ASN: An in-depth take a look at the U-20 crew following a profitable March camp in Argentina

The USA U-20 crew drew Argentina 2-2 and defeated River Plate 5-3 over the previous week throughout a camp in Argentina. Now with the twin qualification event approaching in June for each the 2023 U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics, ASN’s Brian Sciaretta appears to be like at how the crew carried out in Buenos Aires, the crew’s strengths/weaknesses, and what the roster might appear to be in June.  

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
March 30, 2022
9:00 AM

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UNITED STATES U-20 head coach Mikey Varas ought to really feel fairly good about the place his crew stands after concluding the March camp with a 5-3 win over River Plate. That win got here on the heels of a 2-2 draw with Argentina’s U-20 crew on Saturday. Now after two profitable camps to begin 2022, the crew has momentum heading into an enormous qualifying event in June.

Over the previous two home windows, the U.S. crew has drawn posted the next outcomes:

0-0 draw vs. the New York Crimson Bulls
1-0 win vs. FC Dallas
2-2 draw with Argentina’s U-20 crew
5-3 win vs. River Plate

The crew is trending in the proper course and the win over River Plate noticed the crew rally from a 3-0 deficit for a 5-3 win. The U.S. targets got here from a hat trick from Quinn Sullivan adopted by tallies from Jack McGlynn and Obed Vargas. Sullivan didn’t even begin this recreation and as an alternative changed Caden Clark who was compelled off with an harm.

The earlier draw in opposition to Argentina noticed the U.S. crew be taught some painful classes, regardless of an appropriate 2-2 consequence. With the sport being watched by Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, and various Argentina’s prime full internationals, the U.S. crew had the higher of possibilities all through the sport. It might have and may have scored extra aim however was not in a position to maintain onto a 2-1 lead late and conceded a late equalizer. The draw ought to have been a win.

Medical. #U20MYNT pic.twitter.com/0Xan09UriN

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) March 24, 2022

There could be a chance for one more camp within the spring however there are not any worldwide home windows left earlier than the summer time so the chance to have his prime group collectively for one more camp earlier than ultimate event preparations is proscribed.

The U.S. opens group play on June 18 in opposition to St. Kitts and Nevis. Your complete event will happen in Honduras. The semifinalists will qualify for the 2023 U-20 World Cup in Indonesia and the 2 finalists may also qualify for the 2024 Olympics in France.

Listed here are some ideas on the crew after the final camp.

Sullivan’s surge

Quinn Sullivan is on an enormous function proper now with the USA U-20 crew and it’s changing into clear after this present camp that he’s key to the crew. Sullivan has now scored in three straight U-20 video games (the win over Dallas, the draw with Argentina, and the win over River Plate) and has 5 targets from these three video games.

These are large time numbers and Sullivan is answering the decision from Varas – who has challenged his gamers to lift their video games and pressure their means into the crew.

Sullivan has proven plenty of promise with the Philadelphia Union however the query for him has at all times been what’s his place? He can play throughout the midfield in attacking roles and is comfy on both wing.

This U.S. U-20 crew has various wingers with Kevin Paredes, Dante Sealy, and Cade Cowell all exhibiting promise, however the perfect wager as I see it’s that Sullivan will settle right into a wing place with this U-20 crew. That can permit one of many different wingers to suit into the No. 9 place (enjoying out of place) since that could be a weak spot of this crew.

Union representing

Final month, Varas spoke to ASN concerning the Philadelphia Union gamers inside his squad. His impressions had been very favorable.

“I saw [Philadelphia’s technical director] Ernst Tanner on the way out of the FC Dallas game,” Varas mentioned. “I told him I’m always impressed with the Philadelphia Union players because I think the club does a good job identifying talent and they do an excellent job of creating players who are creative but also have a work ethic, that willingness to be just a grinder.”

“It’s not easy to have creative players who also want to put in the work,” he added. “When you see Paxten’s brother and how it translates to Europe, their model is very good. Creative, skillful players who also work really, really hard, run more than everybody else, are willing to be physical, do all the dirty work, but also have the ability on the ball. They’re doing a great job.”

If Varas thought extremely of the Union gamers in February, his impression of that section of his crew should be by the roof proper now.

The U.S. crew scored seven targets within the two video games in Argentina and 6 had been scored by Philadelphia Union gamers (4 by Sullivan and one a bit from Paxten Aaronson and Jack McGlynn). Mixed with the win over Dallas which additionally noticed the sport’s solely aim from Sullivan, Union gamers have scored seven of the crew’s final eight targets.

Proper now, Sullivan, Aaronson, and McGlynn are firmly inside the core. However then you definitely add central defender Brandan Craig and you’ve got a great probability the Union could have 4 gamers on the qualifying event. It’s a enormous testomony to how properly the crew is growing gamers. The Union’s present footprint on the U.S. U-20 crew and the U-17 crew is a formidable signal.

