United States Under-20 head coach Thomas Rongen named 18 of the 20 players who will play for the team in the upcoming Torneo de las Americas in Kennesaw, Georgia, from Nov. 21-29 and it is one of the brightest youth rosters in U.S. history. Armed with a roster made up exclusively of youngsters playing professionally or for professional youth teams, the U.S. U-20 team is finding itself more in line with those from around the world, where professional development is the norm and college soccer is unheard of. These professionals include players that have made the bench for UEFA Chamoions League teams, are being developed at English Premier League academies, have started for MLS teams in the playoffs and even one whose inclusion on the roster completes a national team switch from Portugal to the Stars and Stripes.
USA Names U-20 Roster For Torneo De Las Americas
The United States has assembled one of their best youth rosters ever with an all-professional group of U-20 players who ply their trade around the world
Roster by position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Cody Cropper (Ipswich Town; Athens, Ga.), Eduardo Fernandez (Real Salt Lake AZ; Casa Grande, Ariz.)
DEFENDERS (7): Gale Agbossoumonde (G.D. Estoril Praia; Syracuse, N.Y.), Bryan De La Fuente (Chivas USA; Bell, Calif.), Greg Garza (G.D. Estoril Praia; Grapevine, Texas), Korey Veeder (Crystal Palace Baltimore; St. Petersburg, Fla.), Parker Walsh (Karlsruher SC; Roanoke, Va.)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Sebastian Lletget (West Ham United; San Francisco, Calif.), Alex Molano (NK Dinamo Zagreb; Grapevine, Texas), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union; Sacramento, Calif.), Moises Orozco (Tigres; Oxnard, Calif.), Conor Shanosky (D.C. United, Sterling, Va.), Alex Zahavi (Maccabi Haifa F.C.; Lisbon, Portugal), Cesar Zamora (Chivas USA; Sylmar, Calif.)
FORWARDS (4): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls; Barnegat, N.Y.), Tristan Bowen (Los Angeles Galaxy; Van Nuys, Calif.), Fuad Ibrahim (Toronto FC; Richfield, Minn.), Omar Salgado (Unattached; El Paso, Texas)
Alex Zahavi’s name carries immediate cache because of stints with the Barcelona, Arsenal, Benfica and Sporting CP youth teams and three matches with the Portuguese U-17 team. Recently, there had been speculation that the Los Angeles native would make the switch to represent the United States and this call up to the U-20 team confirms the switch for the midfielder. More skillful on the ball than most Americans with pace on his preferred left wing, Zahavi moved to one of the most prestigious teams in Israel, Maccabi Haifa, in what many considered a disappointment for the once promising star. Only 19, Zahavi’s switch is a coup for the Yanks because he was once thought lost and gone to Portugal, something that could have turned into a major loss if he ever lives up to the expectations created by a who’s who of youth academy stints.
Gale Agbossoumonde and Omar Salgado are two highly touted members of the roster currently without a club. Agbossoumonde has been a constant for the U.S. youth teams, starring for the Yanks at the 2009 U-20 World Cup and again when the team won the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland earlier this year. Since a six-month loan to Sporting Braga that saw him make the bench for the eventual second-place Portuguese Liga finishers last season, Agbossoumonde has found himself without a club, something that was unexpected for the 6-foot-2 central defender who has shown an ability to move with the ease of a much smaller player. Nonetheless, the 18-year-old is without a job and will use the Torneo de las Americas to showcase himself to the big European clubs some feel he should be playing for.
Salgado has more security than Agbossoumonde, but doesn't quite have a club yet. A product of the Chivas de Guadalajara youth system, Salgado had to leave Chivas when he chose to represent the United States instead of Mexico, running against Chivas' Mexican-only policy. Salgado has since signed with MLS and has been training with the Portland Timbers as he awaits the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, when he will be selected and have a club. Some have predicted that the striker will be selected by Portland or Vancouver, who hold the top two picks in the draft, but wherever Salgado goes, the youngest player on the U.S. roster who also played a part in the Milk Cup win is currently touted as one of the United States' brightest young talents.
Somewhat forgotten by some because he has turned down several call-ups to the various U.S. youth teams to focus on his development with West Ham United in the English Premier League is Sebastian Lletget, an attacking midfielder who has drawn high praise from a long time scout at the famed club that produced Joe Cole and Frank Lampard, among others. Scout Mike Leigh said fellow West Ham scout Jimmy Hampson called Lletget the best 14-year-old to ever play for the club. Four years later, Lletget is still in the Hammers' plans and several outlets have reported that after spending the last year training with the reserves and first team, Lletget could make his first team debut at some point this season. To hear such things about a creative, skillful 18-year-old attacking midfielder is music to the ears of American fans who have long seen the U.S. as devoid of skillful attackers. Later this month, those fans might get a peak at the silky Lletget.
Highlighted by the big names who have dabbled in professional soccer outside the United States with some of the bigger clubs other countries have to offer, the U.S. roster also has a strong domestic presence and that is not only good news for the national team, but for MLS as well. It may have taken an entire season for him to get his shot, but Juan Agudelo got to make his first starts for the New York Red Bulls in their first-round playoff against San Jose and he opened a lot of eyes. Composed and not looking the least bit intimidated, Agudelo ran at the Earthquakes defense and caused some havoc with his speed, but also showed an impressive knowledge for the game in making quality runs. The highlight of the two matches came in the second leg when the striker put the San Jose defense under pressure with a speedy run before dragging the ball back eight yards from the end line and lifting a delicious cross that was easily put away for Agudelo's first ever assist. Now that Juan Pablo Angel is leaving the club, the Torneo de Americas provides Agudelo a chance to prepare for the 2011 MLS season when some see him as the natural strike partner for Thierry Henry from Day One of the campaign, when he will be only 18.
Other names who have gotten chances in MLS this season include 19-year-old Tristan Bowen, who earned a handful of starts and has found a home as a spark off the bench for the Supporters’ Shield-winning Los Angeles Galaxy. Playing both right wing and striker, Bowen has some versatility and a full year of professional experience under his belt. The same goes for Amobi Okugo, who just finished his rookie season for the Philadelphia Union. The rangey central midfielder improved as the season went on and went from looking a step slow early in the season to speculation that he could push for a starting role in 2011.
Add in five more players who are a part of different MLS club youth academies and the influence of MLS on the youth national teams continues to grow. A criticism of the U.S. youth system has long been the emphasis on the Bradenton U-17 Residency Program for future national team set-ups and the narrow scope of youth scouting in the country. MLS has recently stepped in with its own youth academies, similar to the method of development used around the world where clubs are largely responsible for youth player development. Agudelo and Bowen are both products of MLS youth academies signed to the senior team and making an impact. More are on the way and seeing the plethora of MLS products on the U.S. roster is a testament to the growth of the MLS academies in a short time, something that will benefit both the club and international soccer growth in the United States.
