ASN: Battered U.S. U20 Workforce to Face a Robust, Expert Serbia

Tab Ramos’ U.S. under-20 males’s nationwide crew outlasted a rugged, skillful Colombian aspect within the Spherical of 16—and now will get a equally imposing Serbia within the World Cup Quarterfinals.

BY

Josh Deaver

Posted
June 12, 2015
3:30 PM

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HISTORICALLY MERCURIAL, the Serbian under-20 males’s nationwide crew both make deep runs in European competitors—together with a win on the 2013 U-19 European Championships—or watch from the sofa. Starting in 2008, Serbia has made all of it the best way to the U-19 Euro semifinals (2009, 2011, 2014) as many instances because it didn’t qualify for the precise match (2008, 2010, 2015).

Being solely considered one of three groups to stay undefeated by means of the 2 preliminary rounds of qualification (becoming a member of Portugal and eventual champions Germany), the Serbs defeated Austria, Kazakhstan, Finland, Iceland, Eire, and Bulgaria. The crew additionally tied Ukraine, Turkey, and Germany en path to a scoreless, penalty shootout loss to Portugal within the semifinals final July.

Yeah—it is a superb crew.

On the again of a nine-match unbeaten qualifying marketing campaign, the Younger Eagles earned solely its third look on the under-20 World Cup, the final coming when it received the then-named FIFA Youth Championship in 1987 below the flag of Yugoslavia. Upon arrival in New Zealand, the squad unceremoniously dropped its first group match to Uruguay, a gritty 1-0 loss. To not be deterred, the crew adopted up that disappointment with a pair of 2-0 wins in opposition to fellow quarterfinalists Mali and Mexico.

Regardless of the skilled performances, the squad wanted a little bit of fortune to flee the Spherical of 16. On the point of elimination by the hands of shock upstart Hungary, which led 1-0 after a 57th minute objective, the Serbians scored on a set piece equalizer seconds into stoppage time earlier than snatching victory on a heart-breaking and completely devastating Hungarian personal objective in additional time.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SERBIA

Head coach and former European journeyman—additionally, ex-Philadelphia Union signee—Velkjo Paunovic returns 11 of the 18 gamers who participated within the European championships. The crew options plenty of foreign-based standouts in Milos Veljkovic (Charlton Athletic through Tottenham) and Filip Jankovic (Catania through Parma) whereas Gent’s Sergey Milinkovic-Savic returns to the crew after lacking qualifying. Surprisingly, Paunovic additionally dropped Velkjo Simic from the lineup, the groups’ most capped participant (15) and main scorer (eight targets) all through qualifying.

Paunovic’s crew has appeared like a bodily dominant aspect to start out the match and would most likely be undefeated had it not been for an excellent human effort from the Uruguayan goalkeeper. Nonetheless, this crew is way from a one-trick pony. With the power to kill you two methods—within the air and on the bottom—Serbia stays a really technical group however with the distinct skill, like the US, to easily outmuscle its opposition. To that finish, 4 of the crew’s 5 targets to date have originated from set items.

Disciplined as a bunch, the crew options a number of harmful people.

The aforementioned Milinkovic-Savic—three targets in qualifying—has appeared particularly sharp. Deployed as an attacking midfielder, the 20-year-old scored on a improbable free kick in opposition to Mali. Midfielder Andrija Zivkovic scored on an equally well-struck effort in opposition to Mexico. He joins the squad after a breakout marketing campaign with home champions Partizan, the place he turned the membership’s youngest-ever captain, scoring 5 targets in 24 appearances. Zivkovic can be the youngest participant ever capped by the total Serbian nationwide crew.

Becoming a member of the pair up entrance is Namanja Maksimovic, the crew’s most-capped participant, who together with Milinkovic-Savic is considered one of solely three members of the roster to have additionally performed an element within the 2013 U19 European Championship run. 

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM The U.S.

Maki Tall is out. And Bradford Jamieson is out. It is a downside.

With two of Tab Ramos’ 4 ahead choices out of fee, the united statescoach shall be pressured to reconfigure on the fly forward of Sunday’s quarterfinal. With no huge goal to search out, the People might want to enhance their passing and possession in the event that they hope to have sufficient alternatives to get previous Serbian keeper Pedrag Rajkovic, who has solely conceded twice in seven matches this 12 months. Emerson Hyndman and Gedion Zelalem will little doubt retain their spots within the beginning XI, which may see Paul Arriola and Tommy Thompson positioned on the wings in assist of Rubio Rubin up prime: a 4-1-4-1 lineup.

One other downside: the People have a nasty behavior of inefficient possession early in matches.

If it is nerves, the crew should choose the ball early. Knock it across the again if you must. Serbia goes to hammer in crosses from huge positions and look to interrupt on counter assaults. The U.S. again 4 has been sturdy, however will not be with out moments of vulnerability. If that quartet is made to chase, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than a mistake is made.

And at this degree, the margin for error turns into razor-thin.

Group opponent Ukraine is an effective bodily and technical comparability on this regard. In opposition to the Ukrainians, there was far an excessive amount of chasing in opposition to a bodily comparable opponent—resulting in a stretched again line, hopeful lengthy balls, and an emphatic loss. The very last thing the People need to rely on is a long-ball, knock-down contest with the Serbs. It will not work.

American fortunes will hinge on their skill to create and exploit area within the midfield. In opposition to Ukraine and Colombia, each Hyndman and Zelalem have been marked shut and successfully taken out of the match.

Did I point out that Kellyn Acosta can be out?

After choosing up a pink card late in opposition to Colombia, the absence of the FC Dallas midfielder/emergency left again will depart Ramos with a few roster questions. First, it virtually assures that Marky Delgado will reprise his position as a deep-lying central midfielder. Delgado has drawn criticism within the early matches, however responded effectively in opposition to Colombia. He’ll must stick with it.

Second, Ramos should make a selection on his exterior again spots. Desevio Payne has been a revelation, so the query ought to most likely learn: What’s Payne’s most well-liked place and who has earned the beginning on the opposite aspect—John Requejo or Shaq Moore?

A win early Sunday (kick off 12:30 EST on Fox Sports activities 1) would put the People into the U-20 World Cup semifinal spherical for the primary time since 1989.

STARTING XI

Zack Steffen; Requejo, Matt Miazga, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Payne; Zelalem, Delgado; Hyndman, Thompson; Arriola, Rubin

PREDICTION

The damage/suspension bug catches up with the People, the Serbs management the midfield, and the Younger Eagles win an in depth one, 2-1.