Jones turns back on Germany to play for USA

[luckiey-starrz.livejournal.com]

Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones will not play for the German national team and will in future represent the United States.

The 27-year-old has made three appearances for Germany but since all three of his caps came in friendly matches, he is still permitted to represent another nation.

As well as holding German citizenship, Jones also has a US passport and has therefore decided to switch allegiances.

He informed the German Football Association (DFB) of his decision today.

"We have accepted Jermaine Jones' decision," said Germany coach Joachim Loew in a statement. "I wish him all the best for his sporting future."

Jones played against Austria on February 6, 2008, Belarus on May 27, 2008 and England on November 19, 2008, but according to the new constitution agreed by football's world governing body FIFA recently, this does not preclude him from a change.

And Germany will not try to block him from appearing for the USA in future.

"We have often emphasised how much we like to welcome many players with backgrounds of immigration into the Germany national team," explained team manager Oliver Bierhoff. "This reflects the development of society in our country, but we have always emphasised that anybody who wears the DFB colours must identify with the national team and Germany.

"If a player does not see things this way, then that is his decision and we respect it."

Loew recently awarded international debuts to Brazil-born striker Cacau and Mesut Ozil, who had the option of representing Turkey.

Jones' father hails from the USA, which accounts for his dual citizenship.

source

.....um...I mean, I guess Germany has a lot of midfielders, but so does the US? Any thoughts?

Comments

[blumenfeuer.livejournal.com]

I can't find an original source for the first claim under "controversies" here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jermaine_Jones), but he seems like a dick.

I don't want him. idgaf if he's better than MB/Rico/Edu, he didn't pick us originally so him and Edgar Castillo and whoever else can switch can fuck off.

[x-morrissey.livejournal.com]

Is he a good player? The U.S. needs all the help it can get, they haven't been playing great recently.

[sk8terac.livejournal.com]

this is odd...
same with the fact that mikel arteta could play for england if he wants to.

[poptastiche.livejournal.com]

good. i think he's a twat and i don't want to see him playing for germany. as a matter of fact, i hope he doesn't play for the US either.

when schalke were playing badly and the fans jeered them: "(It doesn't) make any fucking difference (what the Schalke fans think) at the end of the day." which is a nice attitude.

[waterinmylungs7.livejournal.com]

So he couldn't hack it in Germany and now he chooses to play for America. What bs. Seems like a douche to me and it doesn't help that my boyfriend is talking about how he finally has a reason to watch our national team, cause he thinks this guy's such a good player. Hope he doesn't play.

[vivajenn.livejournal.com]

Huh. Interesting. I'm pretty unsure about this. :\

[nightkate.livejournal.com]

Lol, all I can think of is what a tremendously stupid idea to get him into the Nutella ads. They should effing get Andi Hinkel back to wear that cowboy suit

PS: Where's Otto? ;)

[n720.livejournal.com]

as a full on German fan.. I have to say

[amytess.livejournal.com]

Playing in those Nutella ads really seems to be a curse... ;)

I'm quite irritated by the things he said about the other players. So I'm really happy he won't play for Germany again.

[n720.livejournal.com]

"There are only two players in the national team who dare say anything - (Michael) Ballack and (Torsten) Frings.
"All of the others are of a lower calibre."

source (http://www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/germany/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=international_feed/09/06/13/SOCCER_Ger-Germany_Jones.html)

omg what the hell. I'm glad he's gone.