After featuring for the U.S. Under-23s at the Olympics this past summer, Maximilian Dietz is hoping to earn a U.S. men's national team place.
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Dietz hoping for USMNT chanceCurrently featuring regularly for FurthPlayed three times at Olympics this summerAFPWHAT HAPPENED?
Greuther Furth's Maximilian Dietz was a regular for the U.S. U-23s throughout the most recent cycle, earning himself a spot on the Olympic roster. In France, he played in three of the four U.S. matches, featuring in midfield after also playing as a center back during the cycle.
Like all American players, Dietz had a close eye on the U.S. men's national team coaching search this summer, which ultimately landed on Mauricio Pochettino. While he knows he's still on the outside looking in with the national team, he's excited by the potential opportunity to impress a new coach with new ideas.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesWHAT DIETZ SAID
"The new coach, for me personally, doesn't have that much of an impact mindset-wise on my work here at Furth," Dietz told a roundtable of reporters. "No matter who the coach is at the U.S. national team, you have to perform, you have to do your work at your club, you have to play consistently, and you have to play at the highest level to even get the chance. It doesn't matter who the coach is; if you don't bring that, then it's not a possibility for you to get caps.
"Not being with the [senior] national team and looking at it from kind of an outward position, it's very, very interesting, just looking at what the new coach has to say. I obviously have that goal of wanting to be part of the men's national team, so yeah, you're very curious and very, very interested in what a new coach has to say and what he wants to see from the national team players or from players that have the chance to play for the national team."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Dietz, 22, has established himself as a regular in the 2. Bundesliga with Greuther Furth making his big breakthrough during the 2023-24 season. After making four appearances the season prior with just one start, Dietz started 28 of his 30 appearances in 2023-24 and has remained in the Starting XI this 2024-25 season. The American midfielder/defender has played in five matches, starting three, after arriving back to the club late due to his 2024 Olympic run.
After the Summer Games run that saw the U.S. make it to the quarterfinals, the players involved with the U.S. U-23s will now set their sights on a potential World Cup chance. Dietz is no exception as he hopes to impress those in charge in the coming months and years.
"Unfortunately, we didn't get as far as we wanted [at the Olympics] with our goal being that we wanted to get a medal," Dietz said, "but I still feel like that we did well and that we represented the values of U.S. Soccer well."
He added, "I think, me included, every one of the guys, we're very ambitious. We want to take the next step in our careers club-wise, but also national team-wise. Obviously after the U23s, the only next step you can take is the men's national team. I think every one of us has that goal in mind but, in terms of chances, I think that's something that other people have to decide."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR DIETZ?
Dietz, who is partnered by fellow American Julian Green in the Furth midfield, will look to lead the charge on Friday as the club faces Fortuna Dusseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga.