ASN: An eye fixed in the direction of Poland: A have a look at how the U.S. U-20 group is shaping up

The U.S. U-20 group will now give attention to Poland after enjoying their final pleasant earlier than the beginning of ultimate World Cup preparations. Brian Sciaretta takes a deep dive with the doable provisional and World Cup rosters and appears on the key positional battles. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
March 24, 2019
12:00 AM

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THE UNITED STATES U-20 group wrapped up a profitable worldwide camp on Monday with a 2-1 win over Japan. That win got here on the heels of a 2-2 draw in opposition to a really sturdy French group. Total, it arrange a collection of very arduous decisions head coach Tab Ramos must make when deciding on his roster.

The explanation why this camp was spectacular is that 4 of the perfect gamers over the 2 video games (Chris Durkin, Christian Cappis, Andrew Carleton, and Konrad de la Fuente) weren’t a part of November’s group that received the CONCACAF Championship. So already gamers from an excellent U-20 group are beginning to get squeezed out.

Competitors is an effective factor and a number of other gamers are beginning to increase their video games. As is typical, gamers on the youth ranges see their kinds change shortly. Gamers who carried out effectively in November would possibly now carry out effectively six or seven months later.

Within the draw in opposition to France, the U.S. group fell right into a 2-0 gap however rallied for the draw after a terrific particular person effort from de la Fuente lower the result in one. Then the late equalizer was arrange on an incredible passing sequence from Carleton to Jonathan Amon to Aboubacar Keita and eventually to Cappis for the end.

Listed here are the 2 U.S. U-20 objectives within the 2-2 draw as we speak with France. The primary from Konrad de la Fuente. The second is a lovely sequence: Carleton to Amon to Keita to Cappis for the end pic.twitter.com/u0AbTUIRMC

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) March 22, 2019

Within the second recreation in opposition to Japan, the USA performed a poor first half and an excellent second half for the 2-1 win. Andrew Carleton got here off the bench and scored the opening aim within the fiftieth minute. After Japan equalized within the 63rd minute, the U.S. group discovered the winner by way of Cappis within the seventy fifth.

The USA U-20 will subsequent reconvene in Might for its remaining preparations earlier than heading to Poland for World Cup later that month.

Selecting a roster
Tab Ramos could have extraordinarily arduous choices to make when placing collectively his remaining World Cup roster of 21 gamers (which should embody three aim keepers).

The excellent news for Ramos is that the scale of the provisional roster for this yr’s World Cup expanded from 35 gamers to 50 gamers. That can enable him to maintain the door open for a wider group of gamers a bit bit longer.

For key gamers like Nick Taitague, Richard Ledezma, and now Justin Rennicks (who was pressured out of the sport within the first half of Friday’s draw vs. France) who’re injured or who’ve been injured not too long ago, they will have a couple of weeks to get better.

For gamers like Brenden Aaronson and Omir Fernandez who’ve began off the brand new MLS season in prime type, Ramos can provide them extra time to impress.

For gamers like Werder Bremen’s Josh Sargent and Celtic’s Tim Weah, Ramos can wait longer to see if both participant will likely be launched by their respective golf equipment or if the USMNT employees of Earnie Stewart or Gregg Berhalter will allow them to play within the U-20 World Cup. Neither in the meanwhile is enjoying commonly for his membership and the one membership battle for both can be the Scottish Cup remaining ought to Celtic advance that far.

Ramos might even use a spot or two to carry open for undecided twin nationals like Florain Balogun or Efra Alvarez or much more youthful gamers who’re eligible for the 2021 World Cup.

Predicting the roster, analyzing the battles

There are many roster battles throughout the complete participant pool to make the U-20 World Cup group and this earlier camp will solely make it tougher for Ramos.

Here’s a have a look at my predicted 50-player provisional roster. The gamers in daring are a part of my 21-player predicted remaining roster, which modifications ceaselessly within the weeks main as much as the U-20 World Cup.

Additionally under is a few evaluation of every of the positions as to the place I see issues proper now.

Goalkeepers
Brady ScottCJ Dos SantosTrey MuseJustin GarcesDavid Ochoa

The thin: FC Koln’s Brady Scott was the first-choice starter on the CONCACAF Championships in November. If wholesome, he will likely be going to Poland. In the mean time Dos Santos and Muse have a superb likelihood at going however David Ochoa has performed very effectively to start out the season for the Actual Monarchs and is enjoying commonly as he goals to be the subsequent Actual Salt Lake keeper after Nick Rimando retires after this season.

