I’m sure you’ve already read this elsewhere: Julian Green wouldn’t get a sniff of the German national team. That has to be why he’s switching, right? The 18-year-old, Tampa, Fla.-born winger started the process of changing his international affiliation from Germany to the United States, but if he could have made the strong, more highly regarded German team, we would have remained with the Nationalmannschaft, right?
After Green completes his one-time shift, that question will forever remain a hypothetical, but if the actions of the German federation are any indication, Green had some sort of future with its national team. At least, that would explain why Germany head coach Joachim Löw tried to keep the Bayern Munich attacker in the fold.
From Major League Soccer’s website:AMSTERDAM – A representative from the German soccer federation told MLSsoccer.com on Wednesday that although Germany lost out on the international services of Bayern Munich II hotshot Julian Green, the Germans certainly did not go down without a fight ...
As it turns out, the staff of Germany senior side boss Joachim Löw was in contact with Green up until the final decision was made.
“We also were in contact with Julian Green,” Germany national team communications director Ralf Köttker told MLSsoccer.com. “[Löw’s assistant coach] Hansi Flick (above, left) had a personal conversation with him …"
The counterpoint here is that Germany wouldn’t want to lose anybody. Why give up on a player when you can keep him under your umbrella, even if he doesn’t play?
Still, we didn’t hear these stories when the litany of other Germans switched to the U.S. Maybe it’s because Green’s so young, maybe it’s because we’re paying more attention, or maybe it’s because he has a better chance of having an impact at the senior level. For whatever reason, Germany didn’t want Green to switch. Jurgen Klinsmann still managed to get him in the fold.
(MORE: Trust in Jurgen Klinsmann on display in U.S. soccer’s Julian Green fever)
Green’s application to switch to the United States is expected to be resolved over the next two weeks. He could make his first appliance for the senior national team Apr. 2 against Mexico.
