The validation of Jurgen Klinsmann's recruitment of German-Americans
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SAO PAULO – There in the late afternoon sun on Monday, in the middle of the United States training camp, stood Jurgen Klinsmann, the German-born and trained coach.
In front of him was a host of reserve U.S. players, with one end of a large elastic band attached to their backs, the other side held firmly by team assistants. Meanwhile, a few coaches, Klinsmann included, stood in front of them and tossed balls at their feet, causing them to jump forward against resistance, kick them softly, jump back and then, rapid-fire, do it again.
Among the players Klinsmann, who grew up near Stuttgart, was working with was Julian Green out of Munich, John Brooks of Berlin, and Timmy Chandler from Frankfurt. Back inside the Sao Paulo FC training facility here where the American team has called home, starters Fabian Johnson, of Munich, and Jermaine Jones, of Frankfurt, were receiving treatment after Sunday's grueling match with Portugal up in humid Manaus.
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It was all in preparation for the U.S.'s crucial game Thursday against … Germany.
The German influence on this World Cup team is undeniable and will gather considerable attention considering the upcoming opponent.
Five of the 20 field players on the roster (or one-quarter) own dual German-U.S. citizenship. Then there is the coach, who came of age during the Cold War, when the U.S. military stationed hundreds of thousands of soldiers in Germany. He played with and attended school with many children of soldiers, so this all feels natural. (The father of each of the five German-raised players is a former U.S. serviceman.)
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Upon taking over the U.S. national team, Klinsmann made no apology about his interest in recruiting the very best American-eligible players he could find. The squad also includes players who could've played for Norway, Mexico and Iceland.
Klinsmann believes foreign countries, Germany in particular, have superior youth training systems to America, although in his role with U.S. Soccer he's trying to change that. As such, he tries to tap into that development.
The decision wasn't always popular – ESPN's Alexi Lalas, in particular, was public in his hope that the dual-nationals would embrace what it meant to play for the United States, not just the chance to play in the World Cup. He wondered if they'd fight as hard as a player born and raised in America would.
Thus far, Klinsmann hasn't just been vindicated in his decision to look overseas for players. It's also been arguably the decisive move that has the American team still capable of winning its group and advancing into the knockout rounds.
Jones has been, if not the best American field player (give goalkeeper Tim Howard overall honors), among the top two or three. His booming, self-created shot and goal against Portugal that evened the game at 1-1 was both brilliant to witness and changed the momentum of the contest. It was a slightly unexpected offensive play for the midfielder and suggests a growing comfort level. "At halftime everybody told me to try to shoot," he offered.
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In the opener against Ghana, he was merely named Man of the Match.
Johnson has been, if not the best U.S. defender, its most consistent, offering strong play throughout the first two games against attacking opponents.
Then there is Brooks, who came into the Ghana game as a sub and headed in the 86th-minute game winner (after Johnson won the U.S. the critical corner kick). He was so overwhelmed by the moment that he essentially collapsed.
Beyond obvious skill level, what's clear about the German-Americans is that they have, indeed, battled just as hard and just as long as any teammate from Texas or Illinois or Kansas.
"You're on the pitch and you see how many fans, how much support is out there from the United States," Jones said of the huge throng of Americans in the stands here. "It's amazing. It's crazy to see how much support you get. I think it's made every player proud to wear that jersey and fight for the country, and give something back. … I am proud I can give a little bit back. That's what I want to do."
Green and Chandler have yet to play in this tournament, but depending on how Thursday's game goes, each could see action. Green is 19, Chandler 24, and with both playing at the top level of German professional soccer, their futures with the Americans could be considerable.
You didn't need to see Klinsmann personally working reserve players through rudimentary drills on Monday to know his commitment to the development of his entire roster, both in the short and long run.
"Our belief is that every one of these 23 guys on this roster will make an impact on this World Cup hopefully," he said.
It remains to be seen what the emotions of the players – or Klinsmann, for that matter – will be when they line up against Germany. As a player he led West Germany to the 1990 World Cup title and in 2006 coached the unified German team to a third-place finish.
The current German team didn't want any of the German-Americans because they weren't believed to be good or developed enough. So there's a shoulder-chip deal going there.
Whatever the case, the old German coach, who grew up surrounded by kids just like these guys, the offspring of soldiers stationed all around the country, brought them back into the American fold. Without apology he took the best talent he could find, never doubting that they'd represent the U.S. in the proudest way imaginable.
Two games in, that decision hasn't just paid off. It's impossible to imagine where the national team would be without its dual nationals.
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