ASN: Parting ideas on the 2019 U.S. U-20 workforce because the cycle ends

ASN’s Brian Sciaretta has been overlaying the U-20 workforce for seven cycles now. With the 2019 workforce’s World Cup run over, he offers his parting thought on what was an excellent cycle. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
June 09, 2019
10:00 AM

SHARE THIS STORY

THE UNITED STATES U-20 workforce’s World Cup run ended on Saturday with a 2-1 loss within the quarterfinals to Ecuador. It’s the third consecutive cycle the U-20 workforce has superior to the quarterfinals and the third straight time its marketing campaign ended there.

For the reason that flip of the millennium, the U.S. workforce has misplaced within the quarterfinals in 2003, 2007, 2015, 2017, and now 2019. This yr’s workforce had an excellent, albeit not nice run. Not like 2017 when it was outplayed by Venezuela within the quarterfinal. This yr’s match was maybe extra much like 2007 or 2015 which had nice wins within the spherical of 16 (in opposition to Uruguay and Colombia, respectively) however weren’t as sharp within the following sport.

Broad ideas
One huge takeaway is that 2019 can be the second straight cycle the place the U.S. workforce introduced a workforce with out two of its greatest gamers. In 2017, Weston Mckennie was not launched (as was Nick Taitague) and Christian Pulisic was with the total nationwide workforce. In 2019, Josh Sargent and Tyler Adams remained with the senior nationwide workforce.

However this workforce in giant performed higher than the 2017 U-20 workforce on the World Cup. The win over France was the most effective within the historical past of the U.S. U-20 program. The loss in opposition to Ukraine wasn’t unhealthy contemplating how disciplined and sensible Ukraine performs. Qatar was solely the weak half within the first 4 video games and Ramos experimented fairly a bit in that sport.

Typically, the workforce performed properly all through not simply the match however all through the cycle.

Lacking Years safely over?
Again in 2017, ASN documented the “Missing Years” era in American soccer the place gamers born from 1990-1994 simply by no means developed into high quality first workforce gamers at a charge of earlier generations. A giant a part of that hole was famous within the poor performances of U.S. youth nationwide groups whereas these gamers had been eligible for the U.S. U-17, U-20, and U-23 groups. That era is highlighted by the failure to qualify for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics however the U-23 workforce is usually powerful to place collectively on account of launch points and, typically, senior nationwide workforce commitments.

The most important indication of the failure of the lacking years is on the U-20 stage the place sometimes the very best gamers can be found – in contrast to the U-23 workforce. In the course of the U-20 World Cups for the “missing years” era, the outcomes had been terrible. The 2009 workforce was three and executed on the World Cup. The 2011 workforce didn’t even qualify. The 2013 had a troublesome group on the World Cup however was additionally three and executed.

Since then, the U-20 workforce has superior frequently to the quarterfinals – whereas now lacking a number of key gamers. From a broad perspective, that usually means extra prospects with the next diploma extra will pan out to the senior workforce stage. It does not assure success, however the warning indicators from the “missing years” aren’t there.

Gamers who didn’t make it
This U.S. U-20 workforce is especially attention-grabbing as a result of it most likely was the very best skillset of gamers who had been reduce – not these like Tyler Adams or Josh Sargent who weren’t launched.

The 2015 U-20 workforce had some spectacular gamers reduce – Lynden Gooch, Cristian Roldan, and Romain Gall are simply three.

On this group, Ramos might most likely have fielded a complete workforce of gamers who had been both reduce, injured, or missed for different causes. Brendan Aaronson, Jonathan Amon, Frankie Amaya, Christian Cappis had been all reduce. Jaylin Lindsey was injured. Jesus Ferreira didn’t get his citizenship in time.

What was additionally necessary is that Ramos additionally gave call-ups to gamers who did not make this World Cup workforce however who will likely be key for the 2021 cycle – like Taylor Sales space and Thomas Roberts. 

Notes on particular gamers
It’s honest to level out particular performances on this match as to which gamers helped or damage their case inside U.S. Soccer – both with the total nationwide workforce or the U-23 workforce (which is the subsequent logical step for a lot of).

It’s solely pure to have a inventory look ahead to particular gamers, however it is usually solely a snapshot and issues will change rapidly for these gamers as a result of they’re nonetheless so younger. Some gamers who had poor tournaments will enhance their shortcomings. Some who had nice tournaments will plateau. 

Listed below are notes on just a few particular gamers

Chris Richards: Was maybe the very best participant on the workforce over the match. The Bayern Munich central defender was a rock within the again and regarded prepared for large issues forward.

Sebastian Soto: The workforce’s main scorer got here up with some essential objectives and was medical finisher. His off the ball motion was first-rate and he could possibly be in-line for a summer season transfer as a result of dismal state of Hannover.

Tim Weah: Wasn’t constantly harmful however the expertise was there to make magic. He simply wants common enjoying time.

Sergino Dest: One unhealthy defensive sport however clearly has talent on the ball. If his protection improves, he could possibly be nice. He has issues to work on however he has the expertise.

Paxton Pomykal: He wasn’t nice in opposition to Ecuador however was usually superb in each different sport. He seems like he could possibly be able to take an enormous position with the U.S. U-23 workforce. He has essential defensive parts to his sport.

Chris Gloster: Gloster had some essential moments transferring ahead however he was sometimes very regular defensively and was unrattled in 1v1 conditions when a winger was remoted in opposition to him. He seems past the U-19 stage in Germany and, like Soto, he might pressure a transfer away from Hannover.

Chris Durkin: It was a disappointing match for Durkin and he might want to get himself in a state of affairs to maneuver past it. DC United has been powerful for him to play frequently when the membership is at full power. Earlier than writing too negatively about him, it’s necessary to notice that Durkin was broadly thought of the very best U.S. participant within the March camp the place it drew France and defeated Japan.

Aboubacar Keita: One other participant who was not nice on this match however might enhance. He was injured since March and got here into this match rusty. He additionally has solely performed three skilled video games in his profession – with USL League One’s Richmond Kickers. With common skilled minutes, he might do properly.

Konrad de la Fuente: He was one of many youthful gamers on the workforce and is eligible for subsequent cycle as properly. The ultimate product wasn’t there on this match however the expertise is there. Will his coaches get him to take the subsequent steps?

Justin Rennicks: Noticed restricted minutes and missed over a month following his hamstring damage in March with the U-20 camp. He’s a feisty and energetic ahead who strikes properly. Now he must get himself on the sphere with New England.

Notes on Tab Ramos
It’s by no means straightforward to guage a coach proper after a loss however Tab Ramos did properly, as soon as once more. He was truly handcuffed loads along with his last roster given what number of participant had been carrying accidents in latest weeks heading into the World Cup. Brady Scott, Mark McKenzie, Justin Rennicks, Aboubacar Keita, Julian Araujo all lacked constant enjoying time heading into the match on account of accidents. On high of that, Timothy Weah, Ulysses Llanez, and Alex Mendez weren’t enjoying frequently for his or her golf equipment for quite a lot of causes.

However Ramos was nonetheless capable of get loads out of this group. And whereas his ways didn’t all the time work out, he was capable of get his workforce to play with quite a lot of coronary heart proper till the top. That has been an indicator of his groups relationship again to his very first cycle and it makes his groups fairly in style with followers.

If that is Ramos’ final U-20 cycle, he’s been an amazing asset and has helped put together quite a lot of gamers for the subsequent stage.