USA midfielder Brenden Aaronson is targeting a potential outing against Germany on Saturday after remaining an unused substitute in his side’s 3-2 win over Senegal in Charlotte on May 30.
Aaronson has described waiting for his call-up from head coach Mauricio Pochettino as the most nervous day of his life and is now aiming to add to his 57 caps, having featured in the USMNT’s run to the last 16 in 2022.
“I’m really looking forward to being able to hopefully show myself against Germany,” Leeds United’s Aaronson told the USA’s website, adding that he will “always” be “supporting the guys the best I can” regardless of selection.
“If not, [I’ll be] going into training and showing what I can, making sure I do whatever I can to get on the pitch. I want to support the guys and… whenever I get a chance, do my thing.”
Germany are “approaching the match like a World Cup game to build confidence”, according to Kai Havertz.
“The USA have good players and a good team,” the Arsenal forward told the German FA. “Many of them play in the top five leagues, like the Premier League.
“I played with [USA captain Christian] Pulisic at Chelsea; he’s a good player. Pochettino is a great coach. We’re expecting a tough game.
“They’re playing in a home World Cup and their fans are excited. The USA have become a top nation. The Americans want to show their fans at home that they’re there.
“It will be a good test against a good team. We’ll use this to familiarise ourselves with the stadiums, the fans and the time zones.”
USA v Germany team news
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has come out of international retirement at the age of 40 and will be Germany’s number one, head coach Julian Nagelsmann has said.
Havertz, Brighton & Hove Albion playmaker Pascal Gross and Liverpool counterpart Florian Wirtz make up three of the Premier League players in Germany’s squad, joined by Newcastle defender Malick Thiaw and forward Nick Woltemade.
Arsenal’s involvement in the Champions League final last Saturday and parade of the Premier League trophy alongside his Gunners teammates in London the following day meant the 26-year-old was the last player to join Germany’s squad in the US, arriving on Tuesday evening.
That could mean Pochettino will rest Havertz, who may be most familiar with the five Premier League players in Pochettino’s squad.
Aaronson is joined by Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson and Coventry City forward Haji Wright.
Adams missed 10 matches for the Cherries with a knee injury between December and February and four combined for club and country with a hamstring problem between March and April.
