Bayern Munich names USA's Julian Green to first team for 2016-17 season
U.S. men's national team forward Julian Green has said it was first team or bust for him at Bayern Munich this season, and he appears to be on the right side of that equation.
Green was named to Bayern's first-team squad for 2016-2017, which the club released on Tuesday. The fight for playing time won't be easy for Green, who will have to contend with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Douglas Costa, Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Thiago in manager Carlo Ancelotti's loaded attack. Green succeeded in the preseason with his extended chance to play, though, scoring four goals in six matches, including a hat trick against Inter Milan in the International Champions Cup.
U.S. men's rising generation faces vital seasons in time of transition
Here is Bayern's first team for the season ahead:
Green, 21, spent last season with Bayern's reserves, who play in the fourth tier of German soccer, and scored 10 goals. The season before he endured a fruitless loan to fellow Bundesliga side Hamburg. He has yet to appear for Bayern Munich in Bundesliga play, though he has played for the first team in spot Champions League duty.
He'll hope to parlay his first-team status into more regular U.S. call-ups. Since scoring in the 2014 World Cup round of 16 against Belgium, Green has been called on sparingly by Jurgen Klinsmann. His most recent cap came in May against Puerto Rico in a pre-Copa America friendly.
