The U.S. men's national soccer team is gearing up to face Germany on Thursday in World Cup group play.
But the Germans, it turns out, are not the average opponent.
Ties to Deutschland on Team USA run deep - very deep.
Five members of the team are German-American, and Jurgen Klinsmann, the United States coach, is a German soccer hero who has both played and coached for Germany.
His former colleague, friend and protege, Joachim Loew, is Germany's current coach. Soccer analysts have called it "the German influence."
See the five German-American players on the U.S. men's team:
Retired soccer player Greg Lalas appeared on "New Day" Tuesday to break down just why those German connections may prove to be so important.
He hypothesized: "I think Jurgen Klinsmann has something to prove, and wants to go out there and beat his old team."
its because they are bundesliga players
Julian green is a midfielder not a defender
Julian Green isn't a defender.
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