Timmy Chandler’s Eintracht Frankfurt beats Bayern Munich in DFB-Pokal final

Eintracht Frankfurt pulled off a shock upset, defeating German giants and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, 3-1, in the DFB-Pokal final at the Olympiastadion Berlin.

Ante Rebić opened the scoring in the 11^th minute for Die Adler. Robert Lewandowski tied the match in the 53^rd minute for Bayern, but Frankfurt secured the win, the cup, and a spot in next season’s Europa League with another goal from Rebić and a 96^th minute insurance effort from Mijat Gaćinović.

The match was an opportunity to close the door on some unfinished business, as Frankfurt lost year’s final to Borussia Dortmund.

American fullback Timothy Chandler traveled with Frankfurt, but was not included in the match day squad (he still got a winner’s medal). The 28-year old right back hasn’t played in his club’s last two matches, but made a combined 25 league and cup appearances this season.

Chandler has 29 caps with the U.S. men’s national team since making his debut in 2011. Will he be a member of the program moving forward?

A Bundesliga.com article from four months ago titled “An Eagle worth a second look for the USA” implores the next manager to include him, claiming, “there isn’t a better American full-back in the world game right now.”

I’m sure absolutely nobody disagrees with that clearly objective claim.

If there is a dissenting opinion (from perhaps anyone who has watched DeAndre Yedlin play), an American participating in a continental competition like the Europa League is still worthy of future interest and attention... provided Chandler is still with Frankfurt next season. There haven’t been any transfer rumors and according to TransferMarkt his contract runs through June of 2020, but weird things can happen when there’s a new manager in town.

BSC YB manager Adi Hütter is taking over Frankfurt from Niko Kovač who is about to take over Bayern, who he just beat in a cup final. Life is funny.

Like some USMNT fans, will Hütter want Chandler to stick around? Or like some USMNT fans, will Hütter want Chandler to not stick around? Time will tell.

But what is clear, is that no matter how many past or future call-ups he turns down, you must always cite his award-winning attitude. To quote Parks and Recreation character Ron Swanson, “Everything I do is the attitude of an award winner, because I’ve won an award.”

Timmy Chandler has a DFB-Pokal medal. He is an award winner. Turning down national team call-ups is the behavior of an award winner whether you like it or not.