Germany, extending their impressive winning streak to nine games as they prepare for the tournament finals. Kai Havertz opened the scoring for Germany just two minutes into the match with a powerful header from a free-kick. The United States responded in the 37th minute when Robinson leveled the score with a breathtaking left-foot volley, rocketing the ball into the roof of the net after a corner kick from Christian Pulisic. However, the second half saw Leroy Sane secure the win for Germany with a goal that came off a pass from Havertz. Sane’s shot found its way through the legs of Miles Robinson, taking a slight deflection that beat goalkeeper Matt Freese to the far post. This loss marks the 16th-ranked United States' ninth consecutive defeat to European teams since 2022. As they prepare to host the World Cup for the first time since 1994, the Americans will kick off their campaign against Paraguay on Friday, followed by matches against Australia and Turkey. Notably, the US had not lost its final match before a World Cup since 2002. Germany will begin their World Cup journey against Curacao on June 14, in a group that also includes Ivory Coast and Ecuador. The match drew a sellout crowd of 63,636 at Soldier Field, the same venue that hosted the 1994 World Cup opener. Both teams faced challenges, with the United States missing top defender Chris Richards, who is sidelined due to an ankle injury, while Germany's Lennart Karl was ruled out for the World Cup with a thigh injury.

Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-06-07