Tag: Malik Tillman

Four USMNT players make shortlist for Golden Boy award

Tuttosport awards the annual prize to the top under-21 player in European men’s soccer.

Four U.S. men’s national team players have been named to the shortlist for the Golden Boy award, Tuttosport‘s prize for the top under-21 player in European men’s soccer.

The Italian publication named a 100-player list on Wednesday, which included Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman and Joe Scally.

Three of the four players participated in the USMNT’s recent four-match window in June, with Reyna missing out due to injury.

Musah, who plays with La Liga side Valencia, is the only player of the four to ply their trade outside of Germany. The 19-year-old was hugely impressive for the USMNT over its recent four games, causing coach Gregg Berhalter to say “he just blows me away” after the game against Uruguay and declare him the man of the match after Tuesday’s draw in El Salvador.

The 2021 Golden Boy award was won by Spain and Barcelona star Pedri, with the 2020 award going to Erling Haaland.

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Malik Tillman explains why he chose the USMNT over Germany

Chris Richards with a big assist for the USMNT!

Malik Tillman could make his U.S. men’s national team debut Wednesday night in a friendly against Morocco, just one day after FIFA officially approved his switch of association from Germany to the USMNT.

Speaking to reporters in Cincinnati on Tuesday, Tillman—who just turned 20 during this camp—said that this marks his first visit in the United States, a country he is eligible to play for through his father.

Tillman noted that Gregg Berhalter’s pitch, along with a clearer path to World Cup play with the USMNT than with Germany, were major factors in his choice. “I would say that I have a chance of playing in a World Cup this year. In Germany, I think I wouldn’t be with the team for (likely) the next two years,” Tillman said. “If I have a great career the next two years, maybe I can have a chance with the German national team but I don’t really see the chance with them. I see it here.”

Tillman added later that Berhalter views him first as a No. 10, which “was one of the points that convinced me.”

In his remarks after announcing the roster in May, Berhalter said he saw Tillman as “an attacking midfielder in a 4231, he could be a pocket winger in a 433, he could be a center mid in a 433 depending on if we can get his defensive work where it needs to be.”

Tillman said that the thought of playing for the USMNT had been on his mind even as he studied English growing up, and that his brother Timothy—who had 28 appearances with Greuther Fürth this season—is also interested in switching allegiance after playing for German youth national teams.

Along with his meeting with Berhalter, Tillman credited Chris Richards and Taylor Booth for helping him choose the USMNT during their time as teammates at Bayern. “They told me it’s a great group of guys, there was a lot of potential, and they also convinced me,” said Tillman. “With Chris, I have a good relationship and I really trust him. I would say he’s a good friend of mine. So to hear (positive things about the USMNT environment) from him is very important for me.”

Tillman said that even though the only player in camp he really knew personally was George Bello (who played alongside him for the U.S. Under-15s in 2016), the group has made him feel very welcome.

“It took me a lot of time to make the decision, but in the end I listened to what my heart told me, and, yeah, I hope it’s the right decision. I hope I like it,” said Tillman. “I’m happy to be here.”

USMNT notes: Berhalter addresses McKennie, Mihailovic, Tillman and more ahead of Morocco

The USMNT coach touched on a variety of topics ahead of a stretch of four games in two weeks

U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter touched on a variety of topics ahead of his side’s friendly against Morocco in Cincinnati on Wednesday night.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Berhalter offered some information on his lineup for the Morocco match, the first of four games in a two-week span for the USMNT.

As expected, Matt Turner will start in goal after Zack Steffen withdrew from the roster for family reasons.

Aaron Long will partner Walker Zimmerman in central defense while Brenden Aaronson, who just completed a transfer to Leeds, will start centrally after mostly featuring as a winger during his time with the USMNT so far.

On Mihailovic’s injury

Djordje Mihailovic was forced off the USMNT roster with an ankle injury, in a major blow for a player who has been one of the top attackers in MLS in recent seasons.

Berhalter addressed the CF Montreal star’s injury as well as his decision not to call in a replacement.

“We purposely stacked the attacking positions in this camp with depth in every position, so we didn’t feel there would be a need for a replacement,” Berhalter said.

“Our heart goes out to Djordje. The timing of this is very unfortunate for him. He’s been having a great season. We were really looking forward to working with him in this camp. But what I told him is just focus on getting better and continue to do what you’ve been doing, and if you do that, there will be other opportunities for you down the road.”

Tillman eligible to play

On Tuesday U.S. Soccer announced that Malik Tillman’s change of association application with FIFA had gone through, clearing the Bayern Munich attacker to play for the U.S. after he declared his intention to switch from Germany earlier this month.

“We are really excited he got cleared by FIFA to play,” Berhalter said. “He’s shown a lot of quality in training, very good understanding of the game, very good first touch and awareness around the penalty box.”

McKennie working his way back

Berhalter also addressed the status of Weston McKennie, who missed three months with a broken foot before making a cameo off the bench in Juventus’s final game of the season on May 21.

In a positive sign for his health, McKennie was called into the USMNT roster, and Berhalter said the plan is to bring the star midfielder along slowly.

“The goal of our camp is to get him in position where he can start a game and play extended minutes,” Berhalter said.

“Right now what we’re dealing with is maybe he can play 20 minutes tomorrow. We’ve been looking at his training load, and have really been building him up. He’s had an intensive last four days, and tomorrow will be the fifth day of his load. So we want to be mindful with minutes, making sure that he’s recovered and moving the right direction, but he’s looked good on the field.”

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Bayern Munich’s Malik Tillman to switch allegiance from Germany to United States

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder made his first-team debut with Bayern this season

Bayern Munich teenager Malik Tillman has decided to play for the United States in the future, according to Germany Under-21 head coach Antonio Di Salvo.

Tillman, who turns 20 later this month, has represented Germany at various youth international levels, most recently appearing with the U-21 side in March.

The attacking midfielder, who is eligible for the USMNT through his American father, has also played for the U.S. as the U-15 level.

“We regret Malik’s decision and it surprised us very much,” Di Salvo said to Kicker. “We promoted him in the U-21s as a younger player, placed a lot of trust in him and gave him match practice. We were intensively involved in talks about his prospects up to the senior national team.”

Tillman’s time at Bayern Munich

Tillman, who was born in Nurnberg, has come up through the ranks at Bayern Munich, making his senior debut for the German giants this season.

Tillman made seven total appearances for Bayern’s senior side in 2021-22, while playing the majority of his time for Bayern’s reserves.

Breaking through at a club as strong as Bayern could prove a major challenge for Tillman. According to a report from SPORT1 last month, Bayern will look to loan Tillman out in the summer in order to provide more first-team minutes.

Tillman’s older brother Timothy plays at Greuther Fürth, which was just relegated from the Bundesliga. Timothy, like his brother, played for Germany at the youth level and is still eligible to switch to the U.S.

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