USMNT Watch: Green, Wood State Cases for Mexico Game with Goals in Germany

We’ve talked a lot about the growing United States men’s national team forward depth chart over the last few weeks, and rightfully so. 

Most of the talk has been about Jozy Altidore and his red-hot form, but a few other forwards stated their cases to USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann with strong showings in Germany over the last week. 

In addition to the big week from the German contingent, some of the top American stars based domestically started the MLS Cup play-offs. 

Below is an in-depth look at those stories and more in our weekly USMNT Watch. 

Julian Green, Bobby Wood Score in Midweek German Games

The best news surrounding USMNT-eligible players in Germany came from the midweek matches as Julian Green and Bobby Wood both struck the back of the net. 

Green helped Bayern Munich earn advancement to the DFB-Pokal round of 16 on Wednesday as he netted his first career senior-team goal. 

The 21-year-old bagged the second goal of the night for Bayern in their 3-1 win over Augsburg. In addition to scoring a first-half strike, Green went the distance for Carlo Ancelotti’s men. 

If Green can find a way to get a little more action off the bench, which he was unable to do on Saturday in league play, he’ll stay fresh for a potential cameo role against Mexico and Costa Rica. 

As for the starting forward positions, Bobby Wood stated his case on Tuesday with a brace in Hamburg’s DFB-Pokal win over third-division side Hallescher. 

The Hawaii-born striker has four of Hamburg’s seven goals in all competitions this season. He still has both of the team’s league tallies. Hopefully that changes for the last-place side in the German top flight on Sunday against FC Koln. 

Wood seems to have the No. 2 forward position locked down behind Altidore, but there’s a chance Klinsmann could start two up top at some point during the Hexagonal round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. If that is the case, Wood is the man right now. 

In league play across Germany this weekend, Fabian Johnson and Timothy Chandler started on the same pitch in Friday’s scoreless draw between …

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