Ummm, ok? If Dennis Aogo and Marcell Jansen could get call-ups back then, I'm sure Fabian was in the running. Fabian at Hoffenheim in 2011-2012 season: 33 apps 3 goals Dennis Aogo at Hamburger SV in 2011-2012 season: 33 apps 1 goals That year Hoffenheim finished 11th place Hamburger finished 15th place. None of this really matters, because neither of us were in Low's head during this period.
You cited FJ as an example of a player who could play for a better national team but chose a different option based on a number of factors. I'm saying that's not true. At the time FJ chose to play for the USA it was apparent he couldn't play for the German senior team. There is no evidence or suggestion he was spurning the DFB to join ussoccer. It would appear from how his career went he chose to play for the USA because that was his only realistic option to play international football. I have no reason to believe any other consideration went into it.
Here's the difference with Germany and France selection, or "recruiting", process. Those Turkish and Algerian players who choose their parents origin are homegrown players. Neither of these federations are scouring the villages and neighborhoods of Turkey, or Poland, or west Africa looking for eligible players. They choose players who know their land, their language (team communication), and their colors. Yes, Eder was not born in Portugal, but he knows the land, the language, and the shirt from growing up playing football on Portuguese fields.
Of course, because Western European federations won't find many eligible and useful players in those areas. On the other hand, Turkey definitely scours the youth academies in Germany for players of Turkish descent and IIRC even receives updates from the DFB on any eligible dual nats.
At the risk of sounding "bad", all of those players are very close to their Turkish roots, so integration is also easier. Cahanoglu is a good example. His heart is with Turkey. He didn't choose Turkey only because he had nothing better to do on intl break. The situation with Tillman is shaping up to be just that if the reports are accurate.
That might be a fair generalization specific to the Turkish diaspora in Germany, though there are those who switched to get a fair chance at getting caps (Malli is a recent one). Ultimately you don't know how the player feels until Klinsmann/Herzog talk to them personally - he could be a Boyd or a Toljan or anything in between.
It's not just France and Germany, with Turkish/Algerian players. How about Diego Costa? You think he knows much about Spain? He was born and raised in Brazil. Or Thiago Motta for Italy. Or Nani, who's from Cape Verde? Podolski, and the other Poles in the German system? Or Neven Subotic and Serbia? You think those guys weren't recruited by their respective national teams? And regardless of which system they are raised in, it's guaranteed that some (I'm sure not all) of the French/German dual nationals have been recruited by France and Germany. They don't have to go far, but they'd have to have recruited guys like Boateng, Gundogan, Mustafi, Sagna, Evra, and others. Simply having access to other teams means FA's need to talk to players and make sure that they stay home. Finally, can we not use Gedion Zelalem because he spent time in Germany? Or Manneh because he spent his formative years in (I assume) Gambia?
Starts for the U19s against Rostov: Aufstellung der #FCBU19 gegen Rostov: Früchtl - Stingl, Götze, Isherwood, Friedl - Shabani, Tarnat, Fein, Tillman - Hadzic, Emghames. #UYL— FC Bayern Campus (@fcbayerncampus) September 13, 2016
A mini-profile from a few days ago, which mainly seems to indicate that his mom's name is Anja, and he apparently had a shot at FC Nürnberg as a kid but didn't rock the tryout. http://sportbild.bild.de/fussball/s...s-spielmacher-der-zukunft-47707442.sport.html It also apparently mentions his family's relationship with his father, but I'm not going to guess at the translation given that it's personal and I'd hate to get it wrong.
It says that when he moved to a new club in 2007 his father, a member of the US military, had already left the family. It also says that very few players of his age cohort in Germany can do what he does with the ball at his feet. It says he was invited to a US training session last October but declined because he, just like his brother, would rather play for Germany. Good find!
If you're referring to the part about his dad walking out on the family, well, that's been the story with almost every German-American player that has played for the USA.
According to this article (reported by an American), he was publicly declaring his "always interest" in USA. Now that he is seen as a potential uber-prospect in Germany, he is choosing his words carefully. After all he plays in Germany and Bayern Munich is a German club. http://owhentheyanks.com/2015/08/18/bayern-adds-us-eligible-pair/
Also an earlier article then the one above (from same American writer) that states Tillman closely followed other German-American players. Clearly identified as being American. http://owhentheyanks.com/2014/04/29/99-german-american-selected-into-german-u15-side/
"Almost every" would be an exaggeration... Jones, Chandler, Boyd fit that description, but most of the remainder have their fathers involved in their lives, even if the parents divorced.
That's true, I misspoke. But it's a high amount for such a small group of players, even going back to Thomas Dooley.
One way to look at it... the ones where it didn't work ended up raised in Germany. The majority of the ones where it worked out, ended up raised in the US and we never hear about them.
Starts in UEFA Youth League match against Athletico Madrid: Aufstellung #FCBU19 für #AtletiFCB: Früchtl - Stingl, Awoudja, Isherwood, Friedl - Götze - Hadzic, Fein, Shabani, Tillman - Crnicki. #UYL— FC Bayern Campus (@fcbayerncampus) September 28, 2016 And scores in the 4th minute: Tooooooor für die #FCBU19! Timothy Tillman trifft zum 1:0 (4.). #AtletiFCB #UYL— FC Bayern Campus (@fcbayerncampus) September 28, 2016