Proper again
Sergino DestJaylin LindseyManny PerezJulian Araujo

The thin: Sergino Dest is definitely the highest proper again within the pool and one of many extra attention-grabbing fullback prospects the U.S. has had the previous decade. Lindsey seems just like the back-up at this level and it helps he may also cowl in central protection. However the race is tight. Manny Perez is coming off a robust recreation for North Carolina FC (the place he’s on mortgage from Celtic) and Julian Araujo ought to be getting extra minutes on the LA Galaxy. Araujo additionally seemed sturdy for the U.S. U-23s in a 0-0 draw vs. Holland on Sunday.

Centerback
Mark McKenzieChris RichardsAboubacar KeitaSam Rogers

The thin: Regardless of all of the huffing and puffing from Philadelphia, I feel Mark McKenzie will likely be launched for the U-20 World Cup. I additionally suppose Chris Richards will likely be launched by Bayern Munich. That may be a superb factor as a result of McKenzie and Richards are excellent, however the central protection depth is that this group’s largest weak point. If both is just not on the sphere, the group has an enormous gap on the backline.

Proper now, Aboubacar Keita appears to have the within monitor to be a back-up. After Ketia, it is going to come all the way down to hoping gamers from different positions might help the group get by. Gamers like Jaylin Lindsey, Matthew Actual, and Chris Durkin can fill in.

Left again
Chris GlosterMatthew RealEdwin LaraSam Vines

The thin: Chris Gloster is a really stable left again and has performed effectively with this group. Matthew Actual was the group captain on the CONCACAF Championships and brings lots of intangibles (plus central protection cowl). Lara performed for Mexico prior to now and needs to return again into the usfold however this will likely be a tricky group for him to make. Vines was additionally as soon as a daily with this U-20 group earlier within the cycle however is now behind others. George Bello simply has the expertise to make this group however he’ll most likely stick with the U-17 group except there’s a wave of accidents.

Defensive midfield
Chris DurkinBrandon ServaniaJames SandsJuan Pablo TorresIsaac Angking

The thin: Whereas Durkin wasn’t with the group in November, he had a really sturdy camp in January and was sharp this previous month. He has performed sufficient to leapfrog Juan Pablo Torres from November to make the World Cup squad.

The large race could possibly be Brandon Servania and James Sands. Servania was the principle defensive midfielder within the CONCACAF Championship run however hasn’t performed for FC Dallas this season. In the meantime, James Sands has been a daily starter for New York Metropolis FC and has performed effectively.

Sands has not performed with the U-20 but however as a former U-17 World Cup participant in 2017, he’s accustomed to lots of gamers on the group. Like Durkin, Sands additionally provides Ramos cowl in central protection.

If Servania can discover the sphere over the subsequent month, he most likely goes to maintain continuity from November. If he doesn’t play for Dallas within the weeks forward whereas Sands continues to play, Sands might leapfrog Sevania and be a late inclusion into the group.

No. 8/No 10
Alex MendezPaxton PomykalRichard LedezmaChristian CappisFrankie AmayaTaylor BoothThomas RobertsBrenden AaronsonAnthony FontanaEdwin CerilloCole Bassett

The thin: Unquestionably, Alex Mendez and Paxton Pomykal are locks. Mendez was the group’s finest participant on the CONCACAF Championships and Pomykal was additionally sturdy in that event – whereas persevering with that type into the beginning of the season with Dallas.

Ledezma is a tricky case. He is without doubt one of the most gifted gamers within the pool and is a twin nationwide who’s eligible for Mexico. The issue with Ledezma is that he injured himself with a damaged metatarsal in the course of the course of his transfer from Actual Salt Lake/Monarchs to PSV Eindhoven. He hasn’t performed an official recreation because the center of June 5, 2018.

Ramos wants to offer Ledezma each likelihood on getting wholesome and enjoying as a result of he’s that good. But when Ledezma isn’t enjoying by the tip of the season for PSV’s U-19 group, both Ramos must depart him off or PSV won’t launch him.

If Ledezma can’t go, Christian Cappis would most likely be the subsequent in line after a really sturdy remaining camp the place he scored an equalizer in a 2-2 draw vs. France and the winner in a 2-1 win over Japan.

