ASN: United States U-20 Group Stage preview for U-20 World Cup and Olympic qualifying

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
June 16, 2022
8:15 PM

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THE UNITED STATES U-20 nationwide group will open their CONCACAF Championship match on Saturday in a massively vital match that can function qualifying for each the 2023 U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympic video games.

ASN had a protracted piece to accompany the roster launch final week.

However right here is the U.S. group’s schedule for Group E

June 18: United States vs. St. Kitts and Nevis in Tegucigalpa (4:00pm EST)
June 20: United States vs. Canada in Tegucigalpa (8:30pm EST)
June 22: United States vs. Cuba in Tegucigalpa  (8:30pm EST)

If america wins Group E, it would face Nicaragua within the Spherical of 16. If the U.S. group finishes second, it would face the third place group from Group G (Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala)

The Spherical of 16 group would happen on June 25 in Tegucigalpa.

Ought to the U.S. group win within the Spherical of 16, it would face the winner of the runner up of Group H (Honduras, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Antigua & Barbuda) and the third-place group of Group F (Mexico, Suriname, Haiti, Trinidad & Tobago) within the quarterfinal – with the winner qualifying for the 2023 U-20 World Cup. The almost certainly case for that recreation could be Costa Rica, however quite a bit may change.

This quarterfinal recreation would happen on June 28 in San Pedro Sula. 

If the U.S. group prevails within the quarterfinal, it would then play within the semifinal recreation for a spot within the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The almost certainly opponent could be the hosts in Honduras. 

This semifinal recreation would happen on July 1 in San Pedro Sula.

The ultimate is basically meaningless and would happen on July 3 in San Pedro Sula.

How the U.S. may method the Group Stage

The video games are each different day (much like what they have been in 2018, the final time CONCACAF held a U-20 qualifying match. In that match held in Florida, head coach Tab Ramos closely rotated his squad in the course of the group phases – and it made sense.

The issue, nevertheless, is that on this match, there isn’t any capacity to enhance the roster after the group phases at will. In 2018, Ramos was in a position to make a collection of modifications. Right here, head coach Mikey Varas can solely make replacements after the group phases for harm functions.

The hardest group stage recreation is within the center with the best coming first and the second hardest coming on the finish.

The almost certainly method is that Varas will wish to have his greatest lineup for Monday towards Canada with the power of protecting some key gamers accessible for the third recreation.

The U.S. group has 19 gamers (Obed Vargas will arrive for the knockout phases) together with two goalkeepers. Among the many discipline gamers, Varas can solely swap eight gamers most. So, two discipline gamers will all the time have to begin consecutive video games and this can be very unlikely that any participant begins three straight video games.

It looks as if Varas in all probability is aware of his core. A very good wager is that he seems to sub the core into the primary recreation. Per the match guidelines, the groups will get to make a most of 5 substitutions over three stoppages for the match. That ought to give him the chance to maintain his group contemporary.

If the U.S. group can safe a wholesome lead within the first half towards St. Kitts, he can step by step introduce some gamers who will begin for the Canada recreation into the sport within the second half.  Then develop some chemistry and have momentum heading into the Canada recreation.

Canada might need to discipline extra regulars for its opener towards an unknown Cuban group.

Pending on the U.S. group’s outcome towards Canada, Varas can then resolve learn how to play the ultimate recreation towards Cuba. If Varas group has six factors after the primary two video games, and a wholesome purpose differential (which is the tiebreaker, not head-to-head), he can then decide then as to learn how to play the Cuba recreation for the Group stage finale.

It will appear as if the best-case situation is to play the group stage whereas utilizing the most effective gamers as little as potential for the knockout phases forward.

