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Germany national football team
International Friendlies
Jun 10, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
USA national football team

1-2

Gotze (12')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Diskerud (41'), Wood (87')

Live Commentary: Germany 1-2 USA - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of the friendly between Germany and USA in Cologne.
2

The USA celebrated a famous victory on Wednesday evening as the visitors came from behind to beat World Cup winners Germany 2-1 in Cologne.

Just a few days after shocking the Netherlands with a 4-3 triumph, Jurgen Klinsmann's side made a disappointing start on his return to his home country as Mario Gotze broke the deadlock.

However, Mix Diskerud cancelled out the opener just before the interval and substitute Bobby Wood scored a late winner with a powerful strike with two minutes of normal time remaining.

Read below to find out how the action unfolded.


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Good evening everyone. The post-season feast of international football continues this evening as World Cup winners Germany host former manager Jurgen Klinsmann and his USA side in Cologne. Stick with me over the next couple of hours for regular updates.

This game serves as a warm-up for Germany's Euro 2016 qualifier with Gibraltar on Saturday, but in truth, it's this fixture which will be the tougher test for Joachim Low, whose side have struggled to produce their best form since lifting the World Cup in Brazil last summer. Germany have won just four of their eight games since returning as world champions.

For USA, confidence is very high following a dramatic 4-3 triumph over the Netherlands at the weekend. Klinsmann's side were 3-1 behind in the second half before producing a stunning comeback to earn an impressive win. That was just their fourth victory in 11 matches.

GERMANY: Zieler, Rudy, Mustafi, Rüdiger, Hector, Schweinsteiger, Gundogan, Herrmann, Ozil, Schurrle, Gotze

USA: Guzan, Chandler, Alvarado, Brooks, Johnson, Williams, Zardes, Diskerud, Bradley, Johannsson, Agudelo


The big news for the hosts is that Patrick Herrmann has been handed his international debut after a fine campaign for Borussia Monchengladbach. He joins Mesut Ozil, Andre Schurrle and Mario Gotze in an attacking quartet which will look to trouble the visitors with their roaming. Manuel Neuer gets a rare rest as Ron-Robert Zieler starts in goal, while Shkodran Mustafi and Antonio Rudiger partner each other in defence.

Gyasi Zardes, John Brooks and Danny Williams were among the scorers against the Dutch at the weekend, and all three start for the visitors this evening. Brad Guzan keeps his place in goal, while Juan Agudelo makes his first start for the United States since June 2011.

This run started after the World Cup final. I think we all remember what he did that night!


These two sides met last summer in the final match of Group G at the World Cup. Both teams reached the next round with Germany eventually lifting the trophy in Rio, and it was Thomas Muller's 55th-minute winner which clinched the victory for his side in the group stage clash.

Joachim Low has been in charge ever since Jurgen Klinsmann left his role after leading Germany to third place at the 2006 World Cup. Many have given credit to Klinsmann for changing the approach of the German national side and its youth teams, including Low. It's all pretty friendly this evening, but Klinsmann will be keen to impress on his return to his home country.

USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann during the International Friendly match between Scotland and USA at Hampden Park on November 15, 2013© Getty Images



PREDICTION: As is often the case with these friendlies, frequent substitutions later in the game could disrupt the rhythm of both sides and that can make a difference. Germany are certainly the stronger of the two teams but could find it tough to break down a very organised American defence early in the match. I'm going for a 2-0 win for the hosts.

Here we go then. The two sides are out on the pitch and the action is about to get underway in Cologne!

It's a fine start from the hosts as they keep the ball impressively before Gundogan sprints forward from deep to win a corner. Rudiger gets his head on the cross which follows but he can't find the target.

It's certainly not the loudest you'll hear the German supporters, but you can tell they are pleased with what they are seeing. Germany are dictating the tempo of the match and the midfield duo of Gundogan and Schweinsteiger are seeing a lot of the ball.

Jonas Hector, who plays his club football on this ground, does very well to win a corner for his side. The American defence struggles to deal with the corner but Rudiger is unable to add the finishing touch.

The visitors just haven't started yet. Another clever move involving Gotze and Ozil creates space for Schurrle, whose weak effort rolls into the hands of Guzan.

Gotze stretches the American defence with his pace on the left side of attack, and he holds up play before teeing up Ozil, whose effort is kept out by Guzan.

Klinsmann's side are finally starting to enjoy some possession in deep areas, but they are finding it tough to get the ball forward to the likes of Johannsson and Agudelo.

CHANCE! It's the visitors who threaten on this occasion as Zardes creates space on the wing before pulling the ball back to Diskerud, who turns on the edge of the box and sends a powerful effort over.

GOAL! GERMANY 1-0 USA (GOTZE)

Germany break the deadlock! Herrmann, on his debut, does superbly well to create the goal. The Gladbach attacker takes on three players on the way to reaching the box before picking the right pass to find Gotze, who keeps his composure to slot past Guzan.

Johnson will probably not be very happy with how he defended for the goal, but he almost responds immediately with a fine run and cross which just evades Agudelo.

Germany's front four have caused all of the problems with their clever movement, but they're also working well without the ball to restrict the space on offer to the visiting midfield. It's been an excellent start.

Schurrle has rarely strayed from the left wing, and he finds the space to collect the ball once again before cutting inside to drill an effort a yard wide of the post.

YELLOW CARD! Herrmann is a constant threat on the right wing, and Johnson doesn't appear to be sure how to handle him at the moment. The first booking of the game goes to Williams following a very late tackle on Gundogan in midfield.

Germany continue to dominate possession and the hosts stop a break from the US when Hector steps in with a vital interception on the edge of his own box. Low will be very impressed with some of the less experienced members of this side so far.

Clever play from the German attack once again as Ozil exchanges passes with Herrmann just outside the box before the former miscues a volley on the turn.


A rare break forward results in Johannsson sending a speculative strike over the crossbar. It's been a lesson in controlling the game in midfield from Gundogan and Schweinsteiger, who have been fantastic.

SAVE! Germany really should be 2-0 up. Some poor marking allows Gotze to drift away from his marker and collect a through ball, but he is unable to beat Guzan, who gets a vital touch on the ball.

CHANCE! It's Gotze's turn to create the opportunity as he finds space on the left before delivering an inch-perfect chipped pass for Schurrle, who can only send a header straight at Guzan.

The visitors are hanging on as we enter the closing stages of the first half. Germany have pushed further up the pitch and Ozil is seeing plenty of the ball in attacking areas. I'd be surprised if the home side didn't score again this evening.

Bradley has been forced to do most of his work in defensive areas this evening, but the US captain gets on the ball when his side win possession further up the pitch and he fires wide from 25 yards.

Zieler hasn't been asked to do much in the first half, but he calmly collects a dangerous cross when Chandler finds the space to deliver from the right wing.

GOAL! GERMANY 1-1 USA (DISKERUD)

The visitors hit back just before the break! Bradley collects the ball on the right and delivers an excellent ball into the box for Diskerud, who controls the pass on his chest before beating Zieler. It's a fine equaliser.

CHANCE! There's a very different feel to this game now. Chandler plays a clever pass into the path of Zardes, but he can only drill his shot over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Germany threaten at the other end of the pitch now as Herrmann takes the ball into the box before ignoring his options to slice a shot into the side-netting.

HALF TIME: GERMANY 1-1 USA

USA struggled to cause problems for the hosts for long spells of the first half, but they reach the break on level terms thanks to Diskerud's well-taken goal. Germany dominated and deservedly led with a goal from Gotze. Low won't be happy to be level at this stage.

Germany have been very impressive going forward, with Gotze relishing the 'False 9' role due to his clever movement further up the pitch. Ozil has been dangerous on the ball, but the home side need him to get involved even more regularly. Changes are certain to be on the way.

BENCH WATCH: The US have the likes of Miguel Ibarra, Brek Shea and Tottenham's DeAndre Yedlin on the bench should Klinsmann be thinking about changes at the break. Germany have plenty of talent on the bench, with Karim Bellarabi, Sami Khedira and Lukas Podolski all available to Low.

SUBSTITUTIONS: The players are almost ready for the second half and there has been some changes. Podolski gets a great reception on his return to Cologne and Khedira is also on as Schweinsteiger and Schurrle come off. The visitors have introduced Yedlin, Kyle Beckerman and Brad Evans in place of Williams, Johnson and Agudelo.

