USA in the U-20 CONCACAF Championship

CONCACAF U-20 Championship 2017 

(Costa Rica)

The venues will be the historic Saprissa stadium and the National Stadium in San Jose.

            Ok the next tournament for the USA is the U-20 Championship that will take place in February and March of 2017. The USA needs to place in one of the top 3 in this tournament to qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The World Cup is May 20^th to June and is hosted by South Korea. For tournament details check here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_CONCACAF_U-20_Championship#Classification_stage

Costa Rica National Stadium (35,175)

This tournament has been dominated by Mexico. They have won 13 of the 20 tournaments. Canada, Costa Rica and Honduras each won 2. El Salvador is your other winner. Thats right, the USA has not won this championship at this age and they don’t seem to take it serious. The USA has qualified for the last 9 World Cups and that seems to be their goal…just to qualify. I am hoping this group of coaches (Tab Ramos) and the young group of kids play "for" the Championship.

 Group Stage 

Saprissa Stadium (23,000 capacity)

This year our young stars are grouped with Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Haiti. All the states have to do is beat out 2 of these 3 teams which they are favorite to do. The important (qualifying games) is the next round.

Round 2 will be 2 groups of 3 and each team will play 2 games. The top 2 teams qualify directly to the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The other 2 teams will be seeded. While the 2^nd place team will play the 3^rd of the other group and vice versa. Then the 2 winners will play for 3^rd place and the vital last CONCACAF spot in the World Cup.

It will be Tab Ramos who will guide this young hungry group. Each tournament we are seeing more players from MLS academy teams. 

USA Roster.

Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jonathan Klinsmann (University of California; Newport Beach, CA), JT Marcinkowski (Georgetown; Alamo, CA)

DEFENDERS (7): Marcello Borges (Michigan; Kearny, NJ), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; Tucson, AZ), Aaron Hererra (New Mexico; Casa Grande, AZ), Jake Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; Fort Lauderdale, FL), Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC; Oviedo, FL), Miles Robinson (Syracuse; Arlington, MA), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union; Chester, PA)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake; Salt Lake City, UT), Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls II; Wappingers Falls, NY), Derrick Jones (Philadelphia Union; Chester, PA), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake; Park City, UT), Nick Taitague (FC Richmond; Midlothian, VA), Eryk Williamson (Maryland; Alexandria, VA)

FORWARDS (5): Jeremy Ebobisse (Charleston Battery; Bethesda, MD), Jonathan Lewis (Akron; Plantation, FL), Victor Mansaray (Seattle Sounders FC; Des Moines, WA), Emmanuel Sabbi (UD Las Palmas; Libertyville, IL), Brandon Vazquez (Atlanta United FC; Chula Vista, CA)

Yes, that’s right Klinsmann’s son is the goalie.

  

USA is precarious standing in the HEX

                The USA finds itself in a precarious position in the last stage of World Cup qualification. They are presently in last place. They have only scored 1 goal and have given up 6. Just after the 0-4 loss to Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifying game the USA national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann was fired. Can you say turmoil....? The other CONCACAF nations are celebrating this USA disaster.

             
 Bruce Arena was hired November 22, 2016 and this is his second stint as USA coach. Since this is a very critical time for the USA team to qualify for 2018 World Cup, the USA needed a coach who is familiar with USA soccer. He is an American 

Christian Pulisic

                The brightest thing the USA has going for it is an 18 year old kid named Christian Pulisic. Christian plays in German’s top league. He also plays for one of the top German teams. What Pulisic and Donovan possess is an ability to run at people with the ball and create plays with their technical ability. Comparing other CONCACAF nations they all seem to have players who can run and create, and this is what the USA desperately needs……even if it is only one player.The USA has not had a player of this caliber since Landon Donovan. Yup...I said it. I never gave Landon the credit he deserved. The USA took a big offensive hit when he retires.

                The USA Forwards of Bobby Woods and Jose Altidore can get the job done. Bradly is a tireless work horse who covers a lot of defensive responsibility. I also like Jermaine Jones and his “you not better than me” attitude.  

                With that being said….I am confident Bruce Arena will be able to attain one of the 3 CONCACAF guaranteed World Cup qualifying spots. IT is my belief that Mexico and Costa Rica are slightly ahead of USA now. All the USA has to do is beat out Honduras, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago for the last guaranteed spot. Not only are they capable they are favorite to do it. This World Cup qualification games in 2017 (8 left) will get great to watch who the leaders of this team will be.