ASN: With the U-20 World Cup roster deadline approaching, key questions emerge

With slightly greater than every week to go, the competitors is tight for the ultimate roster spots on the U-20 World Cup workforce. Some gamers are locks, some are questionable, some gamers are on the skin wanting in. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta has been masking the workforce your entire cycle and right here is his greatest guess the place issues stand in the mean time. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
April 24, 2019
7:00 AM

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ON MAY 10, the deadline will arrive for Tab Ramos to call his roster for the upcoming U-20 World Cup and there are nonetheless a whole lot of points at play. In 2017, Ramos took the entire time given to him earlier than naming his World Cup roster and there may be loads of purpose to assume he’ll do the identical in 2019.

Whereas a number of the gamers are clear locks, there are a complete host of different points resembling getting gamers launched, deciding whether or not or not they’re match or in type, or figuring out if they’ll play with the complete nationwide workforce as an alternative. So over the following week, listed below are the problems to observe.

Goalkeeping
Brady Scott has been injured however returned at the least to the purpose the place he was on the bench for Koln’s reserve workforce on April 1 (up to now, that has been the one roster he has made since December). He was the began throughout November’s CONCACAF run however that will not be the case, even when he’s wholesome. However his well being is a big query mark in the mean time.

David Ochoa has additionally been making a case in 2019 as he’s the common starter for the Actual Monarchs in USL and has signed a contract with Actual Salt Lake. Ochoa is promising however continues to be very younger. He’s eligible for the 2021 U-20 World Cup and it’s uncommon to have a beginning goalkeeper who’s taking part in up a cycle. It’d occur right here – particularly if Scott shouldn’t be absolutely wholesome however it nonetheless would possibly occur even when he’s. 

Ochoa was not too long ago in internet for an unpleasant 5-1 loss to New Mexico but when he performs properly down the stretch – or makes his Actual Salt Lake debut as a result of harm to Nick Rimando – he is perhaps the clear primary.

However it appears as if the beginning goalkeeper place is up for grabs proper now within the remaining weeks earlier than the match. Past Scott and Ochoa, CJ Dos Santos and Trey Muse appear to be the candidates for the final backup place.

Proper again
Unquestionably, Sergino Dest is the beginning proper again for the U.S. U-20 workforce. However who Ramos takes as his backup shouldn’t be but settled.

Manny Perez is taking part in proper now for North Carolina FC (on mortgage from Celtic) however has been showing as a wing at instances. He has a whole lot of expertise with this workforce.

Julian Araujo can also be one of many gamers in competition to play up a cycle however his versatility to play central in all probability offers him a leg up over Perez. Araujo has been taking part in properly when given a chance on the LA Galaxy and even made his first begin final weekend.

The Perez vs. Araujo battle for the backup proper again place was as soon as shut however Araujo has in all probability opened up a large hole. It’s potential that Ramos would possibly convey Araujo and Perez if he believes that there’s a good probability Araujo would wish to play central protection.

Left again
Chris Gloster is the beginning left again for this workforce and the New Jersey native was stable for the workforce in CONCACAF.

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The backup place in all probability goes to Matt Actual who was the captain throughout qualifying and taking part in often for the Bethlehem Metal. Like Araujo, Actual gives cowl at central protection.

There aren’t many points at this place as Gloster and Actual are persevering with to play regular minutes.

Others within the working are Sam Vines and Edwin Lara however each are distant choices at greatest.

Central protection
That is by far the most important space of concern for the U.S. workforce. Proper now, there is just one settled participant in Chris Richards – who’s a lock. Every part else is a big concern.

Mark Mckenzie not too long ago had an appendectomy and will get better quickly. That isn’t the one situation. Philadelphia Union nonetheless won’t cooperate in releasing him for the World Cup. This choice will come all the way down to the wire.

Aboubacar Keita also needs to be on the within of the bubble however shouldn’t be taking part in on mortgage with the Richmond Kickers as a consequence of an injured hamstring. Will he get better to play forward of the World Cup?

Having one in all Keita and McKenzie is a should for Tab Ramos however neither are in a safe place to make this workforce.

There are different choices. James Sands has performed each central protection and defensive midfield for New York Metropolis though he has by no means absolutely been in Ramos’ plans. Chris Durkin, Matt Actual, and Julian Araujo can play out of place in central protection.

Central protection depth was by no means optimum for this group and now accidents and launch points are rising on the absolute worst time.

Defensive midfield
In a perfect world, Chris Durkin would begin on this place. Durkin is coming off of two very sturdy camps in 2019 and Ramos doubtless feels he can rely upon him.

Whereas Edwin Cerrillo has by no means performed a United States youth nationwide workforce at any stage, search for him to make the workforce. He has been terrific for Dallas and has improved with each passing recreation along with his passing vary and defensive capabilities.

If Ramos feels inclined to convey a 3rd No. 6 as a consequence of Durkin being wanted in central protection, it can in all probability go to Brandon Servania who has continuity with the workforce from qualifying. It will possibly additionally go to Christian Cappis who’s a No. 8 however can fill in on the No. 6. Juan Pablo Torres is probably going out as a result of rise of Cerrillo and Durkin since qualifying.

