After the US’s round of 16 exit against Belgium we were all harping and grieving over the missed opportunities that the yanks spoiled despite being outshot 26 to 9 by the Red Devils. But it wasn’t all bad, as the hype was born for 19 year-old Julian Green.
Green scored in the 107th minute giving the US life in the latter stages of the game and gave US fans everywhere what they have been looking for for since Freddy Adu: a young star that can take the team to the next level.
Now obviously Green has a long way to go, but could you have asked for a better debut from the Bayern Munich product? Sure it wasn’t the cleanest of volleys, but it was a big time play on a big time stage – on his first touch of the Cup no less.
Now looking to the future, everything is in place to for Green to continue his growth and become what we’ve been waiting for. Bayern Munich is starting their US tour on July 31st against Chivas de Guadalajara and finish up on August 6th against the MLS All-Stars before their massive DLF Supercup meeting with Borussia Dortmund in what will be a packed Signal Iduna Park.
Green is currently on the first team for Bayern Munich and will travel with the team during their US tour and manager Pep Guardiola is not only excited about the upcoming tour, but about Julian Green.
“I think today, he’s going to stay, but we’re going to see in the preseason. We have time. I know him. I know he trains well, he’s a good guy and my first idea is he’s going to stay for the rest of the season.”
If Green can stay on the first team for Bayern throughout the Bundesliga season, developmentally, it should do wonders for him. He will get time on the field considering the amount of games Bayern plays with Champions League and German Cup fixtures and he’ll be playing with some of the best players in the world.
Green made his debut with the Bayern Munich first team last year in a Champions League match against CSKA Moscow. (Photo: @FoxSoccer | Twitter)
"He was with us in the preseason [last year], and we were really impressed with his talent, his movement to goal," Guardiola said. "He played a little bit in the World Cup, but when he played, he showed his level, scoring a beautiful, beautiful goal. … It’s never easy to be in the big clubs in the first squad, but he deserves to try to keep going here and play with us.”
It’s tough to say if Pep is saying this to the American media to get us overly excited, but if Green could find a spot on the first team it would be a massive win for the USMNT. Green does have a slight knee injury and will be rested for the next couple days according to Guardiola, but we should get our fix of Green in the two matches stateside.
