ASN’s Brian Sciaretta previews the U.S. U-17 crew on the eve of World Cup qualifying – with a listing of the gamers to observe. Additionally, there are large updates on U.S. U-20 and FC Dallas star Paxton Pomykal and Derby County playmaker Duane Holmes.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
Could 01, 2019
10:00 AM
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THE MIDDLE of the week has arrived and there may be some slightly necessary information to report that impacts necessary membership matchups in addition to United States youth nationwide groups.
Here’s a take a look at some necessary information to kickoff your day.
U.S. U-17s set for Canada
The US U-17 nationwide crew will open the 2019 CONCACAF Championships on Thursday, Could 2 at 6:00pm ET (You’ll be able to watch on Univision Deportes Community or CONCACAF’s Fb web page). It could possibly be the crew’s hardest take a look at within the group stage with different opponents being Barbados and Guatemala.
To qualify for the U-17 World Cup, the U.S. crew should advance out of its group (the highest three in each group advance) after which win two consecutive knockout stage video games to earn a spot within the semifinals.
For these simply beginning to observe the crew, listed here are among the necessary gamers to observe within the weeks forward.
Giovanni Reyna: The son of former U.S. nationwide crew captain Claudio Reyna, Giovani Reyna is heading to Borussia Dortmund to start his skilled profession. Reyna is an thrilling participant and can try and elevate all of the gamers round him though the large concern is his lack of minutes in current months as he has moved from New York Metropolis to Borussia Dortmund.
“We all know Giovanni, he has a lot of talent,” Wicky mentioned. “Giovanni hasn’t had a lot of minutes over the past four to five months as he didn’t play for New York City.”
“Having him in minicamp, he was very excited to be here,” Wicky continued about Reyna. “He was good and he is very, very talented. We had a game in that minicamp against Monteverde Academy in Florida and he played 60 minutes – which was good for him. As far as I know, he went back to his club and trained in between the last two weeks and came back where he is in full training with our team. He is very important for this group. I think a player like him [tactically] needs to be involved as much as possible in the game. He has a lot of talent and makes the other players look better. He makes things easier for the other guys.
“I would like to have him as much as possible in the center of the field somehow,” Wicky added. “I don’t think the position he has when we have the ball is important. I think it is more that he knows that I want him in the center – so he can start on the wing and come inside. He can start as a No. 9 and drop down a little bit. He can start as a No. 8 or No. 10. There are a lot of different variations for him but I want to put him in positions where he touches the ball a lot because he has the potential and quality to create chances.”
Gianluca Busio: The Sporting Kansas Metropolis attacking midfielder has turn out to be an everyday with SKC’s first crew and has scored three large targets on the younger season. He appears utterly comfy enjoying in opposition to full professionals and that ought to translate nicely as he downshifts to the U-17 degree.
“I am very happy to have Ginaluca Busio here, obviously,” Wicky mentioned. “I have followed him and I have seen he has regular minutes in MLS – which is amazing at that young age. He wasn’t here at the minicamp in April because he was playing for Sporting Kansas City. But I was always in touch with him. He is happy to be part of the group. He is excited to play in this tournament and help this team. I know through his personality that he needs to be part of a team and that, even if he has regular minutes, he is not going to win the game alone. It the team, and he is aware of that.”
Ricardo Pepi: The middle ahead can be crucial goaler on the crew and maybe amongst all of the groups on the event. He has quite a few skillsets which can be powerful for opposing defenders to mark. In his first two USL video games for North Texas SC (the affiliate of FC Dallas), he has 4 targets in two video games. As a twin nationwide with Mexico, Pepi’s involvement is necessary for U.S. Soccer.
“I only saw Ricardo in footage first and then I met him at the minicamp as well like a lot of the other players,” Wicky mentioned. “I think with him and Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez, we have really good strikers. They’re different and aren’t the same kind of strikers. Ricardo is a No. 9 who is really clinical in the box. He’s a finisher but he also has a certain size which brings a good aerial game.”
“There is room for progress but at his age [he turned 16 in January], he has a good aerial game as well,” Wicky mentioned on Pepi. “I feel he is quite mature on the field. His decision making is actually quite mature for such a young kid. I am happy he is here and I think he is happy to be here – that is what I feel. I am sure he is going to be very important for this team in this competition and further on as well.”