U.S. roster/lineups

To relist the roster right here it’s once more:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Christopher Brady (Chicago Fireplace FC; Naperville, Unwell.), Antonio Carrera (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas)

DEFENDERS (6): Noah Allen (Inter Miami CF; Miramar, Fla.), Brandan Craig (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Mauricio Cuevas (Membership Brugge/BEL; Los Angeles, Calif.), Marcus Ferkranus (LA Galaxy; Santa Clarita, Calif.), Michael Halliday (Orlando Metropolis SC; Apopka, Fla.), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; Lakewood, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Paxten Aaronson (Philadelphia Union; Medford, N.J.), Alejandro Alvarado Jr. (FC Vizela/POR; Los Angeles, Calif.), Caden Clark (New York Crimson Bulls; Wayzata, Minn.) Daniel Edelman (New York Crimson Bulls; Warren, N.J.), Diego Luna (Actual Salt Lake; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Center Village, N.Y.), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Cut up/CRO; Sillwater, Okla.), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.), Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC; Anchorage, Alaska)

FORWARDS (3): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; Ceres, Calif.), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Tyler Wolff (Atlanta United FC; Braselton,Ga.)

However that also leaves a puzzle. How will the group lineup? How will the flexibility of the gamers issue into how Varas will use them?

Upon the roster announcement, Varas mentioned that the group could be very versatile. For instance: whereas solely three forwards are listed, he mentioned gamers equivalent to Paxten Aaronson and Diego Luna also can float into the assault. There are others too. Caden Clark can play on the entrance line, as can Niko Tsakiris.

In purpose, Chris Brady is the No. 1 however he may not begin the primary recreation towards St. Kitts. As a substitute, Antonio Carerra may see time.

Proper again, can be a rotation between Mauricio Cuevas and Michael Halliday – who’re each pure proper backs. Cuevas has been in camp with the U.S. U-20 group extra usually however Halliday had a powerful camp in April to make a case to be a part of the group.

There is just one pure left again on the roster in Noah Allen. Allen needs to be the starter in all of the vital video games this match. As to who’s Allen’s back-up or rotate with him, that isn’t notably clear, nevertheless it might be one of many two proper backs or one of many central defenders.

Central protection choices are recognized, however are one of many issues on this group. Brandon Craig and Jalen Neal are doubtless the beginning pairing.  Marcus Ferkranus will definitely see time and have a possibility to construct his case. Defensive midfielder Daniel Edelman also can play central protection in an emergency state of affairs.

The midfield is an space of the sector the place Varas can have loads of choices. And whereas he lists 9 midfielders on the roster, most of them can present cowl on the wings and even at middle ahead (equivalent to Caden Clark).

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— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) June 17, 2022

For now, the beginning midfield trio might be Daniel Edelman on the No. 6, Jack McGlynn on the No. 8, and Paxten Aaronson on the No. 10.

Diego Luna and Caden Cark may very nicely find yourself being starters in key video games, however each these gamers convey versatility. Caden Clark may begin out on the wing or in ahead. Diego Luna can try this as nicely, though he may begin on the No. 10 if Aaronson begins on the wing.

It may additionally change as soon as Obed Vargas arrives because it appears doubtless that if U.S. Soccer goes to undergo the trouble of hanging a take care of Seattle, then Varas has plans to play him.

Alejandro Alvarado, Niko Tsakiris, and Rokas Pukstas are three gamers who must also issue into the group and will even begin the opener. All are versatile and may cowl a number of midfield positions.

The frontline lists three forwards in Cade Cowell, Quinn Sullivan, Tyler Wolff. Cowell and Sullivan ought to think about closely. Sullivan has been the group’s most efficient offensive participant this cycle. Cowell, in the meantime, has been among the many higher 2003-born gamers in MLS this cycle. He’s huge, sturdy, and bodily – which needs to be powerful to cease. Wolff is a bit unknown has he’s nonetheless considerably new to the group this cycle.

Right here is how issues may lineup.

Predicted XI vs. St. Kitts: Carrera; Halliday, Ferkranus, Neal, Cuevas; Alvarado, Puktas, Tsakiris; Wolff, Clark, Luna

Predicted XI vs. Canada: Brady; Cuevas, Neal, Craig, Allen; Edelman, McGlynn, Aaronson; Sullivan, Clark, Cowell

The XI for Cuba will principally come all the way down to outcomes, performances, well being, suspensions, and many others. If the group wins its first two, Varas will in all probability begin resting and considering forward to the knockouts. If he wants a win towards Cuba, he’ll shift to the most effective XI

Understanding the opponents

The U.S. group’s first opponent is St. Kitts & Nevis which is predicted to be the weakest group within the group. All of its gamers play domestically except for Micaah Garnette who performs for St. John’s College in New York, and the group has by no means superior out of the group phases of the area’s U-20 championship. In 2018, St. Kitts & Nevis posted its biggest ever U-20 outcome with a 2-1 win over Canada in Florida.

The second opponent is Canada which confronted much more difficulties getting gamers launched than america did (most notably from MLS groups). In complete, 14 of Canada’s 20 gamers are primarily based in North America whereas 5 are from Europe and one is from South American. The 5 European-based gamers are nonetheless on the youth ranges, and none have made their first group debut.

For Canada, that is an fascinating check for the event of gamers from the Canadian Premier League, which is now in its fourth season. Six of the gamers on the group come from the CPL. The remaining eight home gamers are come from throughout the numerous ranges of the nation’s three Canadian MLS groups.

Canada is a rustic that’s bettering rapidly in soccer. An important level, nevertheless, is that Canadian groups appear to play larger than the sum of their elements. Whatever the launch points, the U.S. ought to anticipate a group that can battle arduous and play with a chip on its shoulder.

Canada’s U-20 group performed two friendlies towards Costa Rica in April with Canada profitable as soon as, 3-0, whereas Costa Rica received the rematch days later, 1-0.

Cuba is the U.S. group’s last opponent within the group stage. As all the time, they’re a troublesome group to determine as stats on the island nation’s league are powerful to return by. In complete, 19 of Cuba’s gamers play domestically. Dairon Reyes, who relies in MLS with Inter Miami, and already has 5 caps and one purpose with Cuba’s full nationwide group.

The USA was given a fairly favorable draw, though the knockout rounds may very nicely be difficult with Costa Rica and hosts Honduras looming because the doubtless opponents for the large qualifying video games.

As an illustration, the Honduran U-20 group has traditionally been superb and this system boasts an all-time file of 72 wins, 18 attracts, and 28 losses having scored a complete of 242 targets whereas permitting simply 115. Honduras has certified for the final three U-20 World Cups in 2015, 2017, and 2019 and has made the match eight instances general (with the group struggling an embarrassing 12-0 loss to Norway in 2019 when Erling Haaland scored 9 targets). In the meantime, this system is likely one of the most constant groups to qualify for the Olympics within the CONCACAF area.

Whenever you mix that with the very fact Honduras is internet hosting the match, it ought to solely make the group even stronger.

In the meantime, Costa Rica is traditionally additionally sturdy on the U-20 stage. The group has certified for 9 U-20 World Cups and have an all-time file of 51 wins, 17 attracts, and 21 losses – scoring 197 targets and conceding 91.

What’s at stake?

Fairly merely, quite a bit is at stake on this match. Youth nationwide groups have traditionally been essential to the lads’s aspect of U.S. Soccer over the previous 20 years. Whenever you take a look at the present senior nationwide group, many of the gamers have represented the U.S. program at a U-20 World Cup (Steffen, Dest, Richards, McKenzie, Adams, Arriola, Sargent, Weah, Yedlin, Carter-Vickers, Palmer-Brown, and many others).

What makes it so helpful is that the CONCACAF area isn’t nice, however qualifying for a youth World Cup provides gamers the expertise of taking part in in a significant match with good groups from throughout globe. These gamers get to expertise group phases and knockouts towards groups from Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America.

On prime of that, now there may be the Olympics. The USA has been absent from the Olympics since 2008 when a very good group consisting of Stuart Holden, Maurice Edu, Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan, Michael Parkhurst and Brad Guzan all used the match to make a transition to the complete nationwide group.  

This U-20 group has the power to qualify the group for 2024 (with america mechanically having certified for 2028 because the hosts). Olympic soccer isn’t thought-about main for Europe, however it’s for South America, Africa, CONCACAF, and Asia. It’s nonetheless a terrific competitors.

It’s vital as a result of if this U-20 group success to e-book a spot in Paris, it would then reopen the U-23 group and can embrace the 2001 and 2002 start years. These are two start years who misplaced the U-20 expertise as a result of COVID and the Olympics would come with them in addition to gamers from the present U-20 group.

On prime of all of it, the Olympics could be a good way to construct up enthusiasm for this system two years forward of internet hosting the World Cup. It’s not the complete nationwide group, however competing in Paris may assist some gamers construct instances to be a part of the nationwide group and will get the American public excited over this system.