No. 8 and No. 10
That is the power of this workforce though it is vitally unclear what number of gamers at this place Ramos will take.

Paxton Pomykal and Alex Mendez are unquestionable locks and each will get alternatives to start out on the World Cup.

Richard Ledezma is lastly taking part in for PSV’s U-19 workforce however is but to go a full 90. He’s so good that Ramos will in all probability take him however his state of affairs shouldn’t be very best.

Christian Cappis improved his inventory on the final camp the place he scored in opposition to France and Japan. His versatility actually helps him to make this workforce – as does his capability to play a bodily recreation. He has solely performed a handful of minutes with Hobro however his final camp might need him on the within of the bubble.

Don’t low cost Frankie Amaya both. Whereas the primary general draft choose hasn’t performed a lot for FC Cincinnati, Amaya’s mortgage to Orange County SC within the USL will give him minutes. Amaya is flexible and is aware of the workforce properly. He has an opportunity to make it.

Brenden Aaronson is making an infinite push proper now and has been an ideal story within the first eight weeks of the 2019 MLS season. He would possibly discover himself the sufferer of a troublesome numbers recreation, regardless of the very fact he would make it some other yr. Additionally, Philadelphia may additionally decline his launch even when Ramos desires him.

Wingers and Forwards
Konrad de la Funete is a lock however that’s about it. Each different choice will probably be primarily based on which gamers can be found, wholesome, and launched.

Concerning Josh Sargent and Tim Weah, Weah is extra prone to play on the U-20 World Cup. He’s taking part in occasional minutes with Celtic however is respectable every time given the possibility. The issue is that the Scottish Cup remaining comes the day earlier than the U.S. workforce’s opening recreation on the World Cup. Would Celtic enable him to overlook that and would Paris St. Germain additionally log out on a launch.

Sebastian Soto can also be prone to go to the World Cup though he performed behind Justin Rennicks through the CONCACAF Championships.

Justin Rennicks returning to the sector will probably be key to his possibilities. Ramos trusted him through the CONCACAF run and Rennicks was very stable. His mobility and power paid dividends.

Ayo Akinola can also be extra prone to go than not though if Weah is launched, maybe that makes Akinola susceptible.

On the wings, Jonathan Amon is again for Nordsjaelleand and he ought to make the U-20 workforce though most definitely as a super-sub late within the recreation when the U.S. workforce wants a objective.

The massive query is Ulysses Llanez. The proficient winger is now at Wolfsburg however can solely play in occasional friendlies and scrimmages. Ramos is prioritizing taking part in minutes and Llanez has performed sparingly since November. He’s very proficient however sadly as a result of timing of his transfer overseas and his birthday (which got here after the registration date in Germany), he can solely play in friendlies and scrimmages. Llanez will nonetheless in all probability go, however he’s not a lock for this workforce. He’s eligible for subsequent cycle as properly. If everybody have been to turn out to be obtainable, it may put Llanez in a troublesome state of affairs.

The state of affairs over Nick Taitague is maybe probably the most disappointing. Ramos has rated Taitague very extremely for years and needed to convey him to the World Cup in 2017 solely to have Schalke deny his launch. Taitague was the very best participant on the 2019 U-20 January camp however is as soon as once more injured as he has been for many of the previous two years.

Prediction and ideas
9 days out, that is what I’ve with the next odds (Lock, extremely doubtless, doubtless, questionable)

1) David Ochoa (Lock)2) Brady Scott (Questionable)3) CJ Dos Santos (Seemingly)4) Sergino Dest (Lock)5) Julian Araujo (Extremely doubtless)6) Chris Richards (Lock)7) Mark McKenzie (Questionable)8) Chris Gloster (Lock)9) Matthew Actual (Extremely Seemingly)10) Chris Durkin (Lock)11) Edwin Cerrillo (Questionable)12) Paxton Pomykal (Lock)13) Alex Mendez (Lock)14) Richard Ledezma (Seemingly)15) Christian Cappis (Questionable)16) Konrad de la Fuente (Lock)17) Jonathan Amon (Extremely doubtless)18) Ulysses Llanez (Questionable)19) Sebastian Soto (Extremely doubtless)20) Justin Rennicks (Seemingly)21) Ayo Akinola (Seemingly)

Nonetheless with an opportunity to make the workforce: Aboubacar Keita, Brandon Servania, Brenden Aaronson, Manny Perez, James Sands, Frankie Amaya, Tim Weah*, Josh Sargent**- denotes potential senior workforce duties or launch points.

If that’s certainly the workforce, it might be fairly sturdy however actually has some main problems with concern. Is Ochoa prepared to start out at a U-20 World Cup at his age? Can Ramos get by in central protection along with his again up choices coming all the way down to gamers taking part in there out of place? Are Akinola, Soto, or Rennicks deadly sufficient finishers for this main match? What sort of type is Llanez in in the mean time?

This workforce has the expertise to go very far but in addition wants a whole lot of luck in sure areas.