USA secure nationality switch for German star to face Ghana at World Cup

Published on: 19 March 2014
USA secure nationality switch for German star to face Ghana at World Cup
Green has decided to snub Germany to play for the USA at the World Cup

The United States have secured the nationality switch intention of German winger Julian Green in time to face Ghana at the 2014 World Cup.

Bayern Munich's German-American winger, who has been choosing which of the two countries to represent over the 18 months, has decided to wear the Red, White and Blue.

Green has applied to FIFA for a one-time change in international eligibility and that the process should be completed "in the coming weeks."

USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann announced the news on Twitter.

Green would join the US for training ahead of next month's friendly vs. Mexico.

"We are absolutely thrilled that Julian has chosen to be a part of the US national team programs," Klinsmann said in a statement.

"As we have said, he is a very special talent. We wanted him to feel comfortable with our program and listen to his heart when making this decision.

"I personally want to thank Kalle Rummenigge and everyone at Bayern Munich for their support through this process. He is an exciting player with a tremendously bright future."

Green has previously represented Germany at the U-16, U-17 and U-19 levels, and has suited up once for the US in the youth ranks.

He was first called up by Klinsmann for the full US national team last November, but the need to file a onetime switch prevented him from suiting up for the US in friendlies vs. Scotland and Austria.

Klinsmann called him to camp earlier this month ahead of the friendly against Ukraine, and Green trained with the USMNT for the first time in Frankfurt, Germany, but was not eligible to suit up in the match, held in Cyprus.

The youngster has yet to suit up for Bayern's first team in the Bundesliga, but made his official debut with the first team this winter against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League and is the star of the Bayern reserves in the German fourth flight.

He played several times for the reigning UEFA Champions League winners in last summer's preseason heading into the current campaign.

Green, 18, was born in Tampa, Fla., to an American father and German mother and moved with his family to Germany at the age of two.

He joins a host of other German-Americans, including mainstays Jermaine Jones and Fabian Johnson, as well as fringe national teamers John Brooks, Terrence Boyd, Danny Williams, Timothy Chandler and Alfredo Morales.

He is also the second dual-national to choose the US over a European country under Klinsmann, following in the footsteps of striker Aron Johannsson, who picked the US over Iceland.

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