Team Germany will face the United States (United States Federation of American Football, USFAF) Saturday in the first of two American football games featured at the 2017 World Games, in Wroclaw, Poland on the second day of competition.
The last time American football was included as an invitational sport at the World Games was in 2005 when Duisburg, Germany played host and the home team won it all. Germany beat Sweden 20–6 in the final game while France took third place, beating Australia 14–0 in the consolation final. The United States was not represented at the event.
The last time the world got together to compete in American football was the 2015 IFAF World Championship. The United States, through the USA Football governing body, used a team of former college players who maintained their amateur status to absolutely dominate the rest of the international field.
The German national team has not played together since the 2014 European championships which they won in a thriller over Austria.
However, with the largest base of players to draw from in arguably the best league in Europe, Team Germany will be formidable. The coaching staff led by Peter Springwald is highly experienced. The three quarterbacks, Alexander Haupert (Saarland Hurricanes), Paul Zimmerman (Berline Adler) and Sonny Weishaupt (Frankfurt Universe) will have some of the best receivers in the German Football League to throw to including Niklas Romer (New Yorker Lions), Aurieus Ademesan (Schwabisch Hall Unicorns) and Jan Hilgenfeld (New Yorker Lions).
For Team USA, as represented by the USFAF, the roster will not be certain until game time. Due to travel issues, many of the players originally scheduled to play on the team were unable to make it. At least half of the 42 man roster will be made up of American players who have been playing in Europe. The head coach of the team is Rudy Wyland, who founded the USFAF and USA Eagles Club in 2002. He played collegiately at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Idaho State University.
Defensive Coordinator is Kevin Booker. He played college football at Morgan State University.
Team USA arrived in Poland July 21 and have had one practice. Meanwhile, the Germans have been in camp all week. While Team Germany can’t be ranked ahead of the Americans just yet, given the circumstances they could surprise come Saturday.
France and Poland will face each other in the other semifinal at 7 pm. The gold medal final and battle for bronze will be played Monday July 24.