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 Götze.
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?
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