The US U-20 national team saw their World Cup dreams crushed by a penalty-kick shootout loss to Serbia early Sunday morning. But rising star Gedion Zelalem believes the heartbreak at North Harbour Stadium can fuel future success at FIFA's main event three years from now.
“I think we've done well, but we also want to reach higher,” the new US recruit told FIFA.com after the 0-0 draw in Auckland, which ended in a 6-5 shootout win for the Serbs. “We're not satisfied just getting to quarterfinals. We want to be reaching finals and winning tournaments.”
Zelalem logged all 120 minutes of the tense, rain-slicked clash and made his spot kick in the shootout, only to see several of his teammates lose their nerve when it dragged on into the sudden-death phase. Strikingly, he says he felt no fear when it was his turn.
“I was pretty relaxed because you know with penalties that some people miss them,” he said. “It's just the way it is. I would have been sad if I'd missed, but you know it happens. I didn't feel much pressure – I just put it in the back of the net.
“It's a shame it worked out the way it did because it was an even game. I thought we both deserved to go through. We had a spell where I felt we could have won it, but they also had their spells too. And once it gets to penalties you know it's up in the air.”
After his eligibility was approved by FIFA shortly before the U-20 World Cup kicked off, Zelalem started four of the Yanks' five matches in New Zealand and showed off promising glimpses of the talent that has earned him a place at English giants Arsenal FC. He boldly predicts that he and several other members of Tab Ramos' squad will be knocking on the door for places in the senior squad that vies for a deep run at Russia 2018.
“It's a great tournament,” said Zelalem of the U-20 World Cup. “You look at the likes of [Lionel] Messi playing in it back in 2005 and you know the history it has. He won it, though, and I wanted to do the same.
“Being here with the boys has been great and it's definitely given me a taste for playing in these kind of events. I think there's a few guys in this squad, myself included, who could be in the senior squad for the next World Cup and that has to be our aim.”
The Germany-born, Maryland-raised playmaker emphasized the sport's continued progress in the United States as he laid out reasons for optimism despite Sunday's disappointment.
“It's getting bigger and better all the time,” said Zelalem, who said he plans to fight for a spot on Arsenal's first team when Arsene Wenger's squad kicks off preseason preparations later this summer. “Major League Soccer definitely is and, at national team level, we're also improving. Players are getting better on the ball and we're starting to see a new style of play, keeping the ball and passing and moving.
“We're definitely progressing. How much potential do we have? A lot. I think at the next World Cup you could see us do really well.”
