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i'm not sure what he would have done to beat belgium. if you want to say he gives us a better shot, fine. but to say definitely wins the game for us is being a bigger stan than me with Tom Brady
Why play in Scotland?
Never understood this with Bocanegra, Edu, Beasley....
Fast track to the CL I guess?
[COLOR=#red]Julian Green to fight for Bayern spot[/COLOR]
Julian Green believes that competing with the best players at the World Cup has given him the extra push he needs to fight his way into the Bayern Munich squad.
Green, 19, scored with his first touch at the World Cup, when he was brought as an extra time substitute in United States' last-16 tie against Belgium. Green's goal proved only a consolation, as the Europeans held on to beat Jurgen Klinsmann's team 2-1.
The Bayern youngster believes that despite only playing 15 minutes, the World Cup opportunity can only aid his development.
"The experience has definitely helped me progress. I was able to watch the best players in the world up close, Cristiano Ronaldo for example," he told Bayern's official website. "His presence on the field, his ambition, his posture. Experiencing that up close was great."
Looking back at the World Cup, he also praised the special atmosphere in Brazil and the "soccer fever" in the United States: "I never expected so many fans to cheer and keep their fingers crossed for us. More viewers watched our game against Germany than the NBA finals."
The U.S. squad has been invited to meet President Barack Obama at the White House, and Green hopes to make the trip back home.
"It's a great honour and I definitely want to be there. But I still don't know when that's going to happen," Green said.
And he will be back in the United States later in July, when Bayern tour the country for the first time in a decade.
"The trip is something special for me. I love the country, I was born there and I'm always glad to be there. At our game against the MLS All Stars I'll also meet some of my teammates from the national team. I'm very much looking forward to the tour," Green added.
In the 2013-14 season, Green made only one brief appearance for Bayern's first team, when he was brought on for the final minutes of the Champions League away match at CSKA Moscow.
In the upcoming season, Green wants to fight to get closer to the first team.
"After my vacation everything starts again from zero, but I'll carry a lot of confidence and experience with me from Brazil to Munich, so I'm looking forward to the new season. I want to be able to stand my ground at FC Bayern," he said.
Jurgen Klinsmann rejected job offers
Jurgen Klinsmann remains focused on coaching the U.S. despite several offers to return to Europe.
The former Germany and Bayern Munich coach was linked with Galatasaray during the 2014 World Cup and told Bild there has also been interest from other parties.
He said: "There have been several enquiries from European clubs but I told them straight away that they don't have to follow up on them.
"That's not an issue for me. I am under contract here until 2018, and I am looking forward to the upcoming tasks."
During the United States' run to the round of 16, a wave of "soccer fever" hit the United States.
Klinsmann hailed the remarkable atmosphere which included praise for his side's work from U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"The World Cup was a gigantic success. Yes, we would have wished to go even further, but it was really close against Belgium," he said. "Nobody had expected us to advance to the knockout stages from that group of death.
"We did it -- and sparked an unbelievable euphoria. The viewing figures went into record numbers, and there were public screenings the U.S. had not witnessed before.
"Vice president Joe Biden was in the dressing room after the Ghana match. And Barack Obama called after our defeat against Belgium. I got Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey to answer the call, and they were super proud.
"Even Angela Merkel sent me a text message after every match. Of course, she crossed her fingers for Germany. But -- without asking her -- I'd say that the United States have been her second team."
Klinsmann, who led Germany to the 2006 World Cup semifinals before standing aside, also said their current success was nothing to do with him.
"All credit has to go to Joachim Low and his colleagues - from [team manager] Oliver Bierhoff to the players, the staff, the association and also the Bundesliga. They can toast it on Sunday," he said.
"I will be watching the final at home, with my family. We will keep our fingers crossed. Most of the U.S. is also behind Germany. The team is admired for the style in which they made it to the final. Most of all for the 7-1."
Jürgen