Germany wins final World Cup tuneup without injured midfielder Lennart Karl

Germany played without Lennart Karl on Saturday, a day after the 18-year-old midfielder injured his thigh in training. But Leroy Sané and Kai Havertz scored as the 10th-ranked Germans beat the U.S. 2-1 at Soldier Field.

Next up for Germany is its World Cup opener on June 14 against Curaçao. It also has Group E games against the Ivory Coast on June 20 and Ecuador on June 25.

Karl has been ruled out for the tournament. He was coming off a breakout season with Bayern Munich, when he became the club’s youngest Champions League goal-scorer.

“Really tough. ... I had a good connection to Lenny. He’s a great guy, a very young guy,” Germany defender David Raum said after the win over the U.S. “But yeah, we shared a lot of nice moments together also in this short time. I played in training always against him because he plays on the right wing. Yeah, we lose a good human being and an amazing player.”

Karl wrote on Instagram that it's “indescribably painful” having to miss the World Cup. "Unfortunately injuries often come at the unluckiest time,” he posted.

Karl was replaced on the roster by midfielder Assan Ouédraogo, who plays with Raum on Leipzig in the Bundesliga. Ouédraogo has made one appearance for Germany, scoring during a 6-0 win over Slovakia in November.

“Very happy, yeah, to welcome him here, and he can help us also a lot,” Raum said.

With Manuel Neuer recovering from a calf muscle issue, goalkeeper Oliver Baumann started against the U.S.

The 40-year-old Neuer will go into the World Cup having not played for Germany in almost two years. He retired from the national team after the 2024 European Championship but agreed to a recall last month.

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Germany players pose a team photo before an international friendly soccer match against the United States in Chicago, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann directs his teammates during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against the United States in Chicago, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck, right, waves to fans as he leaves the field with forward Kai Havertz after Germany defeated the United States in an international friendly soccer match in Chicago, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

MONACO (AP) — Kimi Antonelli is aiming to continue a remarkable rise to the top of Formula 1 as he starts on pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday with a chance to further stretch his standings lead.

Monaco is the glamorous traditional high point of the F1 season and the 19-year-old Mercedes driver could join some of the sport's greatest names as a winner.

It's almost impossible to overtake on the narrow, twisty street circuit, so his pole position is especially valuable. He starts ahead of two of the most successful F1 drivers ever, with Max Verstappen second for Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton third for Ferrari.

“I just need to get a clean start, don’t try to do the magic start,” Antonelli said Saturday. Hamilton said that to have a shot at winning, he might need rain, which is unlikely to affect the race.

After a winless rookie season, Antonelli took his first F1 victory at the Chinese Grand Prix in March and has followed up with wins in Japan, Miami and Canada to lead teammate George Russell by 43 points. He would be the youngest champion in F1 history.

Mercedes has won all five Grand Prix races so far this year and is aiming for a sixth. Russell hasn't won since the opening race in Australia and starts sixth for Sunday's race after admitting he was “bamboozled” by how the Mercedes car better suited Antonelli's driving style.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Williams driver Carlos Sainz of Spain during the third free practice for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain smiles after the qualifying session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands smiles after the qualifying session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car during the qualifying session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy celebrates after setting the pole position during the qualifying session for the Monaco F1 Grand Prix, at the Monaco racetrack, Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)