There’s lots of expertise on this age group. Taylor Sales space, Thomas Roberts, and Cole Basset are each gamers eligible for the 2021 U-20 group. In the meantime, one participant to keep watch over is Philadelphia’s Brenden Aarronson who has successfully changed the suspended Marco Fabian within the Union’s beginning lineup and has scored in opposition to Atlanta in a 1-1 highway draw and was sharp in a 3-0 win over Columbus.

Wingers
Konrad de la FuenteUly LlanezJonathan AmonAndrew CarletonNick TaitagueTim WeahOmir FernandezEfra Alvarez

The thin: When trying on the participant pool, this roster is de facto deep on wingers. Uly Llanez will make the ultimate roster as he has been a daily with the group this cycle and impressed on the CONCACAF Championships.

Konrad de la Feunte is without doubt one of the prime prospects with U.S. Soccer and had a standout latest camp in March. He provides Ramos lots of choices throughout the entrance line and is an explosive risk.

A 3rd winger will likely be one of many hardest calls within the participant pool. If Tim Weah is launched by Celtic/Paris St. Germain and the complete nationwide group, he’ll go over Jonathan Amon. If Nick Taitague is wholesome (which has not been the case for many of the previous two seasons), he will even go instead of one of many forwards, most definitely Ayo Akinola. Sadly, it’s robust to foretell that Taitague will likely be wholesome or that Weah will likely be launched (though it appears arduous to know why U.S Soccer or his golf equipment wouldn’t need Weah to play on this event barring a run by Celtic to the ultimate of the Scottish Cup).

Andrew Carleton can both play as a winger or a No. 10 for the U.S. U-20 group. For awhile it appeared like he can be an essential a part of the U.S. U-20 group however then he fell behind and appeared on the surface trying in. Ramos has cited Carleton’s lack of video games as a priority. However Carleton is firmly again within the combine proper now after a robust camp the place he scored the primary aim within the 2-1 win over Japan and was a part of the build-up to the late equalizer vs. France. He’s on the bubble and could be off it proper now, however he’s trending in the appropriate path and will declare a spot by Might.

Omir Fernandez is a participant that might possible begin for the U.S. U-20 World Cup group in every other cycle besides this one. The Bronx native has impressed with the Crimson Bulls to start out this season and along with his attacking expertise and his potential to attract fouls.

Efra Alvarez is gifted with the ball and has impressed with the Galaxy to start out this yr. However maybe Ramos will entice him to stroll away from Mexico with a World Cup spot? Most likely not given the expertise of the wingers however it’s one thing to contemplate.

Forwards
Ayo AkinolaSebastian SotoJustin RennicksJosh SargentJesus FerreiraCharlie KelmanGriffin DorseyFolarin BalogunZyen Jones

The thin: The ahead positions are a bit bit up within the air proper now. Like Tim Weah, Josh Sargent will go if launched by U.S. Soccer and his membership, Werder bremen. That would occur if he doesn’t play a lot for Werder Bremen the remainder of the best way.

Ayo Akinola has been a part of the group and he has produced for Ramos whereas additionally providing the likelihood to play ahead and wing. If Taitauge, Weah, or Sargent change into accessible, nevertheless, Akinola might get lower.

Jesus Ferreira is actually within the combine however it’s a race in opposition to time for him to acquire his citizenship and FIFA residency waiver to be eligible. At this level, it turns into robust to foretell he’ll even be eligible for the U-20 World Cup. Like with Alvarez, Folarin Balogun is within the English youth nationwide group pool however maybe could possibly be enticed with a U.S call-up.

On the latest camp, Justin Rennicks additionally went down with an harm and had to get replaced within the first half in opposition to France. If Rennicks’ harm is long-term, that would open the door for gamers who haven’t been with the group a lot. Charlie Kelman, 17, has performed in a U-18 camp and will significantly be attention-grabbing after beginning video games in League One. He has a recreation that’s just like Rennicks and this World Cup might give him a bounce heading into the subsequent U-20 cycle, which can be eligible for. For now, that may be a methods off to foretell as Rennicks has loads of time to heal.

Ultimate ideas

The potential is there for Ramos to take his strongest ever group to the U-20 World Cup. There are some considerations but when every little thing breaks his approach, it could possibly be a formidable group. Gamers like Omir Fernandez, Brenden Aaronson, Manny Perez, James Sands would simply make and possibly begin for many of the earlier U-20 World Cup groups. Now they’re in an uphill climb.

The ultimate two months forward of the World Cup will likely be fascinating to observe gamers construct circumstances to make the group after which watch as Ramos tries to deliver them collectively for a deep run in Poland.