Football

USA vs Germany lineups, starting 11 for USMNT October friendly in Julian Nagelsmann debut

Gio Reyna returns to the United States under Gregg Berhalter as the USMNT hosts European power Germany in Hartford on Saturday.

It marks the first time that Reyna will play under Berhalter since their falling out at the 2022 World Cup. His return was delayed by the coaching search, which didn’t tab Berhalter to return until two months ago, plus an injury to the player over the summer on Nations League duty.

Germany are under new management, with Julian Nagelsmann set to make his national-team debut in this match. Nagelsmann replaced Hansi Flick in the aftermath of their World Cup group-stage exit and a run of just two wins in seven friendly matches in 2023 for the Euro 2024 hosts.

The Sporting News reviews the latest team news for both USA and Germany as the two clash for the fifth time since 2002 and the first since 2015, when the U.S. claimed a 2-1 win.

MORE: A look at the full USMNT squad for October friendlies vs. Germany and Ghana

USA vs Germany lineups, team news

Both teams have called in strong, first-choice squads for this international break despite the two sides both only contesting friendlies.

Julian Nagelsmann has made some intriguing choices for his first Germany matches, calling in five center-backs but just two full-backs, both left-sided players. He has brought in four uncapped players including Union Berlin forward Kevin Behrens and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Robert Andrich.

Gregg Berhalter has some new faces as well, including Heidenheim midfielder Lennard Maloney who has received high praise for his strong start to the Bundesliga season. Maloney could be a candidate to see time in this match given the injury to captain Tyler Adams.

Below are the projected starting lineups for both teams ahead of their match at Rentschler Field in Hartford, Connecticut.

MORE: An overview of the Germany squad for the match against the United States

USA projected starting 11 vs Germany

USA (4-3-3, right to left): Turner (GK) — Scally, Carter-Vickers, Richards, Dest — Musah, De la Torre, McKennie — Weah, Balogun, Pulisic.

  • Out: Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson
  • Limited: Gio Reyna, Cameron Carter-Vickers

Against a world-class opponent, it’s unlikely that U.S. head coach Gregg Berhalter deploys anything less than his first-choice starting lineup.

The only question in that regard is the full match fitness of Gio Reyna and Cameron Carter-Vickers who both just made their return from long-term injuries with a single substitute appearance before the international break. If they are deemed to be fit for 90 minutes of play, they will be deployed from the start, but in Reyna’s case, it’s likely the U.S. staff is overly careful with his workload through this international window given his complicated injury history.

Otherwise, aside from Tyler Adams who is missing with the recurrence of his hamstring injury, and Antonee Robinson who was rested as he plays through a sports hernia, Berhalter should put his best XI out on the field. Sergino Dest has been playing left-back with his new club PSV this season, and it will be interesting if he’s put there, or at his more natural right-back with a different replacement for Jedi on the left.

Adams’ absence could present a chance for uncapped Lennard Maloney to see the field, although Luca de la Torre could also step in here, leaving Maloney to earn his debut against Ghana.

Germany projected starting 11 vs USA

Germany (4-2-3-1, right to left): Ter Stegen (GK) — Kimmich, Rudiger, Sule, Raum — Gundogan, Goretzka — Sane, Musiala, Brandt — Fullkrug.

  • Out: Serge Gnabry, Timo Werner
  • Limited: None

Julian Nagelsmann has selected a full five center-backs for this trip. One of those is Mats Hummels, who has not been called in since 2021 and was dropped for the entirety of Hansi Flick’s time in charge.

Those five center-backs are in contract to just two natural full-backs on the roster in David Raum and Robin Gosens, both left-sided players. It will be interesting to see how Nagelsmann fills the void on the right, either by dropping Josh Kimmich back, moving one of the full-backs to the opposite side, or inserting the versatile Pascal Gross.

Injuries for Nagelsmann to work around include Serge Gnabry who is out with a broken arm, and Timo Werner who has been touch and go at RB Leipzig with a back problem. There’s a choice for Nagelsmann to make up front, as Niclas Fullkrug has been prolific in his short national-team stint, but Thomas Muller is an experienced veteran who is still performing at a high level.

USA vs Germany live stream, TV channel

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 14
  • Time: 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
  • TV Channel: TNT (English); Telemundo, Universo (Spanish)
  • Streaming: Fubo, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Universo NOW

The match between the United States and Germany will be available to watch on television in both English and Spanish.

TNT will have the English language broadcast, while a Spanish language option is available on both Telemundo and Universo. All three channels are available to stream on Fubo.

MORE: Watch Premier League matches live with Fubo in USA | Watch EPL in Canada

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