The tempo has been quick early in the second half, and it's clear that the hosts are eager to push the US defence back once again. Podolski is likely to stretch the game by staying out wide. Germany need to move the ball quickly in the final third.

Excellent work from Diskerud as he creates space to send a clever chipped pass towards Zardes, who is denied by some brilliant defending from Rudy.

Klinsmann will be delighted with how his side have battled so far this evening, and they look much more comfortable on the ball early in the second half. A long spell of possession eventually ends with the pacey Yedlin seeing a dangerous cross cleared.

Excellent work from Rudiger, who drops behind his fellow defenders to cut out a dangerous through ball from Bradley as Zardes looked to find space once again.

The visitors cause problems again as a deep corner eventually drops to Evans, who is only denied by a brilliant block from Mustafi. Germany were close to falling behind there.

Rudiger is on the floor after colliding with Zardes off the ball, but the referee sees nothing in it and the central defender should be fine to continue.

Brilliant football on show from the away side as Johannsson earns himself room on the right wing before delivering a cross which Diskerud heads back across goal. Bradley almost collects but Mustafi steps in t clear the danger.

SUBSTITUTION: Gundogan has been quiet since the break and he comes off to be replaced by Christoph Kramer.

You've got to give a lot of credit to the US. The visitors have been much better than Germany since the interval and they look dangerous when the midfield have pushed further up. Low's side continue to look vulnerable to the fast break.

CHANCE! Germany come agonisingly close to regaining the lead. Khedira switches play to pick out Herrman on the right and the midfielder continues his run in an attempt to reach the cross, but he can't get enough on the header to find the target.

The Cologne crowd gets excited when Gotze collects a long ball and appears to have the simple task of setting up Podolski for the finish, but the offside flag halts his progress. It's the right decision from the assistant referee.

YELLOW CARD! Ozil is too clever for Yedlin as he takes the ball past the young full-back, who picks up a booking for a late tackle.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Gotze and Herrmann come off for the hosts as Max Kruse and Bellarabi are given the chance to impress in the closing stages. Klinsmann make changes too, with Alfredo Morales, Bobby Wood and Jordan Morris replacing Diskerud, Zardes and Johannsson.

CLOSE! Morris almost makes an immediate impact as he unleashes an effort with the outside of his boot from the edge of the box which drifts just past the post.

Mustafi requires treatment on the pitch after a late challenge, but the defender looks fine to continue as both sides continue to search for a winner.

Ozil attracts the attention of two American defenders before shifting the ball to Rudiger, who is unable to find the target with a powerful strike from 25 yards.

Bradley attempts to catch Germany out with an in-swinging corner, but Zieler responds well under pressure to punch clear the danger. Can either of these teams secure a win?

SAVE! He might not be Manuel Neuer, but Zieler has shown once again why he is so highly rated. Yedlin does well on the right wing to create space before picking the perfect cross to find Bradley, whose low effort is kept out by Zieler. Vital save!

Germany are still committing plenty of players forward, but it just hasn't quite clicked in the final third of the pitch since the break. Kruse has barely had a kick since being sent on. They need to get the ball out wide more often.

GOAL! GERMANY 1-2 USA (WOOD)

Wood has done it again! Just a few days after scoring the winner against Holland the substitute appears to have earned another win over a European giant. Wood drops into space to collect the ball before being allowed to turn into space and he fires a low effort past a helpless Zieler from around 25 yards. Superb strike!

The fourth official confirms that the visitors will need to survive four minutes of added time.


Germany are piling on the pressure in stoppage time, but the American defence survive another test when Rudiger commits a foul while attempting to connect with Ozil's corner.

GERMANY 1-2 USA

What a performance. What a result. The US have stunned another European side with a 2-1 victory over Germany in Cologne and Bobby Wood is the hero once again. Klinsmann celebrates a fantastic win on return to his home country after watching his side dominate the second half.

That's all from me. Thanks for joining Sports Mole on what turned out to be a dramatic evening of international football. Goodnight everyone.

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Germany's Jurgen Klinsmann celebrates scoring at the World Cup on June 17, 1994.
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