Luring Bayern Munich teenage forward Julian Green to play his international soccer for the United States rather than Germany was a big catch for coach Jurgen Klinnsman, but it’s also one that is probably more about the Americans’ long-term future rather than this year’s World Cup.
Green clearly has talent — he’s being groomed by one of Europe’s major soccer powers — but he’s also still just 18 years old with limited top-level experience on the field and it remains to be seen if Klinnsman will use a critical roster spot on such a raw talent.
“This is one of the biggest talents coming through European football right now,” Klinnsman said in a video statement released by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
“We’re not only looking at Julian for this summer’s World Cup, we’re looking obviously into the future,” such as the 2016 Olympics and the 2018 World Cup, Klinnsman said. “Having his commitment to the U.S. is a huge step.”
The 18-year-old, who was born in Tampa, Fla., played for Germany in three qualifiers for the 2014 European Under-19 Championship, making his debut last Oct. 10 against Belarus and getting assists two days later against Latvia and on Oct. 15 versus Scotland.
German officials also pursued Green.
“We also were in contact with Julian Green,” Germany national team communications director Ralf Kottker told MLSsoccer.com. “But ultimately, it is the personal choice of each individual, as we urge for anyone.”
Green has applied for the one-time switch from Germany to the United States and the USSF hopes it will be approved before an April 2 exhibition against Mexico in Glendale, Ariz. Green already has trained with the U.S. team in Germany before its 2-0 loss to Ukraine this month.
Green also will have a chance to impress Klinnsman at the May training camp before the World Cup. And he doesn’t plan on waiting until the 2016 or later to make his mark.
“I hope to do everything I can to earn a spot on the World Cup roster,” Green said.
Green is just one of several dual-citizen players who have chosen to the play for the United States and Klinnsman envisions more in the future. In the past, top players such as New Jersey’s Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) and Salt Lake City’s Neven Subotic (Serbia) chose to play for other countries.
“It’s a process other nations went through 10-20 years ago,” Klinnsman said. “Now it’s happening more and more with the United States. It gives us a new dimension. I think those players now choose the American side … They see many other opportunities coming. They see their part of the American life in their future. It’s huge and we are thrilled.”