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America 2021 U-20 World Cup staff is a staff that can by no means play collectively as COVID-19 has robbed this age group of the chance of taking part in in one of many world’s most prestigious youth tournaments. We do not know what that staff would have appeared like, however as a tribute to them, veteran Youth Nationwide Crew journalist Brian Sciaretta breaks down what he feels that staff would have appeared like – and the way they might have completed in Thailand.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
Could 04, 2021
9:00 AM
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THIS MIGHT HAVE been the week the place the U.S. U-20 World Cup first begun to assemble forward of the 2021 World Cup. Sadly, we’ll by no means know because the announcement got here on Christmas Eve that the event had been not solely postponed, however cancelled, resulting from COVID-19.
That thereby ended the cycle earlier than even qualifying might happen. In complete, there have been two camps this cycle – as soon as below former supervisor Tab Ramos within the fall of 2019 after which a second in January 2021 below supervisor Anthony Hudson.
We are going to by no means know precisely how that staff would have come collectively as Hudson by no means received to see the staff progress in camps all through the cycle. What now we have seen, nevertheless, could be very constructive strides taken by gamers inside this age vary in 2020 and now initially of 2021.
Primarily based on historic proof, we typically have an thought of who would have been launched and who wouldn’t have been.
As somebody who has coated the U-20 nationwide staff for well-over a decade, right here is how I’d have seen the staff coming collectively in a world with out COVID-19.
Releases and Accidents
In recent times, we’ve seen gamers not referred to as as much as the U-20 World Cup staff regardless that they might clearly make a first-choice squad.
In some circumstances, this is because of golf equipment not desirous to launch key first-team gamers. It is very important keep in mind that with youth tournaments golf equipment can all the time deny a launch, even when the event takes place in the summertime or within the worldwide window (releases are obligatory solely with senior call-ups in worldwide home windows).
In different circumstances, this is because of U.S. Soccer needing gamers for full nationwide staff obligation. This 12 months the U-20 World Cup would have coincided with the Nations League.
Within the 2017 and 2019 U-20 World Cups, Josh Sargent, Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic, and Weston McKennie have been all not included in U-20 groups due to senior nationwide staff obligation (Adams and Sargent went to at least one World Cup taking part in up a cycle however missed out the second cycle).
Transferring ahead in future cycles the variety of instances a participant can be unable to play with the U-20 staff due to the complete nationwide staff will in all probability decline for the reason that U.S. staff is so younger, will probably be harder to power these gamers out. There’ll, nevertheless, all the time be membership conflicts.
This cycle we nonetheless see a number of gamers who in all probability wouldn’t have gone to the U-20 World Cup as a result of have to be with the complete staff for the Nations League. For these causes, we’re taking the next gamers off the desk:
Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah, Bryan Reynolds.
When it comes to membership releases, probably the most logical participant who could be denied a launch is Johnny Cardoso for the reason that Brazilian Serie A schedule begins. He was launched for the Olympic qualifying event however that solely noticed him miss State Cup video games. The Serie A video games are way more necessary.
On the flip facet, and maybe it will be flawed to take action, however we’re going to maintain George Bello on the staff regardless of Atlanta United’s reluctance to launch gamers.
So far as accidents, probably the most notable participant now we have to take away is Aidan Morris. The proficient Columbus Crew defensive midfielder will miss the 2021 season with a torn ACL that he suffered in April within the CONCACAF Champions League. He positively would have made the World Cup roster.
There’s additionally uncertainty over the well being of Ulysses Llanez who missed Olympic qualifying resulting from an ankle damage he picked up in camp. However given the very fact he has barely performed the previous 12 months (and hasn’t actually been with a membership since January), he in all probability wouldn’t make the roster proper now regardless.
The Roster
Given what we talked about above, right here is the 21 participant roster ASN would have had for the 2021 U-20 World Cup.
Goalkeepers
1) David Ochoa (Actual Salt Lake)
2) Chituru Odunze (Leicester Metropolis)
3) Damian Las (Fulham)
Defenders
4) Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy)
5) Ian Hoffmann (Houston Dynamo)
6) Leonardo Sepulveda (Salamanca UDS)
7) Owen Otosowie (Wolverhampton)
8) Justin Che (Bayern Munich)
9) George Bello (Atlanta United)
Midfielders
10) Taylor Sales space (SKN St. Poelten)
11) Tanner Tessmann (FC Dallas) (Crew Captain)
12) Leon Flach (Philadelphia Union)
13) Caden Clark (New York Purple Bulls)
14) Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids)
15) Jose Gallegos (San Antonio FC)
16) Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas Metropolis)
Forwards/Wingers
17) Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes)
18) Cameron Harper (New York Purple Bulls)
19) Konrad de la Fuente (Barcelona)
20) Matthew Hoppe (Schalke O4)
21) Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas)
Notable Omissions
With each roster there are all the time powerful gamers to depart out and contact choices to be made.
Indiana Vassilev would have had an uphill climb to make this roster regardless of having made Premier League appearances in 2020 with Aston Villa. His two mortgage spells to Burton Albion and Cheltenham City have simply not proven sufficient in contrast with the competitors.
Matko Miljevic was one other participant folks had hopes for after making his debut in 2019 with Argentinos Juniors in Argentina’s Primera. However he additionally hasn’t performed sport since February 2020 resulting from each COVID and a dispute along with his membership. He has expertise, however this summer season can’t get right here fast sufficient for him.
Bryang Kayo, Charlie Kelman, Jacob Akanyirige, Joe Scally, Kobe Hernandez-Foster and Nico Carrera are additionally all gamers who have been on the within of the combo at one level or one other however fell behind the competitors just lately.
As former U.S. U-20 head coach Tab Ramos would all the time inform his gamers on the finish of each cycle – lots of the gamers he lower would go on to turn out to be the very best gamers from that age group.
That all the time turned out to be true as gamers resembling even in 2019, Brenden Aaronson, Sam Vines, Daryl Dike, and Nicholas Gioacchini have been by no means on that 12 months’s U-20 World Cup staff (Aaronson and Vines have been among the many final ones lower.
Notes on the Roster
In complete, it will have been a very good roster with a lot of the subject gamers now being first staff regulars. It additionally would have been a a lot better constructed staff than the U-23 staff that didn’t qualify for the Olympics – largely as a result of reality it had largely all defensive midfielders.
This staff U-20 staff, in contrast to the U-23 staff, would have truly had a constructive mix of gamers within the midfield with Sales space and Flach taking part in No. 6/No. 8 roles. Tessmann would have beend a devoted No. 8. Clark and Busio would have been extra No. 8/10 hybrids whereas Gallegos would have been a real No. 10.
The wingers additionally would have been a supply of power with Cowell, Harper, and de la Fuente all main the way in which.
Matthew Hoppe and Ricardo Pepi would have been a pleasant mixture of middle forwards for this event.
When it comes to protection, six defenders is a low quantity however on this case, Flach can also be a reliable left again to backup Bello. Flach performed left again in the one camp below Anthony Hudson in January 2020. Ian Hoffmann nonetheless awaits his first-team debut however there are excessive hopes for him in Houston and he’s a reliable participant who can back-up at a number of positions – on this case proper again.
Central protection, sadly could be the most important problem to assemble a staff. In contrast to current cycles, the numbers aren’t any there when it comes to first-team regulars. As a result of his huge upside, Justin Che would probably get the nod for this staff regardless of being so younger.
Most likely probably the most controversial resolution of the roster entails Owen Otasowie who’s listed as a defender – his second place. The English-American is primarily a midfielder however can play central protection. Because of the wants of the staff and a shallow participant pool at his place, there’s a very sturdy argument that he would want to play right here to carry some expertise and professionalism on this necessary space of the sphere.
Age breakdown
When it comes to start years, the 2001 is a robust class. The 2002 start 12 months, nevertheless, is just not nice. George Bello, Gianluca Busio, and Gio Reyna are probably the most thrilling American developed prospects from that start 12 months whereas Yunus Musah was an enormous current addition to the 2002’s.
Every U-20 World Cup cycle has two start years. At that time, you possibly can add gamers however it’s important to go gamers eligible for the next cycle. On this case, the 2001’s make up the overwhelming majority. The 2002’s are little or no – the 2 backup keepers in Las and Odunze, together with simply Busio and Bello make up the whole 2002 contingent.
4 gamers on the roster are 2003-born with Purple Bull star Caden Clark main the way in which adopted by Cade Cowell, Ricardo Pepi, and Justin Che.
In complete you’ll have the next breakdown:
2001: (13)
2002: (4)
2003: (4) – taking part in up a cycle
How wouldn’t it have completed?
That is fairly easy. The staff would have gone so far as central protection would have taken it. The Aidan Morris damage actually hurts as he was probably the beginning No. 6, however the backups actually could be viable.
The final three U-20 groups every superior to the quarterfinals with excellent central defenders taking part in an enormous a part of successful tight video games in opposition to good groups. In 2015 it was Matt Miazga, Cameron Carter-Vickers, an Erik Palmer-Brown (the latter two taking part in up a cycle). In 2017 it was Cameron Carter-Vickers, Erik Palmer-Brown, Justen Glad. In 2019 it was Chris Richards, Abubacar Keita, and an injured Mark Mckenzie. That total record above consists of gamers who’re all both above common professionals, with many now at numerous ranges of the nationwide staff participant pool.
This group doesn’t have that. Otasowie isn’t actually a central defender. Che has an unlimited upside however is younger. Sepulveda is at a low degree in Spain. Araujo might fill in if there may be an emergency however he’s a fullback.
If the central protection performs effectively, this staff might have gone very far. If not, it will have struggled.
The remainder of the staff is extraordinarily balanced. The midfield has all of the completely different positions coated from attacking, to defensive, to all factors in between. The wingers are strong. Up prime, Hoppe has Bundesliga skilled and Pepi is younger however has an enormous upside. Fullbacks in Bello and Araujo are additionally very skilled and promising. As a goalkeeper, Ochoa additionally boasts U-20 World Cup experiences.
It’s a disgrace that this staff won’t ever play collectively and U.S. Soccer ought to hopefully resume its youth nationwide groups quickly with a give attention to 2023 as a result of the category of 2003-born gamers is strong. However the 2001 and 2002-born gamers will all miss out on this expertise.
From the seems to be of what this staff might have appeared like, that they had a very good probability of doing effectively and impressing.
Author : usa-foot
Publish date : 2025-01-02 23:57:18
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