Photo by ISIphotos.com
by FRANCO PANIZO
The U.S. Under-17 men's national team finally put together a strong performance in its final group match, and its reward for beating the United Arab Emirates is a Round of 16 date with Italy.
Boasting a roster with talented youths such as Pietro Iemello, Federico Carraro and Michele Camporese, the Italians won Group F, winning two games, drawing one and conceding only a single goal in the process.
The U.S team's performances have not been as impressive, though the victory on Sunday was the team's best effort to date. While the Americanse have managed to dispay some quality attacking soccer under head coach Wilmer Cabrera, their finishing has been anything but deadly, scoring three goals off goalkeeper spills.
If the U.S. team is to beat Italy and advance to the quarterfinals in Nigeria, it will need players such as Luis Gil, Stefan Jerome and Jack McInerney to convert their chances, a task that has largely evaded the Americans thus far.
Here is a full list of match-ups in the Under-17 World Cup Round of 16:
- Argentina vs. Colombia
- Turkey vs. United Arab Emirates
- Switzerland vs. Germany
- Italy vs. United States
- Spain vs. Burkina Faso
- Iran vs. Uruguay
- Mexico vs. Korea Republic
- Nigeria vs. New Zealand
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What do you think are the United States' chances against Italy? Concerned by the Americans' inability to score? Who will qualify for the quarterfinals?
Share your thoughts below.