Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Germany claim comeback win over USA in Julian Nagelsmann's first game

sportsmole.co.uk, 14 October 2023, 21:05
Julian Nagelsmann's reign as Germany manager has got off to a perfect start with a 3-1 comeback victory over the USA in a friendly at Rentschler Field in Connecticut on Saturday.

Christian Pulisic put the Stars and Stripes into a deserved lead with a stunning strike, but Die Mannschaft valiantly fought back and headed into half time all square courtesy of smart finish from captain Ilkay Gundogan.

The visitors then took control of proceedings after the break thanks to a quickfire double from Niclas Fullkrug and Jamal Musiala within the space of three second-half minutes to help Nagelsmann make a winning start to life on the international stage.

At the age of just 36, Nagelsmann is the man tasked with restoring belief within the German camp ahead of hosting Euro 2024 following a dismal run of form under former boss Hansi Flick, who was sacked just over a month ago after winning only four of his final 17 games in charge.

Nagelsmann, who was dismissed by Bayern Munich in March, had around three weeks to prepare for the clash with USA, and his Germany side were made to work for the victory over USA, who started brightly and posed a constant threat in the opening half-hour.

AC Milan winger Pulisic had the ball in the back of the net inside the first four minutes, only to be ruled marginally offside as he creeped into Germany's half.

Germany responded well, though, and almost opened the scoring 11 minutes in when a side-footed shot from Pascal Gross - starting his first game for the national team - beat goalkeeper Matt Turner and hit the base of the post.

The attacking triumvirate of Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Timothy Weah linked up brilliantly in the final third, and it was the former who broke the deadlock in marvellous fashion just before the half-hour mark.

Moments after appealing for a penalty and seeing a shot from Germany's Fullkrug saved at the other end, Pulisic cut inside from the left and breezed into a central position before blasting a brilliant strike into the top corner, beating Marc-Andre ter Stegen all ends up.

USA then saw a decent opportunity go begging when Weah's cross into the centre of the penalty box fizzed behind Balogun, before a drilled effort from Giovanni Reyna was gathered by Ter Stegen.

That missed chance proved costly as Germany went up the other end to restore parity six minutes before the break when Leroy Sane and Gundogan combined in the area before the latter lifted a finish over Turner from inside the six-yard box.

Germany came out the blocks quickly after the interval and Fullkrug was denied a goal on the 49-minute mark by a superb diving save from Turner, but the Borussia Dortmund summer signing made no mistake at the second time of asking 10 minutes later.

Fullkrug received a through-ball from Robin Gosens inside the area before turning and slotting a composed finish from around eight yards out beyond Turner to put the Germans in front.

The striker then turned provide just three minutes later when he pounced on a loose ball and lifted a cross over the onrushing Turner towards Musiala, who was presented with a simple tap-in into an empty net from just a few yards out.

Both nations rang the changes in the final half-hour which slightly took the sting out of the contest, but Germany came close to adding a fourth five minutes from time when defender Niklas Sule fizzed a powerful strike narrowly wide.

Nevertheless, Germany managed to see out an important victory, albeit in a friendly, to help Nagelsmann get off the mark as a national team manager, and Die Mannschaft will look to build on their success in Connecticut when they face Mexico in Philadelphia next Wednesday.

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, with Los Blancos considering making an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to Bernabeu in January. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola deciding to extend his stay at Manchester City could be good news for them in more than one sense. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo admitted there will be one key challenge to his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, becoming a professional footballer. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Caoimhin Kelleher has the opportunity to become Chelsea's starting goalkeeper - he's too good to be Liverpool's back-up. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers could be without up to seven players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marco Silva will be working with almost a fully-fit squad when his Fulham side play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Al Ettifaq chiefs admitted they were left in shock when Jordan Henderson told them he wanted to leave just months into joining the Saudi Pro League club. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon