warrior16
Data Expert
Michael Stein - Volunteer Assitant
Posts: 2,169
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Post by warrior16 on Jan 24, 2015 18:20:57 GMT -6
After a shaky start to the CONCACAF U-20 tournament, the USA U-20s used Ben Spencer and Paul Arriola goals to beat El Salvador 2-0 in the playoff game and advance to the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand in summer.
They will be joined by CONCACAF rivals Mexico, Panama, and Honduras.
They definitely could have performed better, but they won four must-win games in a row and got the results they needed. I am interested to see how the full U-20 squad will do against the best sides in the world. Zelalem might make his debut in the tourney.
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Post by playwide on Jan 24, 2015 19:38:16 GMT -6
I thought the showed a lot of grit. WC here we come...
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Post by loJic on Jan 24, 2015 21:42:00 GMT -6
Should be interesting to see who steps up at the world level and gets a call for the u23s at Olympics.
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warrior16
Data Expert
Michael Stein - Volunteer Assitant
Posts: 2,169
|
Post by warrior16 on Jan 24, 2015 22:32:41 GMT -6
Should be interesting to see who steps up at the world level and gets a call for the u23s at Olympics. Green is ineligible to play at the U-20 WC since he played for Germany's U-19 team in the Euro qualifying round, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's called to the Olympic team. I'd expect Brooks, Steffen, Carter-Vickers, Yedlin, Hyndman, Rubin, Trapp, WARNING VIRUS, Pelosi, and Gyau to be there too. Maybe kids like Yomba, Erick Palmer Brown, and Pulisic have an outside shot as well if they can launch there professional careers by then.
Some of those guys might be a bit older than 23, but three underage spots are allowed so Herzog has plenty of options to use for older players that are good but not in the senior level first team. We'll see how good Zelalem is soon.
Of the U-20 kids who played today, I think Steffen and Hyndman are the two that will break into the senior team the quickest, particularly Hyndman. He has a technical ability in the midfield our senior team has been lacking since Donovan could no longer play there consistently. Maybe Lee Nguyen can fill that role in the short term, but Hyndman or Zelalem can make impacts as youngsters. Likewise, we need to start molding replacements for Dempsey, Beckerman, and Jones.
Very exited for our Nats in 2015. I think moving back to MLS can really get Jozy back in form and he'll be playing with Michael Bradley every day now. Sunderland is just an awful team no matter who they stick up top and what formation they play. Maybe even Brek Shea can get back in the picture. Remember he was one of our brightest national team prospects in 2011 before he went to England.
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