ASN: Richie Williams Has U-17s Prepared for 2015 World Cup

The U.S. U-17 males’s nationwide staff begins World Cup play tonight in Chile, and coach Richie Williams had tons to say forward of the staff’s daunting match in opposition to defending champion Nigeria.

BY

Josh Deaver

Posted
October 17, 2015
1:00 PM

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JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT there could be a respite for weary U.S. Soccer followers, the time comes for yet one more referendum on the embattled program. On Saturday, the much-exalted U.S. under-17 Males’s nationwide staff kicks off its World Cup marketing campaign in Group A in opposition to defending champions Nigeria (4pm ET, Fox Sports activities 2) on the opening day of the match.

It’s been an extended highway for this age group. The 21-player roster chosen by head coach Richie Williams kind a tight-knit core of gamers, 15 of whom have been referred to as for the age teams first camp in September 2013. That fraternity will probably be out to the take a look at by one other extraordinarily robust draw which sees an American squad as soon as once more thrown within the proverbial “Group of Loss of life.” Set for group stage matches with youth powerhouse Croatia and host nation Chile subsequent week, the People will want a fast begin in opposition to Nigeria to have any hope of advancing.

“They are a very talented team and have a great history in the U-17 World Cup, four-time winners and two other times a finalist,” Williams mentioned throughout a convention name on Friday afternoon. “We have our hands full … and we have to prepared and ready to go. We excited about the opportunity to face the defending champions in the opening match.”

Williams, nonetheless, is just not involved: “We’re happy with the group and the players that lead us through qualification. We have faith that they will do a good job here at the World Cup.”

The squad’s offensive output will depend upon a potent attacking corps centered on Borussia Dortmund midfielder and U.S. No. 10, Christian Pulisic. Maybe probably the most promising American prospect of this era, the 17-year-old has been lighting it up for Dortmund’s youth groups whereas seeing common coaching time with the golf equipment reserve and first staff. Having registered 21 objectives and 15 assists through the cycle, Pulisic has proven the flexibility to take over matches along with his liquid motion and preternatural consciousness.

“He’s been one of our best offensive players over the past two year and has been a key part of our group,” Williams commented. “We have high expectations and I’m sure he does for himself. We think he’s a super talented player and has obviously done very well in Germany, we expect him to lead us in the attack. He’s super competitive and wants to win.”

Becoming a member of Pulisic up entrance is a quartet of dynamic choices together with Europe-bound Josh Perez, Tijuana’s Brandon Vazquez, and Monterrey’s Joe Gallardo—who missed a lot of the cycle with a damaged leg. The staff’s main scorer, Haji Wright (30 objectives, 11 assists), can even be obtainable.

Using as many athletic buzzwords as potential, Wright is an imposing ahead and might convey objectives in bunches, regardless of the questions that stay about his long-term potential. Closely rumored to be certain for Europe through the summer time, Wright has since remained stateside to affix NASL’s New York Cosmos however has obtained scant taking part in time for the membership’s first staff.

The number of goal-scoring choices leaves Williams with confidence within the squad’s offensive potential.

“We feel comfortable with the group we brought in. They’ve proved they’re capable of creating changes and taking their opportunities. The thing they have to understand is the lessons of the second-to-last game of qualifying—where we lost because we didn’t take our opportunities.”

Given the strain being positioned on the senior staff and under-23s, Williams believes his gamers are prepared for the problem.

“It was a good experience the qualifying, they had to deal with pressure.  [The media] put a lot of pressure on this group because they had a good two years. We obviously didn’t get the results wanted … but we hope the experience has helped us to grow and shown us that there are going to be tough games.” 

Using all the usual teaching clichés, Williams mentioned his expectations for the staff within the wake of failing to qualify for World Cup in 2013—the primary time the People had missed out on the match because it started in 1985. Deflecting the concept this match may very well be a referendum on his teaching future, Williams as a substitute is taking the lengthy view.

“The focus is taking one game at a time, not to look ahead. The first goal, like anyone here, is to move on from the group. We don’t go to any tournaments and say, ‘We want to come in second place.’ Our goal is to come here and win the World Cup.”