ASN: Who Will Make the 2016 U.S. Soccer Olympic Crew?

The 2016 Summer season Ganes in Rio de Janeiro are nonetheless a methods off, however ASN Contributing Editor Brian Sciaretta regarded into his crystal ball and got here up with 18 names for the subsequent U.S. Olympic soccer workforce.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
February 27, 2014
12:09 PM

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ON SUNDAY THE OLYMPIC FLAME was extinguished in Sochi, Russia, which instantly received me fascinated by the subsequent time will probably be lit—890 days from right this moment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Two-and-a-half years is an eternity for youth soccer growth, and far will occur between now and the subsequent Summer season Video games. However I believed it might be enjoyable to venture who will make the 18-player U.S. Olympic soccer workforce.

After all, there isn’t any assure that the Yanks will even qualify for the 2016 video games. The reminiscence of the “Nightmare in Nashville,” when the U.S. U-23 workforce did not qualify by not even advancing out of its group with Cuba, El Salvador, and Canada, nonetheless haunts this system.

Nonetheless, right here is my predicted roster (with a couple of essential assumptions).

First, I’m going to imagine a strict U-23 workforce with no overage gamers. There are such a lot of concerns with overage gamers. Will golf equipment launch them? Additionally, if the mixed Copa America/Gold Cup in 2016 involves fruition, will gamers accessible for the Olympics be used for the Copa as an alternative? So for now, I’m simply going to place out one of the best U-23 workforce.

Additionally, I’m not going to think about twin nationals who’re nonetheless enjoying for the youth groups of different international locations. Whereas these gamers may nonetheless file for a one-time swap and be U.S. eligible at a later date, for now they don’t seem to be thought of for this record. So no Julian Inexperienced, Shawn Parker, and many others.

With that stated, right here is my early prediction for the 18-player roster for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

GOALKEEPERS

1) Cody Cropper

2) Zack Steffen

Within the Combine: Ethan Horvath, Santiago Castano

Notes: The protected guess is to imagine that the Cody Cropper would be the first alternative since he began within the U-20 World Cup in 2013 and is progressing effectively at Southampton. Zack Steffen is the early favourite to be the primary alternative U-20 starter within the 2015 cycle and was Cropper’s backup in 2013.

DEFENDERS

3) DeAndre Yedlin

4) Marco Delgado

5) Shane O’Neill

6) John Anthony Brooks

7) Will Packwood

8) Kellyn Acosta

Within the Combine:Juan Ocegueda, Matt Miazga, Erik Palmer-Brown, Walker Zimmerman

Notes: The protection in all probability stacks up higher than some other space on the sphere for the U.S. Will Packwood is a first-team starter at Birmingham Metropolis; John Anthony Brooks has performed for the total nationwide workforce and has earned Bundesliga minutes; Shane O’Neill, Marco Delgado, and DeAndre Yedlin are promising starters in MLS; and Kellyn Acosta is sufficiently versatile to offer cowl anyplace.

MIDFIELDERS

9) Wil Trapp

10) Russel Canouse

11) Luis Gil

12) Benji Joya

13) Junior Flores

Within the Combine: Caleb Stanko, Jordan Allen, Emerson Hyndman, Danny Garcia, Collin Martin, Joel Sonora, Luis Felipe, Kris Scott.

Notes: Because it stands proper now, solely Wil Trapp and Luis Gil are incomes constant minutes amongst this group. Benji Joya appears to be like promising in preseason with Chicago however as with most gamers it comes all the way down to efficiency with their golf equipment in significant video games. Emerson Hyndman is approaching robust together with his growth at Fulham and will power his approach onto the workforce within the coming yr.

FORWARDS/ATTACKING MIDS

14) Paul Arriola

15) Lynden Gooch

16) Rubio Rubin

17) Ben Spencer

18) Duane Holmes

Within the Combine: Jose Villarreal, Romain Gall, Omar Salgado, Jack McBean, Amando Moreno, Zach Pfeffer, Alonso Hernandez, Daniel Cuevas, Victor Pineda, Kyle Scott

Notes: Anticipate lots to alter within the U.S. assault within the coming yr—principally as a result of so many gamers at present lack important skilled expertise. Paul Arriola has proven glimpses of high quality with Tijuana and Duane Holmes has impressed in his first season within the English Championship. The truth that they’re incomes first-team minutes makes each of them robust contenders.

Lynden Gooch has been approaching very robust this season on the youth ranges for Sunderland and is prone to be an integral a part of the brand new U-20 workforce. He has robust playmaking and ending skills, and will make himself indispensible. Equally, Rubio Rubin is a favourite of Tab Ramos early within the cycle and is ready to affix Utrecht.

Ben Spencer could appear to be a little bit of a stretch however the actuality is that the workforce will want a goal ahead and Spencer has been among the many high middle forwards for U.S. youth nationwide groups at his age stage. This season in Norway might be essential but when he can play effectively and earn a spot on the U.S. U-20 workforce, he might be within the driver’s seat to earn a spot to Rio in 2016.

So there you might have it—my preliminary 2016 U.S. Olympic soccer workforce. Agree with these alternatives? Disagree? Let’s have it out within the Feedback part under.

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Comply with him on Twitter.