US U-20 national team coach Tab Ramos has called in eight MLS-based players among a 10-man group for a weeklong “domestic fitness camp” in Bradenton, Florida, which kicks off on Wednesday as part of the squad's preparations for FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifying in January.
The group includes defenders Matt Miazga and Tyler Turner of the New York Red Bulls and Orlando City SC, respectively, FC Dallas' Kellyn Acosta, Toronto FC newcomer Marco Delgado and Columbus Crew SC attacker Romain Gall. LA Galaxy striker Bradford Jamieson IV, Philadelphia Union Homegrown player Zach Pfeffer and the San Jose Earthquakes' Tommy Thompson are also on Ramos' list.
“It’s finally getting down to that time where we have to focus on the final stages of World Cup qualifying,” Ramos said in a statement. “At this point, because the MLS season has ended for a lot of teams, we needed to bring the players who are not continuing to train with their teams and do a fitness camp. Some of the players have been off, and we want to have them catch up a little bit with the guys that we have in Europe.”
Following the fitness camp, the U-20s will jet south for a training camp in Honduras starting on Dec. 15, followed by a domestic preparation camp before the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, which takes place in Jamaica Jan 9-24. The top four finishers in that tournament will qualify for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand next summer.
US U-20 domestic fitness camp roster by position:
GOALKEEPERS (0): None
DEFENDERS (4): Conor Donovan (North Carolina State; Fuquay Varina, N.C.), Matthew Miazga (New York Red Bulls; Clifton, N.J.), Shaquell Moore (Unattached; Powder Springs, Ga.), Tyler Turner (Orlando City SC; West Haven, Conn.)
MIDFIELDERS (3): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Marco Delgado (Toronto FC; Glendora, Calif.), Romain Gall (Columbus Crew; Herndon, Va.)
FORWARDS (3): Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes; Loomis, Calif.)