The large query might be seeing how the crew develops this season with the Union. Philadelphia is off to a pleasant begin this season, however the veterans comparable to Daniel Gazdag and Alejandro Bedoya are enjoying properly and making it laborious to get the younger gamers vital minutes. Philadelphia as 10 factors from 4 video games to begin the season.

Head coach Jim Curtin is prepared to play younger gamers however the competitors from the veterans is an effective factor, for now. It raises the bar to get on the sector – which I imagine the U-20 gamers will do as soon as they elevate their recreation even increased.

Offense/Protection

The U.S. U-20 crew has been powerful to foretell. The primary camp of the cycle was in Mexico again in November. It’s powerful to place an excessive amount of inventory into the performances and outcomes there since Varas was employed only a day earlier than the crew left and the gamers had been fully unfamiliar with one another. Nonetheless, on the Revelations Cup the crew conceded seven targets over three video games whereas scoring simply twice.

Then in January, the crew scored simply as soon as however conceded no targets over two video games. This previous camp, the crew scored seven targets over two video games however nonetheless conceded 5.

There have been two large issues over this crew heading into the cycle. The largest concern was the shortage of a No. 9 middle ahead. When Ricardo Pepi moved as much as the senior nationwide crew, there haven’t been sufficient gamers at that place.

The opposite concern was central protection. Mikey Varas advised ASN in February he believed that the crew made progress in central protection within the enchancment defensively from November to January. However 5 targets conceded over two video games in March could be proof that January’s spectacular show supplied a false sense of safety.

The U.S. U-20 crew has been profitable within the 2015, 2017, and 2019 cycles and central protection has at all times been a cornerstone of success (Chris Richards, Mark McKenzie, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Erik Palmer-Brown, Matt Miazga, and Justin Glad had been among the crew’s alumni throughout these cycles). It’s powerful to succeed at this stage with out strong central protection. There are usually not many American central defenders from the 2003 and 2004 beginning years enjoying constant first-team minutes but – an nobody appears to be terribly shut both.

Will probably be telling to see what Varas has discovered from the March camp and the way he adjusts his crew’s method with the qualifying event now solely two and a half months away.

Predicted qualifying roster

If Varas wished to have a good suggestion over the core and course of his crew after this camp, he ought to really feel happy. Sure, he has to work on protection, however the crew remains to be enjoying properly general.

Right here is my predicted 20-player roster for U-20 World Cup/Olympic qualifying.

Goalkeepers

1)      Gaga Slonina (Chicago Hearth)

2)      Chris Brady (Chicago Hearth)

Defenders

3)      Mauricio Cuevas (Membership Brugge)

4)      Justin Che (Hoffenheim)

5)      Kobi Henry (Orange County SC)

6)      Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union)

7)      Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy)

8)      Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United)

9)      Jonathan Gomez (Actual Sociedad)

Midfielders

10)   Daniel Edelman (New York Crimson Bulls)

11)   Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders)

12)   Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union)

13)   Caden Clark (New York Crimson Bulls)

14)   Paxten Aaronson (Philadelphia Union)

15)   Diego Luna (El Paso Locomotive)

Forwards/Wingers

16)   Kevin Paredes (VfL Wolfsburg)

17)   Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes)

18)   Dante Sealy (Jong PSV Eindhoven)

19)   Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)

20)   Brian Gutierrez (Chicago Hearth)

Within the Combine

Rokas Pukstas (midfielder, Hajduk Cut up), Danny Leyva (midfielder, Seattle Sounders), Moses Nyeman (midfielder, DC United), Marcus Ferkranus (defender, LA Galaxy), Alexander Borto (goalkeeper, Fulham), Kristian Fletcher (midfielder/ahead, unattached however rumored Borussia Dortmund), Noah Allen (defender, Inter Miami), Antonio Carrera (goalkeeper, FC Dallas), Michael Halliday (defender, Orlando Metropolis), Malick Sanogo (ahead, Union Berlin), Patrick Bohui (ahead, Vejle Boldklub), Esmir Bajraktarevic (ahead, New England Revolution), Kayden Pierre (defender, Sporting Kansas Metropolis),  Jacob Greene (defender, D.C. United), Jeff Dewsnup (goalkeeper, Actual Salt Lake)

Notes

It’s a robust crew with just a few holes. Central protection is a bit skinny and it might change if any of the defenders within the pool get sizzling or fade. Chris Brady is an excellent goalkeeper however Chicago may not launch him in the event that they launch Gaga Slonina as an alternative – thereby leaving the Hearth brief two goalkeepers.

There additionally is not any actual set No. 9 and versus forcing the difficulty, it looks as if the method from Varas might be to not take a real No 9. The March camp revealed that Varas was comfy not taking one and the crew nonetheless scored seven targets from the 2 video games. Not one of the crew’s targets throughout the three camps of this cycle have been scored by a real No. 9.

However the crew could be very robust on the wings and in central/attacking midfield. Mixed with the goalkeeping place, the crew ought to have the ability to compete properly within the qualifying event this summer time. If the crew is profitable there, it could solely be pure to anticipate loads of extra modifications over the guaranteeing yr because the type of younger gamers can change dramatically over a calendar yr.