As the United States and its German coach Jurgen Klinsmann prepare to play his home nation Thursday in the World Cup, a quarter of the outfield roster will be comprised of German-Americans. Despite what some critics say, that’s not a problem — it’s a plus.
When Klinsmann took the U.S. job, he talked about having a team that represented the country. If America is indeed a melting pot, then its soccer team should be as well, and no group underscores that diversity better than midfielders Jermaine Jones and Julian Green and defenders Fabian Johnson, Timothy Chandler and John Brooks.
“There’s all this discussion about American kids coming through different countries, and suddenly being on the horizon for the national team. It [happens] all over the word,’’ Klinsmann said in March. “It’s a process that other nations went through 10, 20 years ago. France won the World Cup in ’98 or the Germans in 2006 or 2010 with a lot of dual-citizenship players. Other countries went through those experiences before us.
“Now it’s happening more and more with the U.S., and it gives us a new dimension. Those players choose the American side because they see what’s happening with soccer in our country. They see MLS getting bigger, they see the national team is doing a better job hopefully, more and more successful. They see many opportunities coming, and they see part of American life in their future. So it’s huge, and we’re thrilled.’’
Klinsmann’s comments came after Green — then an 18-year-old phenom coming through the ranks at powerhouse Bayern Munich — chose to represent the U.S. Those comments also apply to a host of dual-nationals he has recruited from Iceland, Mexico and Norway. The fact most have been German isn’t just because Klinsmann is a legend in Deutschland.
The U.S. had hundreds of thousands of troops stationed in Germany throughout the Cold War years, and still had 52,440 as of Dec. 31, 2010. Four of the five German-Americans on the roster have fathers who were U.S. servicemen, while Green was born in Tampa and raised in Germany.
That’s a huge talent pool to pull from, all benefitting from Germany’s superior youth development system. With Germany’s loaded roster, it’s no shock several have chosen to represent the U.S., and Thursday brings added emotion with the opportunity to advance to the knockout stage with a draw or win.
“Germany will be a special game, but I will try to win this game,” Jones said. “I grew up in Germany, my Mom is German. But I will try to win and try to bring America to the next round. For this game against Germany … it’s not the point to be their friend; the point is to get to the next round. That is the important stuff.
“I’m proud of both countries. I grew up in Germany. They gave me a lot. That’s where I had my first steps, played my first games in my first leagues. I played for Germany so I can’t say bad stuff. [German national coach] Jogi Loew gave me the chance to play, and it’s one of the biggest football countries in the world. … But I’m proud when I hear the anthem from the U.S. I’ll close my eyes, let it all go through and then play my game.”
It was Jones who scored a world-class bending equalizer against Portugal, and Brooks who came off the bench to score the winning header late against Ghana. Green has spoken of being moved by U.S. captain Clint Dempsey presenting him with a jersey before he had officially joined the team.
“It hasn’t just been this tournament. It’s a process over the last few years now. The guys have integrated very well,’’ Graham Zusi said of the quintet. “This team has really connected and bonded, and there are no cliques, no segregation by any means. It’s just a great group to be a part of. It makes it easy.”
Emblazed on the Stature of Liberty — the image of immigration — is the quote “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” from the poem “The New Colossus.” Klinsmann wants the U.S. team to represent that ideal, and being inclusive won’t be a problem — it’ll be a plus.