by IVES GALARCEP
The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team open World Cup play today against powerhouse Spain in their opening group match in Istanbul, Turkey (2pm, ESPN2).
The Americans head into the tournament as underdogs in a group featuring Spain, France and Ghana, but a positive result today could set them up for a run at a place in the quarterfinals.
Jose Villarreal, Luis Gil and DeAndre Yedlin will lead the U.S. team against a dangerous Spanish side featuring plenty of La Liga-based firepower.
SBI will be providing live commentary on today’s action so please feel free to follow the action here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Commentary is after the jump):
I wouldn’t be overly worried by this. With a healthy Packwood, Zimmerman, and Brooks if he had elected to play, this is a very different game. Torre is absurdly poor and Stanko is playing out of position. The fact we’re pressing Spain with some success and keeping the ball as well as them bodes very well for the future. Gil is a stud. Not sure why Garcia is starting over Cuevas though.
I think after the second half Cuevas had you have your answer. Garcia played really well.
Garcia has played better than Cuevas and Rodriguez. Just because he turned pro later doesnt mean he’s a worse player. Especially when Cuevas is still stuck on Santos Laguna youth teams and Rodriguez isnt even playing for his team
This is the difference between developing players at a young age. Spain is doing everything right in youth development. We are like Tahiti in the first half, just trying to get at least a shot on target.
You obviously didn’t watch the Tahiti v Spain game then, the scoreboard is not indicative of the way that half went.
There are remarkable similarities.
I guess you could argue the score, but that is pretty much it…the US had more possession in the first 25 min than Tahiti had the entire game, and created better chances as well.
The US is doing well with possession, but lacking in the final third. The stats say that they have had one shot on goal in 64′ so far. The US team may not be beat as badly in a 10-0 match, but the goal differential will be humiliating.
Not really no, was Tahiti putting pressure on Spain? Were they keeping possession against them?
There is no award for possession, or shots.
True but for comparison skakes there is
The defense the last 5 minutes was horrid for the U.S. Some good attackers on this U.S young side but the defense is the Achilles heel of this young side. It’s a head scratcher why Zimmerman is not here.
US gambled and pushed forward looking to score before the half seemed to me. it didn’t work out
This doesn’t need to be harped on, but is the decision to not bring in Walker Zimmerman going to cost us any chance at a single result in this tournament?
Good composure, good movement, bad technique in the box. They got really close 5 times where one touch was the difference between a goal and a turnover. Looks like the norm. Maybe we will get a goal if we can run the ball to the endline and scatter the defensive marking. Otherwise it looks like another disappointing half ahead.
For a good 20 minutes we looked like the better side, but we failed to cash in. That’s how the game goes sometimes. We have shown, at least, that this Spain team can be contained and even beaten.
I actually like how the US has played. It’s unfortunate that their down three goals.
+1
Ives said in his podcast he would rather see the US play attractive soccer and not make it out of the group stage. Offensively I would say they are playing attractive for a US team, especially considering the opponent, however, giving up 3 in the first 45 is a really wet blanket…
I’ve been encouraged by the attack at times. Ball movement is ok. I feel that we would have put one away if that early goal hadn’t shaken our confidence.
But then there’s the defense. Res ipsa, and so forth. I know GKing requires some time and development, but on that 3rd goal… c’mon now.
…I can’t blame the keeper on the 3rd goal, he had time to settle the ball and slot it past the keeper for 10 yards out. Most quality players put those away 9 outta 10 times. Not to mention he bailed us out on another with that great save on the deflection. Someone else said it already, but Spain has been able to break on the counter wayyy too easily and has exposed our makeshift back line…really makes me wonder what John Anthony Brooks would have looked like out there.
It was the lack of recovery after losing possession. One pass and our entire back line was 10 yards out of position and in full-chase.
Spain absorbed our pressure, let us run in circles, and then simply let us fall over in fatigue so they could step on us.
True, the shooter had waaay too much time. I just thought that 3rd goal was at such a low velocity that a better GK could have at least knocked it away.
I don’t get the strategy of pushing everyone way high and letting a team as skilled as Spain have 3 v 3 breaks. Against our D, they get good chances nearly every time.
it’s risky, and seems odd given the line back there
This is JKs attempt to create a unified US style across the whole developmental system. Would we have a better chance at stealing a point if we put 10 behind the ball? Of course, but what would the players learn from that? It’s not about winning. It’s about developing.
No not really. Reyna had the youth teams switch to a 4-3-3 before Bob was fired
this is true, and it’s been part of Klinsmann’s push too since he arrived. to his credit he’s adjusted to his personnel. Maybe Ramos needs to consider that too unless other players can step in and shore up that backline?
+1
Really flattering score line for Spain, they have finished their chances, but the U.S. should have had 2 goals that half. Blown chances and overhit passes when you can put teammates in on goal can’t happen against a team like Spain.
Holy cow, Javan Torre is terrible.
