Jeremy Ebobisse, Sebastian Saucedo, Erik-Palmer Brown and the remainder of the US under-20 workforce face Panama within the World Cup qualifying opener—a stern problem with excessive stakes.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
February 17, 2017
5:10 PM
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THINGS GET REAL for the US U-20 males’s nationwide workforce Saturday afternoon because it squares off towards Panama at Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in Tibas, Costa Rica (3:30pm ET, UDN, Fb Dwell).
Panama is a soccer nation on the ascent: It completed 2nd within the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championships, successful all 5 of its group stage video games—together with a 1-0 win over the US. The stakes are excessive on Saturday as a result of each groups are favored to advance from Group B on the expense of St. Kitts and Nevis and Haiti.
The U.S.-Panama winner will dramatically enhance its probabilities for a a lot simpler path within the second group spherical. The second-place finisher may discover itself in a second spherical group with two powerhouses: Mexico and Costa Rica.
Tab Ramos
“The final cycle Panama was one of the best workforce within the match and so they occurred to lose to Mexico on penalties within the remaining, however they have been one of the best workforce,” U.S. head coach Tab Ramos said. “Now we have a tricky one to start out. I’m undecided in the event that they’re one of the best ones this time, however I do know with the group that they had the final time, that is going to be a really powerful workforce for us to start out the match with. Our strategy, like I instructed the gamers right here, is that we’re not going to get to the ultimate right here if we don’t win the primary remaining.”
Given the significance of the competition, anticipate Ramos to place forth a lineup that may create probabilities but additionally defend effectively.
If historical past is any indication, the U.S. will probably be in for a combat all through the World Cup qualifying course of. .
The video games get chippy, officiating and area circumstances are sometimes subpar in Central America, and it is powerful for U.S. groups to play the type of soccer they need to play. The video games are often disagreeable to observe and the U.S. groups often must grind out outcomes. Followers who comply with youth soccer usually complain and are left feeling uneasy even from profitable U-20 and U-17 World Cup qualifying campaigns.
However it’s often a fairly good psychological take a look at for the workforce to go to a hostile atmosphere in tough situation and battle it out towards less-talented however extremely motivated groups. It is one thing these gamers must be taught.
Jeremy Ebobisse should end
Crucial participant on this workforce might be Jeremy Ebobisse. This U.S. U-20 workforce performs with a single ahead and Ebobisse has emerged because the clear starter.
On Thursday Ramos mentioned that he thought of not bringing the second ahead, Emanuel Sabbi, because of his rust from not being cleared to play together with his membership. Sabbi satisfied Ramos solely inside the previous two weeks to place him on the roster.
“Ebobisse has had a very good progression, a little bit at a time,” Ramos mentioned. “He’s a very smart player who’s learning how to make runs and how to tip-toe along the center backs to find the right timing of his runs. He’s also working on his finishing, so he’s improving a little bit at a time.”
Ebobisse, chosen by the Portland Timbers with the fourth general decide in final month’s MLS draft, has put up nice numbers for the U-20 workforce this previous cycle but when he’s off his sport, the U.S. might be in hassle. However, an in-form Ebobisse may put the Yanks in an incredible place to qualify for the U-20 World Cup in South Korea.
Brooks Lennon
Energy is on the wings
This U-20 workforce is fairly robust technically on the wing positions—a rarity for a U.S. youth nationwide workforce. Sebastian Saucedo, Jonathan Lewis, and Brooks Lennon are all adept wingers. Saucedo might be the strongest technical American participant on the roster and he has been shifting backwards and forwards between enjoying exterior on the wing and in a extra central place. Even when he performs on the wing, he could have plenty of freedom to create probabilities.
With a purpose to create performs and be efficient towards Panama, the wingers should play as much as their potential.
Will Palmer-Brown and Adams prosper?
Tyler Adams has been a standout since first making the U-20 workforce in December. The teenager may doubtlessly pair in central midfield with workforce captain Erik Palmer-Brown (who is generally a central defender).
Can Klinsmann make the massive save?
Even essentially the most profitable U-20 groups want goalkeepers to make large saves at necessary moments. In 2015, Zack Steffen’s necessary penalty save within the play-in sport ensured the U.S. workforce made it to the World Cup.
Jonathan Klinsmann
This 12 months, the workforce’s goalkeeper is Jonathan Klinsmann—the son of the not too long ago fired nationwide workforce coach and technical director. In 2014, Jonathan Klinsmann landed himself in scorching water with American followers—and his personal father—after posting a snide tweet about Jurgen Klinsmann’s choice to go away Landon Donovan off the World Cup roster.
Whereas Jonathan Klinsmann lacks the pedigree of lots of the earlier U-20 goalkeepers, he can show his doubters and skeptics incorrect if he can come up large when the chance comes—because it little doubt will on this match.
Predicted lineup
In a 4-2-3-1, I predict Ramos will go together with this lineup:
Goalkeeper: Jonathan KlinsmannRight again: Marlon FosseyCentral defender: Justen GladCentral defender: Tommy ReddingLeft again: Danny AcostaDefensive midfielder: Erik Palmer-BrownCentral midfielder: Tyler AdamsRight wing: Sebastian SaucedoCentral attacking midfielder: Eryk WilliamsonLeft wing: Brooks LennonCentral ahead: Jeremy Ebobisse
