ASN: In the beginning of U-23 camp, Dike trying to construct on 2020 success

Daryl Dike is among the extra intriguing gamers on both the U.S. U-23 or senior crew roster in Florida as a result of the ahead’s athleticism might make him robust to cease. However Dike is fast to level out he has many different components in his sport to change into a well-rounded participant. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta spoke with the Oklahoma native about his 2020 season and what awaits in 2021.

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
January 11, 2021
2:05 AM

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WHILE 2020 WAS a 12 months to overlook for most individuals, many younger American soccer gamers used the 12 months to spice up their careers and showcase themselves effectively. This was true in each Europe, South American, and right here on the home entrance. In MLS, Orlando Metropolis made an announcement that it was probably the greatest groups within the league and its success is mirrored by having 4 gamers assembled in Florida with both the U.S. nationwide crew or U.S. U-23 groups.

Amongst that group, Edmond, Oklahoma-born Daryl Dike, 20, is among the most anticipated gamers on the rosters. After finishing one season on the College of Virginia, Dike entered the league through the 2020 SuperDraft the place he was chosen fifth by Orlando. Virtually instantly, be contributed to the membership’s first crew and the highly effective ahead loved a standout first season the place he began 15 video games for Orlando – scoring eight objectives and notching 4 assists in 1224 minutes.

“This was a big step in my life – moving from U.VA to Orlando and taking a big step for my career. I grew up as a human being and I developed so much as a player. Especially with how it was with COVID, it creates more obstacles and things that you probably would never have expected to have to deal with in life. It all helped build my character. It pushed me to have to mature a little bit and think about things differently.”

Nevertheless it was additionally his body too that made him far totally different than others within the league. At 6’2″, 220 pounds, Dike is one of the physically strongest forwards in the league. But when he got to Orlando, one of the objectives from Oscar Pareja and the coaching staff was to strike a balance of adding other elements to his game while also ensuring he can maximize his physical size and strength.

The adjustment was a course of and that was made tougher because of the disjointed schedule. However by the tip of the season, Dike made big strides.

“I think obviously looking at me, people say – a hold-up striker, a big guy, he uses his body, he’s athletic,” Dike defined.  “For me, I am a bigger player. I like to use my athleticism. I like to use my size when I play. I think that was one of the many things the coaches had me do – tweak my brain to not only enhance that, but add other things, the technical side, the vision. The coaches have definitely done a good job at helping me add elements to my game.”

“I’ve always made sure and that all the coaches I’ve ever had have made sure that I am not just a big body,” he added. “I go out there and I show them my technique, I show them my brain, and I show them the other thing that I can do. As you level up, it gets faster. You have to be cleaner with everything. You have to be smarter.”

In December, Dike was known as as much as the US nationwide crew for the primary time at any stage. After just a few days, a minor injured compelled him out of camp earlier than the pleasant towards El Salvador however throughout camp, head coach Gregg Berhalter expressed an curiosity in Dike.

The ahead pool’s progress in 2020 and into 2021 has been an necessary growth for the U.S. crew. Along with current choices resembling Josh Sargent, Jozy Altidore, and Gyasi Zardes, different choices emerged. In Europe, Nicholas Gioacchini and Sebastian Soto scored two objectives in a November pleasant towards Panama. Haji Wright is among the many main scorers in Denmark. Matthew Hoppe lately scored a hat trick for Schalke. Domestically, different American forwards additionally had sturdy seasons resembling Jeremy Ebobisse at Portland and Ayo Akinola at Toronto.

However as Berhalter mentioned in December, Dike provides a distinct method to the ahead place in the best way he performs.

Daryl Dike rookie season is eye opening: 7 objectives & 4 assists in simply 1088 minutes on the time of this objective. I’m impressed with him. He has a mix of talent but additionally measurement, power, & mobility that I believe will give him Euro choices. Nigeria or USA? pic.twitter.com/ZH4Hxo8w8Z

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) November 2, 2020

“In terms of Daryl, we would most likely use the forward position in a different way if he was on the field because he is such a physical presence,” Berhalter mentioned. “He’s a guy you need to get the ball to… I can imagine that when he’s on the field, we would look to get him the ball in the penalty box more – either back to goal or on the crosses to draw in defenders and perhaps lay off or take them on himself.”

Now heading into 2021, Dike has a full schedule and alternatives amongst many various fronts. Internationally, Dike is attempting to construct his case to be a part of the nationwide crew’s future and his first cap might come this month when a number of gamers on the U.S. U-23 crew will get promoted to the complete nationwide crew.

However there may be additionally the Olympics and Dike appears to be in an excellent place to be a part of the crew’s qualifying effort as it can look to e-book a spot within the match for the primary time since 2008. Based mostly on his time in December, Dike is wanting ahead to the worldwide alternatives that await.

“It was a great experience overall,” Dike recalled of the December camp. “Obviously, when you’re younger, you dream about playing for a national team, you dream about the World Cups, these big competitions. And it’s a big honor to represent a country. And when I got the call, I was ecstatic. It’s something that you’ve been working for your entire life.”

On the membership entrance, 2021 will likely be an necessary 12 months for Dike to keep away from a sophomore droop and present continued progress. Expectations are excessive in Orlando, because the membership made big strides below Oscar Pareja and the Colombian will now have one other 12 months to construct.

The expectations among the many gamers are for a deeper playoff run and to be in rivalry to win the league subsequent 12 months. And success in Orlando might add to switch curiosity with Dike and Membership Brugge was already reportedly .

“Here in Orlando with the success it shows the culture that we’ve had,” Dike mentioned. “We’ve transformed the culture into having a winning mentality. We go into every single game knowing what we’ve done in previous training sessions and what we’re capable of. We want to impose ourselves in every single game. We’re not scared of anybody. We want to win every single game we can win and we train like that. We train like we are the best team.”

On the core of Dike’s success and core of his growth all through his life is his household. It stemmed from his Nigerian mother and father who have been each educated within the sport. His brother, Vibrant Dike, was a former faculty standout and MLS participant who performed for Nigeria’s nationwide crew. His youthful sister represented Nigeria on the girls’s World Cup. His older sisters performed the sport at a excessive stage as effectively.

“We think that he’s a top striker in the country.”

A 12 months in the past right this moment, Orlando Metropolis drafted Daryl Dike. Issues solely received higher from there. https://t.co/Gak343pZFQ

— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) January 9, 2021

Dike insists that this kind household gave him an enormous benefit rising up and it nonetheless continues to assist him. When he was younger, it gave him function fashions in addition to individuals who might give him helpful recommendation. When requested about taking part in for Nigeria like his siblings, Dike was coy (“I think either nationality, they both would be great” whereas including he had a terrific expertise with the U.S. crew) however was adamant about how necessary his household was in getting him thus far.

“It’s a great environment to have – growing up in a big soccer family, both of my parents know soccer really well,” Dike mentioned. “You walk into the house, you’ll see our medals and trophies from all the siblings. We walk in the living room and you’ll see Manchester United and Liverpool playing on television. It’s just kind of something that’s ingrained in your head. It is good to have that support system and people who are knowledgeable about the game to give you tips. And it’s good because it pushes you to do better. I think personally, I’ve been put at a huge advantage… But I also know how phenomenal these people have been. And I know that when I was younger, I used to always look up to them. They were all my idols.”

It has been fairly a experience to get Dike thus far and whereas 2020 opened doorways for him, 2021 might see him take necessary steps in many various areas. The beginning of January camp this week might be the primary of many.