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Bayern’s Green replaces Robben in Club World Cup squad

JulianGreenBayernMunich4 (dpa)

By DAN KARELL

For the first time since 2010, an American has a chance to participate at the FIFA Club World Cup.

After Arjen Robben suffered a serious knee injury last Wednesday, Bayern Munich replaced the Dutchman on their 23-man squad for the Club World Cup with American-born midfielder Julian Green. Green, who has scored 15 goals for the Bayern Munich reserves this season, made his first team debut on November 27 as an 88th minute substitute for Mario Gรถtze.

Green follows Jose Francisco Torres and Herculez Gomez who both played with Pachuca in 2010 at the Club World Cup. Torres also represented Pachuca in 2008.

Bayern begin their quest to add to the trophy cabinet in the Club World Cup semifinals on Dec. 17, where they’ll face either Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande or Egypt’s Al-Ahly. Bayern are likely to face Atletico Mineiro in the final on Dec. 21, providing that they get past the challenge of either Monterrey or Auckland City/Raja Casablanca.

With the injury to Robben, it’s likely for Green to continue to see more time in the Bayern first team squad even if he doesn’t make the field. The 18-year-old Green is still eligible to represent either the USA or Germany.

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What do you think of this news? Excited to see if Green could feature for Bayern at the Club World Cup? Do you expect him to play?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I hope this boy decides to play for Germany. Has anyone considered the USA has no history of developing international stars from the club perspective, which also has an effect on international play. I’m all for patriotism, but it’s in the best interest of this boy to play for Germany if the opportunity is afforded. This will allow him to develop at the club level and at the country level. He needs to get the best competition and tactical training in all aspects of his play. And let’s not forget our national team coach’s reputation in Germany from a tactical perspective. With the comments that were made by Lahm about Klinsi having no clue of tactics, and the thought that they were shared by many others, from a tactical developmental perspective Germany also seems to be best. I love the USA but I want to see this kid do well also.

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  2. Not going to attach myself to him until he switches. Potential Gold Cup would cap tie him if he did switch..and it would not be anytime soon.

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  3. We have some really good kids in the pipeline…

    Green, Kitchen, Brooks, Will Packwood, Bill Hamid, Luis Gil, Yedlin, Arriola

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  4. Hope he decides to play with us before the world cup! He’ll have a better chance to play on the senior team and show the world what he can do with the nats. One can dream…

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  5. This kid is good!

    Too bad I bet the draw v Germany in the big picture hurts his chances of picking USA.

    Big ups to his DAD and Klinsi for working it though… If he visits his real “fatherland” ๐Ÿ˜‰ this XMAS, we gotta get the word out and get some fans to make him feel comfortable and wanted!

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    • On the contrary, if the US can get a result against Germany, it might show him that the US team would still be a good opportunity for him.

      I’m not talking a win (though that would be nice). A draw or even a 1-goal loss (such as 2-3) would probably be pretty decent.

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  6. Houston we got a problem……………he is officially a german footballer ๐Ÿ™
    kilnsi keep recruiting international American players

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    • He’s not officially a senior anything. He’s been a junior German footballer, but at the senior level he hasn’t made up his mind.

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    • elpaso,

      If you are saying that Green breaking into the first team and possibly becoming a regular in the near future is a bad thing for the USโ€™ chances of getting him, you are completely wrong.

      Bayern are a big club that want to get bigger and they want to break into the US market.
      Note that they agreed to play the MLS All Stars.

      What better marketing tool and shirt seller than a real live US born player, an American international on their roster who also happens to be good enough to be a Bayern Munich first teamer and maybe someday soon a starter? It would be in Bayern’s best interest for Green to pick the USA.

      They have tons of German internationals and donโ€™t need any more, at least from a marketing standpoint.

      From what I have seen Green is quite fluent in English having spent a lot of time in Tampa growing up.

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      • Actually it might help. Germany’s tactical setup/formation don’t afford opportunities for too many strikers to actually see playing time, so he may have better odds of finding minutes as a USMNT player, which might tip the balance.

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