DFB Team in Chicago: Neuer back on the pitch, Havertz rallies team spirit

Load Building and Tightness in the Lower Leg

The background to the limited load is a tightness in the left lower leg, as emerged from team circles. Nagelsmann announced an update on his captain's condition in the coming days in Chicago. Should Neuer not be available for the match against the USA on Saturday, Oliver Baumann could step in goal.

Havertz had traveled individually to the team hotel, the Waldorf Astoria, where teammate Leroy Sané greeted him in the lobby. The 26-year-old had lost the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain with FC Arsenal the previous day and only joined the team late. He emphasized the value of cohesion: "We have to function together as a team. And everyone needs everyone. And one will play more, the other less. But everyone has to be there when they are needed." When asked why he didn't travel with the team, he replied curtly: "As soon as possible."

Secret Session and Team Meeting

In the afternoon, Nagelsmann gathered the squad in a large circle on the training ground, and assistant coach Mads Buttgereit also addressed the players. This was followed by the second training session of the day, which took place behind closed doors as a secret session.

On the sidelines of training, Neuer was seen with his backup Jonas Urbig on the promenade of Lake Michigan. The 22-year-old Urbig represents the Munich captain both at FC Bayern and in the national team. Meanwhile, David Raum spoke at the Goethe-Institut as part of a children's Q&A session about the harmonious arrival in America. In the evening, the team planned to find a restaurant together in Chicago's Gold Coast district.

Generational Duels on the Wing and in Defense

The friendly match against the USA will kick off on Saturday at 8:30 PM at Soldier Field in Chicago and will be broadcast live on RTL. After that, the DFB team will travel on to Houston, where the World Cup opening match against Curaçao is scheduled for June 14. In Chicago, there will also be some generational duels in positions that Nagelsmann wants to resolve in the coming weeks.

On the right wing, two generations face each other with the 18-year-old Lennart Karl and the 30-year-old Leroy Sané. On the left defensive side, the 22-year-old Nathaniel Brown and the 28-year-old David Raum are competing for a starting spot. Nagelsmann is apparently using the days in the USA to sort out personnel issues for the upcoming World Cup.

Looking Towards the World Cup Opener Against Curaçao

A video later released by the DFB showed Neuer sitting on the grass in front of a large gray rubber ball, parrying several hard shots. Images interpreted as the goalkeeper's first visible sign of life in the national team since his injury break. Officially, the association remains tight-lipped regarding a possible comeback date but referred to the announced update in the coming days.