By Mike Woitalla
Julian Green, who two years ago became the youngest player to score a World Cup goal for the USA, is one of 10 reserve and youth team players ontour in the USA with Bayern Munich, which faces AC Milan in Chicago on Wednesday, Inter Milan in Charlotte Saturday and Real Madrid in New Jersey Aug. 3.
It was less than a month after his 19th birthday that Green entered theUSA’s round of 16 game at the 2014 World Cup against Belgium at halftime of overtime and on his first touch scored the consolation goal in the USA’s 2-1 loss.
That was the firstand last goal Green scored for the USA, for which he didn’t see any action in 2015. In 2016, Green played 28 minutes for the USA, in a 3-1 friendly win at Puerto Rico.
Green’scareer has not gone as one would have hoped after Jurgen Klinsmann convinced the skillful Germany-raised attacker to switch allegiance to the USA in March 2014, when Green was apromising 18-year-old on Bayern’s fourth division team.
He spent the season after the 2014 World Cup on loan with struggling Hamburg SV and played only 113 minutes in five appearances asa sub. He returned to Bayern Munich for the 2015-16 season and scored 10 goals for Bayern Munich II in the fourth division.
Green has yet to play a Bundesliga game for Bayern, but has played two Champions Leaguegames, three minutes in 2013 and 62 minutes in 2015 — both in group games after Bayern had already clinched passage into the knockout round.
Breaking into to Bayern Munich’s first teamhas only gotten more difficult in the past few years, as Bayern has stalled its promotion of youth products and spent much more than ever on the transfer market. Since 2014, when Green started hisloan stint with Hamburg SV, Bayern has bought five players for more than $30 million each and spent a total of about $200 million on both foreign and domestic players.
Green, who joined Bayernin 2010 shortly after his 15th birthday, is competing for a roster spot against world-class players. At least in this Bundesliga preseason, the fact Bayern is so stacked with international stars worksto his advantage. Carlo Ancelotti giving many of the players who took part in Euro 2016 extra vacation opens up opportunities for Green to impress the new coach.
Wednesday, July 27
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Digital
BAYERNMUNICH-AC MILAN 9:30 pm ET
Saturday, July 30
ESPNNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Digital
BAYERN MUNICH-INTER MILAN 5pm ET
Wednesday, August 3
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Digital
BAYERN MUNICH-REAL MADRID 7:30 pm ET
The Bayern team touring the USA has a few of its stars, such as Philipp Lahm, Franck Ribery, Xabi Alonso and David Alaba. But still resting from Euro 2016 areManuel Neuer, Thomas Mueller, Jerome Boateng, Joshua Kimmich, Mats Hummels, Robert Lewandowski, Renato Sanches and Kingsley Coman.
Brazilian DiegoCosta and Dutchman Arjen Robben, both wide attackers like Green, are out injured.
Before leaving Munich, Green told the German press that he’s not planning on another season with the reserves.
“I willtry to prove myself, to give my best,” he said, adding that at the moment switching clubs is also not in his plans. “I’m looking for my chance here. What happens then, we’llsee.”
So far in the preseason, Green scored the first goal of the Ancelottiera, in a 4-3 win over fifth division Lippstadt. He played the full 90 in a 1-0 friendly win over Manchester City and the first 45 minutes of a 3-0 win over sixth division Landshut.
Uponarriving in Chicago, Ancelotti said that Green “has trained well. He has to continue to play hardnow.”
Playing so impressively on the USA tour that he’ll break into Bayern’s first team may be a long shot, but some stellar performances could get Green’s career backon course with a club not so stacked with superstars.
Sorry, this is mostly to boost his transfer valuation. Best case scenario is he transfers to a B2 team that will give him minutes in order to get promoted. Would be a big mistake for him to come to MLS right now. He needs to play regularly for 2-3 years and build a track record. BM can always re-sign him with a first-right-of-refusal clause.
He will see time here because he is an American.Just like Tim Howard saw time here when he first joined Manchester United.I want to see our players do well.
Yes, and Howard immediately replaced Fabian Barthez as number one and made the PFA Best XI that season.
Right – because unlike Green, Howard was actually good enough to play in a top European league.
Agreed R 2. Long shot making their roster, and he will be tempted with an MLS fee. Needs to stay abroad, but its not my life.
Come on, Joe Gyau–get healed (and playing) soon!
at least Vidal will be playing…..
Kilnsman got this one right, he is schreklich, small, slow, can’t shake markers-around the 60′ mark Bernat passed across the goal, he stood watching almost on the edge of the 18……his lone touch hit the 20th row…like we were playing with 10 men most of the match…definitely not driving 5 hours to Charlotte just to watch him……
Not sure if this applies to Julian, but his lack of instinct/intuitiveness, reminds me of why we lack finishers in this country. Over coaching and too little thinking by most club system players. You can’t coach instinct, but there is a belief that if we coach the hell out of them while their young that at some point it will click. More free play without constant coaching would be better.
I hate blaming the player I love players. But if you want to put blame on someone blame Klinnesman for taking him. What else has Klinnesman done except take German players to the team. Has he help develope their game? I know I have not seen what he does with them on the practice field 🙂
and someone please tell me why the keepers jump before the ball is kicked? he would have stopped 2 staying where he was…..
Not really the job of the NT coach to develop players, other than molding them into a team for international play. But most of their time is spent with their club teams, so that’s where most training and development needs to occur. These are pros, after all; they should show up at camp in top form. If Green isn’t good enough to stick, he’s not good enough; if anything, it is a good sign that the USMNT roster is stabilizing.
what a great recovery! we all had a great time, but it was hot!