ASN: After a breakout with El Paso and taking part in with the U.S. U-20s, Luna optimistic for 2022

Diego Luna has been one of many extra shocking gamers on the U.S. U-20 staff, however after a breakout within the USL Championship in 2021, the Sunnyvale native is hoping it results in larger issues for each membership and nation in 2022. ASN Brian Sciaretta spoke with the playmaker at the newest U.S. U-20 camp.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
February 16, 2022
9:05 AM

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THE UNITED STATES U-20 nationwide staff is at an necessary level. The staff just lately accomplished its second camp of the cycle and now gamers are returning to their golf equipment to construct circumstances that they must be within the combine for future camps. This summer time the staff will participate in a twin qualification match for each the 2023 U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics with seemingly just one full camp remaining earlier than remaining preparations for that match start.

Diego Luna, 18, has been one of many gamers who has featured the staff’s first two camps. Taking part in for El Paso Locomotive within the USL, Luna has performed his most well-liked No. 10 place for the U.S. U-20 staff and has been impressed with the staff’s progress – which he was fast to level out began utterly from scratch.

“We haven’t been together in two years, and there are guys who have never played with each other, guys that they didn’t know each other’s first names, who are coming in from all over the place,” Luna mentioned. “It’s difficult, especially having such a short amount of time just to play games in camps. I’m very proud of the team and I’m very proud of what the coaching staff and technical staff and support staff has done. We’ve created bonds here already that are very strong on the field… And with a couple more training with a couple more weeks together, we’ll be where we want to be.”

The U.S. U-20 staff is now beneath the course of head coach Mikey Varas who was employed days earlier than the staff’s first camp in November for the Revelation’s Cup. Luna likes the strategy of Varas, who he says needs the staff to turn into a really attack-minded group. He needs to construct out of the again, break performs, speed up into the ultimate third, and press.

However the staff can also be nonetheless very a lot a piece in progress. An enormous precedence of the previous camp was shoring up the protection which conceded seven objectives over three video games on the Revelations Cup. This previous camp, the staff didn’t concede a purpose going towards the New York Purple Bulls and FC Dallas who have been taking part in preseason friendlies. After a 0-0 draw with the Purple Bulls, the staff fought for a 1-0 win over FC Dallas with the purpose coming towards the run of play.

Assume that Diego Luna has develop into one of the best younger American participant that the majority of you aren’t watching. Very proficient multi-faceted attacker, previously on the Barcelona Residency (Araujo, Clark, Hoppe).

7g/4a in 24 video games for El Paso, and turned 18 in September. pic.twitter.com/3MJHVpHOjD

— Jeff Rueter (@jeffrueter) October 7, 2021

Now shifting ahead, the staff will hopefully look to construct up its assault. The subsequent camp is scheduled for March with goal for it to happen internationally – with Argentina being listed as a probable vacation spot. However the outcomes over the latest camp assist construct momentum for the staff.

“Coming into the game, we knew what the Red Bulls was about – a very aggressive and very fast and high press team,” Luna defined. “We came into that game strong, and it was our fourth game of being a group. We kept a 0-0 tie. We had many chances that we could have put away. We just needed to be clinical in the final third. It was a good testing point against men. Against FC Dallas, that was another story. Dallas played very well. They were more of a possession-based team and it put us against a totally different opposition. I think we defended well and we created chances for ourselves. At the end of the day, we got the victory and played well.”

Luna has an fascinating path that introduced him so far. Born in Sunnyvale, California, Luna is the son of a mom and father who’re each Mexican immigrants. He’s the youngest of 4 youngsters, however the subsequent closest sibling to him in age is his sister who is sort of 10 years his senior. Soccer was large in his household and his father and brother have been his coaches till he was 12.

— El Paso Locomotive FC (@eplocomotivefc) October 14, 2021

Rising up, Luna mentioned he realized he wasn’t nice at college and as an alternative needed to comply with his dream of soccer. Initially with the San Jose Earthquakes academy, Luna was not blissful together with his improvement there so he needed to make an enormous resolution as to the place to go subsequent.

“I was stuck,” Luna recalled. “I made a move that moved away from my family and went out to Arizona at the age of 15 and moving away from families for your dream – that’s a big thing… I think that was probably the best decision of my life. Heading out to Arizona for a year and a half got me to El Paso. And then, of course, my family supported me 100 percent.”

At El Paso, Luna has thrived. Within the 2021 season, he performed in 31 video games and notched 9 objectives whereas including 5 assists. He performed an enormous function in serving to the staff qualify for the publish season of the USL Championship.

Diego Luna places El Paso Locomotive FC on the board first. Luna scoring within the twenty ninth minute, his fifth purpose of the season. #KTSM9Sports pic.twitter.com/CBysWkxRWK

— Andy Morgan (@AndyMorganTV) August 5, 2021

Heading into 2022, Luna needs to maneuver onto a much bigger platform and hopes that his performances with the U.S. U-20’s and El Paso open doorways – MLS or elsewhere as groups each domestically and overseas have been monitoring his progress. For now, he stays pleased with El Paso and insists it has been an incredible place for him to start out his profession and put together him for a protracted skilled profession.

“Everybody looks at the USL., they think it’s maybe not a good,” Luna defined. “I have everything going against me. People to see that I am performing well in the USL. The one thing they say is, OK, can you do that in that in that next level? That’s the challenge for me. That’s the reality of it. But the USL is an amazing place to grow as a player in the U.S.. It is where you start to get professional minutes and you become a pro. You get to play against veterans, guys who know the game, guys who are physically superior. It’s a great place to develop and see where you’re at and see if you’re ready for the next step.”

Luna certainly seems prepared for the following step and he’s pleased with the event of his sport over the previous 12 months. One of many excessive factors for him got here in November on the Revelations Cup when he earned the beginning for the U.S. U-20 staff towards Mexico. Shortly into the second half with the U.S. trailing, Luna scored an equalizing purpose. Whereas the U.S. staff misplaced 2-1, it was a good efficiency towards a robust Mexican staff that gained the match over Brazil, Colombia, and the U.S.

Cade Cowell to Diego Luna to equalize the united statesU-20s vs Mexico on the Revelations Cup pic.twitter.com/lSfBVEhJQ3

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) November 17, 2021

That second was private for Luna given his connection to Mexico and the best way he recognized himself within the fierce rivalry the U.S. and Mexico have within the sport. His household was divided when the nationwide groups performed and whereas Luna was at all times within the U.S. nook, it helped him develop into nearer together with his Mexican heritage.

The purpose, nonetheless, unified his household of their need to see him succeed.

“When I was little, we would always have people come over and watch the game. The rivalry is a big thing, and I would always have my USA jersey on. I would cry when Mexico scored on us and I would tear up, and I was going around telling people to stop cheering – because half my family would cheer for Mexico and half my family cheered for USA.”

“Then as I grew older, I started to realize I am Mexican, I speak Spanish, my parents are from Mexico. I started to put it into perspective –  I have respect and I love Mexico and I love being Mexican, but I grew up in the United States. I think that’s something that you need to be proud of. Ever since I was born here in the US, I was raised here. It gave me what I have now. It got me to where I’m at now. And I think that’s a big thing you need to take into perspective – I was born and raised in the United States, so it’s only right to play for the country that they raised me to who I am.”

The previous 12 months has been big for Luna on a private {and professional} stage – however together with his membership and together with his nation. However with the U.S. U-20 staff gaining steam in its cycle and greater golf equipment lurking, the following few months may very well be even larger for him.