Damian Las: Las is among the higher goalkeeping prospects lately for U.S. Soccer and this can be an enormous showcase for him. He just lately stood out for the Chicago Hearth’s youth crew on the GA Cup and has the expertise to give you game-changing saves.
Duane Holmes is lastly again from harm and in competition to be a part of Derby’s squad for its last 2 video games of its push to get into the promotional playoffs. Huge recreation tomorrow away vs Cameron Carter-Vickers & Swansea Metropolis https://t.co/IdM0ThkKr9
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) Could 1, 2019
Daniel Leyva: A late rising participant within the U-17 cycle, Leyva solely earned his first U.S. U-17 call-up in April for Wicky’s first camp in control of the crew. Leyva just lately gained the MVP of the GA Cup as Seattle Sounders gained the event with large wins over Flamengo, River Plate, West Ham, and Valencia. He has a ton of momentum coming into this camp.
“After the minicamp I went for a week to the GA Cup,” Wicky mentioned. “I saw almost all of their games and they did really, really well. I am convinced they will be very important for our team.. Daniel just had an amazing experience being on the bench for the first team which hopefully give him even more rings to fly and help the team.”
Joseph Scally: The New York Metropolis proper again was strong on the Nike Friendlies with the U.S. U-17 crew and must be one of many anchors on the CONCACAF Championships.
“Joseph Scally is part of our plans to be normally the right defender – one of our right defenders,” Wicky mentioned. “He is a very important player for this team and has been in the recent games. His personality, his fighting spirit, his mentality to work for the team is really, really good. I am really happy to have him here.”
Tayvon Grey: The New York Metropolis defender is especially fascinating for the U-17 crew as a result of his versatility to play quite a few positions will give Wicky choices because the quite a few video games performed over a brief span will take a look at the crew’s depth. The coach mentioned this on Tuesday.
“Tayvon Gray is actually a really, really interesting player for every coach because he actually covers three to four different positions which helps me a lot when you have to choose a roster with limited numbers you can pick,” Wicky mentioned. “Teyvon can play centerback, he can play in the central midfield, he can play right or left fullback. That gives me a lot of different options. He’s a real team player.”
Pomykal out two weeks
Along with the U-17 crew, this can be a crucial time for the U.S. U-20 crew as head coach Tab Ramos will title his World Cup roster on Could 10. Proper now, all of the gamers try to both construct their case to be a part of the crew, or work on their kind to have momentum heading to Poland.
Attacking midfielder Paxton Pomkal, 19, is among the finest gamers on the U-20 crew however he was compelled out of FC Dallas’ recreation on Saturday at halftime. At present, Dallas introduced that Pomykal will miss two weeks and the crew is doing all the things it will probably to verify Pomykal is prepared for the World Cup.
Pomykal out 2 weeks says luchi, and different pocket book information. https://t.co/OV8iqZnmyh
— third Diploma (@3rdDegreeNet) Could 1, 2019
Within the piece by third Diploma, Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez had this to say.
“That’s important for us. Anybody selected to the national team at different levels in ages in a real FIFA competition, we’re a club that wants to support that,” Gonzalez mentioned. “We want him healthy for FC Dallas, for his teammates, and representing the national team at different levels when given the opportunity. All that’s important for us.”
FC Dallas continues to do a fantastic job working with its proficient group of younger gamers. Not solely giving them necessary minutes, but in addition prioritizing necessary youth nationwide crew tournaments. On this case, resting Pomykal so he’s totally match for the U-20 World Cup in Poland later this month
Holmes returns for Derby
Derby County is in a dogfight to make the promotional playoffs within the English Championships. American attacker Duane Holmes, 24, has been one of many crew’s finest gamers for the reason that Christmas/New Years slate of video games.
The Georgia-born Holmes hasn’t performed for Derby since April 9 as a consequence of harm however can be accessible for Wednesday’s large recreation in opposition to Cameron Carter-Vickers and Swansea Metropolis. Derby at present in sixth place within the Championship and occupies the final playoff place by objective differential over seventh place Middlesbrough (each on 70 factors). It’s forward of eighth-place Bristol by only a level.
Derby has simply two video games remaining earlier than the playoffs and the return of Holmes is welcome information.
Duane Holmes is lastly again from harm and in competition to be a part of Derby’s squad for its last 2 video games of its push to get into the promotional playoffs. Huge recreation tomorrow away vs Cameron Carter-Vickers & Swansea Metropolis https://t.co/IdM0ThkKr9
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) Could 1, 2019
