VIDEO: MLSers on US squad at the U-20 World Cup
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Let’s be honest: Everyone loves seeing the “next big thing” burst onto the scene. There’s an excitement to it, a sense of promise and potential and the optimism of the future unknown that you can’t help but get caught up in.
That, in a nutshell, is what the FIFA Under-20 World Cup is all about.
Every two years, many of the world’s best young players and soon-to-be-superstars square off against each other and implant their names into the global soccer consciousness. Most are already known commodities within the soccer beltway, but to many of us, they are fresh faces stepping onto the world stage for the first time.
For USMNT and MLS fans, this year is even more exciting than usual, because this US U-20 national team, coached by former USMNT star Tab Ramos, has the potential to do something special. The squad is loaded with talent, including seven MLS players, and they have a relatively navigable group and pathway for a deep run.
THE BASICS
The 2015 edition of the biannual U-20 World Cup takes place in New Zealand and begins on May 30. (Due to the time zone difference, the first game will actually occur on May 29 in North America.)
The competition is similar to the senior World Cup. Twenty-four nations qualify and are drawn into six groups. The group stage is followed by a knockout stage that includes a Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, 3rd-place game and the final.
The top two teams in each group qualify for the Round of 16, joined by the four 3rd-place finishers with the best records in group play.
A HISTORY OF CHAMPIONS AND STARS
The U-20 World Cup was launched in 1977 (originally called the World Youth Championship). It has largely been dominated by the two South American powerhouses, Argentina and Brazil, who have won six and five titles, respectively.
Other winners include Portugal (2), Ghana, Spain, Germany, Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union and the defending champions, France (
right
).
Throughout the tournament’s history, it has seen some of the best players in the world make their marks.
Previous winners of the Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament’s most outstanding player, include Diego Maradona (1979), Seydou Keita (1999), Lionel Messi (2005), Sergio Aguero (2007), and Paul Pogba (2013). Other notable standouts include Dani Alves, John Obi Mikel, Giovani dos Santos and American forward Eddie Johnson, who won the Golden Boot as the leading scorer at the 2003 U-20 World Cup.
USA'S HISTORY AT THE U-20S
The US has had a decent amount of success over the years, including a fourth-place finish in 1989. That year’s breakout player was goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who was awarded the Silver Ball as the second-most outstanding player. He later went on to star for the senior team at the World Cup and for clubs in Europe and the Seattle Sounders in MLS. The 1989 squad also included current Seattle Sounders sporting director Chris Henderson, Revolution director of soccer Mike Burns and the legendary goal machine Steve Snow.
The 2007 team remains one of the most talked-about US teams. Boasting such up-and-coming talents as
Michael Bradley
(
right
),
Jozy Altidore
,
Robbie Rogers
and
Dax McCarty
, the US upset Brazil in the group stage before being upset by Austria in extra time in the quarterfinals.
In total, the US has had three visits to the quarterfinals and four trips to the Round of 16.
In the last tournament, in 2013, they struggled, finishing last in what many considered the Group of Death, which also included Spain, Ghana and eventual winners France.
Eddie Johnson is not the only American field player to earn silverware for his performances at the U-20 World Cup. Before him, former New England Revolution forward and current ESPN broadcaster Taylor Twellman won the Bronze Boot after scoring the third most goals in 1999 (4). Even before that, former University of South Carolina star forward Chris Faklaris also won the Bronze Boot in 1993 after scoring a hat trick against Turkey in group play.
WHY YOU SHOULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT USA THIS YEAR
Talent. Pure and simple. Tab Ramos's squad is arguably one of the most talented and experienced ever assembled. All but the two backup goalkeepers are full professionals, and many have several years under their belts.
Seven MLS players are part of the squad — Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake), Marco Delgado (Toronto FC), Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting KC), Tommy Thompson (SJ Earthquakes) — and the rest of the players ply their trade around the world, at clubs in England, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Serbia, Mexico and Argentina.
The biggest name of all is Arsenal’s Gedion Zelalem (right). The midfield playmaker, who was born in Berlin and previously represented Germany at the youth level, received clearance from FIFA on May 13 to switch his allegiance to the US. He was eligible to represent the US after moving to Maryland when he was 9 years old and receiving US citizenship along with his father.
But it isn’t just talent that has some observers predicting big things this year. The US were handed a relatively kind draw in Group A, joined by host nation New Zealand, lesser European side Ukraine and unknown minnows Myanmar. The American side should be able to finish 1st or 2nd in this group, setting up a relatively winnable Round of 16 match against either a 3rd-place finisher or the runners-up from Group B, which includes Argentina, Panama, Ghana and Austria.
“There's a lot more attention on this team than there's been on other U-20 teams,” Ramos said recently. “So we have to put it all in perspective. I think this is a very talented group that maybe can do some great things in this World Cup.”
US SCHEDULE
Myanmar vs. USA, Saturday, May 29, 12 midnight ET
New Zealand vs. USA, Monday, June 1, 3 am ET (Tues.)
USA vs. Ukraine, Thursday, June 4, 3 am ET (Fri.)
All games will be televised on FOX Sports 1
OTHER MLSERS & US-BASED PLAYERS
Beyond the US team, there are several other MLS players headed to New Zealand.
Orlando City's Bryan Róchez and the Vancouver Whitecaps' Deybi Flores are with Honduras, and Orlando City's Estrela was called up to Portugal's squad. FC Dallas Homegrown goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez is part of Mexico's team.
The college ranks are also sending several players, including New Zealand's Stuart Holthusen (Akron) and Cory Brown (Xavier) and Panama's Francisco Narbon (James Madison) and Christopher Bared (Villanova).
