AMSTERDAM – Before we all get lost in thoughts of the next World Cup, as we will certainly do, there is the large matter of another summer tournament that will bring together a US U-23 team even sooner: the 2016 Olympic Games.
Seen as an exciting chance to get a look at the future of the senior side, US fans harshly found out in 2012 that this chance can be fleeting. The Americans failed to qualify for London, and but one player from that squad (the unused Mikkel Diskerud) ended up in Jurgen Klinsmann's squad at this past summer's World Cup.
Rewind to 2008, and you'll find that six Olympic-squad players made it to World Cup 2010. While it's unclear whether the 2012 team failed to qualify because of their players or the players failed to progress because they did not qualify, a development opportunity was clearly missed last time out.
In other words, it's time to add a little Olympic spice to all the hours you'll spend avoiding work to write out potential US lineups over the next 15 months leading up to CONCACAF qualifying, likely to be held in early 2016. While there is always the matter of players being released from club duty, do consider these European-based choices when confidently constructing your preferred formations for Rio 2016. Remember, this squad will include players born in 1993 or later.
BACK SUPPORT
GK Cody Cropper (Southampton U-21s) - The 21-year-old Georgia native was the starting US backstop at last summer's U-20 World Cup in Turkey, and his education continues with both the national team set-up and the Saints. If all goes to plan, he will attend "graduate school" in Brazil. Across the board thus far, he's been largely impressive with the odd error. Cut those out, and come 2016, folks may be talking about Cropper as the eventual replacement for Brad Guzan.
DF John Anthony Brooks (Hertha Berlin) - As another flash-benching in Berlin has demonstrated, the World Cup goal hero still has plenty of learning to do. With great power comes great responsibility, and Brooks has the ability to be our own national team Spidey in the heart of defense. The Olympics could be his first real chance to sling webs as a lock starter in red, white and blue.
DF Will Packwood (Birmingham City) - Talented, versatile and developing in the combination track/wrestling meet that is the Championship, the Brums defender is the last guy on this list to be fazed when the physical level rises. Packwood actually had his Olympic grooming begin when he spent time in then-Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna's U-23 camp during the London 2012 cycle. If fit, he'll be there, and he'll have a lot of responsibility.
DF Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham U-19s) - Still just 16, the cool-beyond-his-years defender made his U-21 Premier League debut in September. Also eligible to play for England, Carter-Vickers has yet to choose an international path but has gone on record as leaning toward our version of red, white and blue. Most stateside aren't familiar with the kid, so here's the salivating skinny: He is a big, fast, ball-moving center back that has drawn widespread raves at Spurs' academy.
D/M Marc Pelosi (Liverpool U-21s) - The 20-year-old can behave like Gerrard in central midfield or terrorize from the wing like Lallana, but bonfires have long been stoked that he will turn out to be the US left back like, well, the national team has never had before. Just getting back from a harsh leg break that happened just after he was added to the Reds' Europa League roster, a fit Pelosi can shut it down in his end and set off alarm bells in yours.
Also bears watching: Ethan Horvath (Molde FK)
CENTRAL PARK RANGERS
M Emerson Hyndman (Fulham) - Sure, he's a small 18-year-old traffic director that hasn't had much to say in the attack game while moving in and out of the lineup on a, to date, bad Championship club, but don't be fooled. Hyndman (pictured above) also happens to be sixth in a 24-team league among all players with at least 100 passes thanks to his 90.1-percent completion rate. On top of that, he's committed just eight total turnovers in 432 minutes.
M Junior Flores (Borussia Dortmund II) - Having only begun his BvB time with the U-19s this summer, Flores is already beginning to break through to the reserve team. It seems the club expected it to happen even sooner, so Flores is training hard to improve his strength, fitness and decision-making. Don't be fazed much by the adaptation period, as the slippery No. 10 is worth some high hopes.
M Duane Holmes (Bury) - On loan from Championship side Huddersfield Town, Holmes has struggled for playing time with his League Two temp employers. The local fans seem befuddled, as he's looked dangerous in spare minutes, just as he had prior playing two levels up. The 19-year-old has a fine motor, a big shot from distance and an assortment of entry feeds, but he definitely needs to raise his fitness level. As of now, he's probably a scary sub option amid this group.
D/M Caleb Stanko (Freiburg) - Seemingly on the verge of his Bundesliga debut, the defensive midfielder suffered an ill-timed ACL injury last month. That gives him a big hill to climb, but he certainly has not been climbing through the ranks of a German top flight club because he's soft or unwilling. Youth international fans will remember Stanko mainly as a center back, an experience that gives him an added mental dimension as a back line guard.
M Fabian Hürzeler (1860 Munich II) - No, he hasn't actually filed for the FIFA allegiance switch required by his 20 appearances in a junior Germany shirt. But Hürzeler has turned up in a US youth camp before, and he hasn't been involved in the Mannschaft set-up since making his U-19 debut nearly three years ago. Since then, he has solidified his rep as solid two-way midfielder, mostly with Hoffenheim II. Having just arrived at the cross-town rivals of former owners Bayern, the 21-year-old returned to action from an ankle ligament injury two weeks ago.
Also bears watching: Kris Scott (Leicester City U-21s), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland U-21s), Russell Canouse (Hoffenheim II)
ATTACK DAWGS
F Julian Green (Hamburg) - On loan from Bayern Munich, Green has seen his HSV tenure hampered early by injuries. Never mind that, but let's hope he can fill out a little before this team hits Brazil. Sure, he'll be with the USMNT plenty – and that experience can only help him shoot for more headlines in Brazil. With such young defenders at the tournament, we should probably start figuring out who is going to take the big penalty he will win.
F Rubio Rubin (FC Utrecht) - The Olympic question may not be so much about whether the 18-year-old will make the squad, but more as to what offensive role he might take. Just six games into his rookie Eredivisie season, Rubin has played un-shyly as a center forward, on both wings and as the No. 10 (his lone start there produced two assists). Though not noticeably great at any one aspect of the attack game so far, the Oregon native has proven to be pretty good at just about everything.
F Bobby Wood (1860 Munich) - Already part of Jurgen Klinsmann's post-World Cup youth infusion, the 1860 flanker has displayed plenty of ability to break off the leash of opposing defenses. Wood has yet to produce the type of end product he previously did with the U-20s, but he seems a fair bet to make the Olympic squad because the senior team boss likes him. It may be just the right age level for his amount of experience, and as such a perfect opportunity to gain decisiveness in the final third.
F Mario Rodriguez (Borussia Mönchengladbach II) - Before falling behind a pair of hot teammates in recent weeks, the 20-year-old bagged six goals in an 11-game span for the 'Gladbach reserves. Rodriguez is mobile, plays bigger than his size and can work anywhere along the front line. He is also rather nifty in and around the area, making his potential fairly exciting.
Also worth watching: Zach Pfeffer (formerly Hoffenheim U-19s on loan from Philadelphia Union, Jerome Kiesewetter (Stuttgart II), Andrija Novakovich (Reading U-21s)
AN OVERAGE SUGGESTION
M Mikkel Diskerud (Rosenborg) - There are all sorts of impressive young midfielders available for the next Olympics, both at home and abroad. Therefore, this wouldn't be a need pick. No, choosing Mix would provide slick leadership and playmaking from the middle of the park, brought by a guy who sacrificed much to reach the last Olympics in London, only to have the team fail to qualify. If you can think of another American player more hungry to chase an Olympic medal, do speak up. Of course, this won't be an option until the US qualify.