USA is good at soccer… Not
lololololololol man you must be some kind of comedic genius. The only thing funnier than that joke is your name
Not sure why everyone is saying Yedlin is getting abused, if you are going to call him out how about you call out the rest of the backline? Especially those CBs who are playing terrible. Hes been caught out a couple of times but hardly anything to write home about. Also anyone calling for Yedlin for seniors was overzealous to begin with, he has a ton of potential but still has his issues especially tracking back.
Also it is fairly clear watching the game that Ramos wants his FBs pushed high so naturally there are going to some issues tracking back.
Our defense is swiss cheese.
yes, terrible. They need to make adjustments, though there might not be anything they can do considering their options.
It’s just too bad because offensively, while we are still very raw, there are quite a few good things going on.
USA technique in closing out shooters and crossers is very poor. Needs lots of work. Just very dumb for Tab to leave off a pro CB like Z?.
oh crap…
well, damn, this has gotten bad fast….
Taylor Twellman–You think THIS is making Delefeou a star in the making? It wasn’t him getting first team call ups to Barcelona a month after his 17th birthday?
Kids already a star.
Taylor thinks he’s made a discovery. He’s so adorable.
lol i appreciate your ability to just laugh at that–it’s grating to me
ah man, this is putting me in a bad mood, gotta shut if off now.
Well it’s over now
there’s the difference in the 2 teams
Man, nothing to say about that shot. Great goal
I just figured it out…. Arlo White sounds like Lord Baelish from GoT
Too bad the U.S. gave up that early goal. They are looking pretty good so far.
What will happe when our kids begin to run out of steam and start giving Spain more time on the ball? As I type this… The USA looks tired and on their heels and Spain puts another in the back of the net.
Exactly
looking that way here, good call. US hasn’t played poorly but no finish, Spain loves to finish their chances
Joe, how did you change your post like that? I was agreeing with what you said re. this US team will play well and look good at times but lose because they can’t score, or something like that about being ineffective in the final 3rd
I didn’t know there was a way to edit a post on this site
oh, now I see…I replied to the wrong post…doh!
Joya really struggling.
I’ve been relatively impressed so far. I feel we’ve created as many chances as Spain and look pretty comfortable on the ball. Gil looks really, really good.
Agreed on Gil…
+1
Cropper with a couple really good stops.
Gil looks good going forward, very composed, some very nice passes.
Aw man Joya! Have to bury that! uSA looking good but missing yhe final touch.
I get the feeling this team will outplay their opponents for long stretches in group play, but come away with only three points maximum. This bunch will not move on to the knockout rounds with their lack of ability in the final third.
Possibly. They have some guys who are very good finishers potentially, but not clinical, not consistent. That’s the difference. Most other teams in this tourney have players with much more pro experience, much more repetitions.
Yedlin is being abused. Granted it’s by Gerard D and Jese but wow this kids positioning needs some real work before he steps anywhere near the senior team.
Pinching way too far inside on help d, allowing wide open spaces behind him for easy runs.
Can we all stop clamoring for Yedlin to start for the senior squad now? He’s very talented, but just makes too many flat out boneheaded mistakes right now. How does he lose Jese on that goal? Also missed an absurdly easy final ball on the counter.
Just lost his man there again.
Can we all stop clamoring for Yedlin to start for the senior squad now? He’s very talented, but just makes too many flat out boneheaded mistakes right now. How does he lose Jese on that goal? Also mis-hit an absurdly easy final ball on the counter.
our boys looking ok right now…need to better in the final 3rd, more decisive and precise on the service…some gaps back there for Spain.
The omission of Zimmerman is looking like all sorts of stupid.
Can we all stop clamoring for Yedlin to start for the senior squad now? He’s very talented, but just makes too many flat out boneheaded mistakes right now. How does he lose Jese on that goal? Also mishit an absurdly easy final ball on the counter.
Yikes….Cropper looked shaky on that shot…
Decent save there though…
Can we get this guy to ref our senior team games? He’s hosing Spain lol
We’re owed so many calls!
Completely disagree. One debatable caLl, that’s it.
That was a stonecold penalty he blew. But he also blew the Yedlin shirt tug on Gerard D that could very well have been a straight red.
A straight red for a shirt tug? Youd have 20 red cards per match.
Defeulou was alone in on goal and Yeldin pulled him back from behind. It’d be a red for a last man foul–not necessarily because it was a shirt pull.
Funny enough the shirt pull resulted in a mistouch into his own hand and that was called instead.
Spain gets easily frustrated
Deulofeu is causing all kinds of problems…
shoulda back heeled it to 19 coming in from behind and thats a goal
Well, they certainly know which side to attack down.
Yikes dodged a bullet there–pretty clear penalty. Nice to get a favorable decision–not shocking it comes outside of CONCACAF lol
thank you ref!
why don’t the U20’s get to wear the USNT jerseys? thought we were done with the Waldo jerseys..
The senior squad wears the centennial jersey because the federation was founded 100 years ago. The youth federation wasn’t founded until much later, so they still wear the official uniform.
Torre not looking good early…midfield hanging in well..
Hernandez should have scored there. Should be 1-1.
It was a good attempt to shoot on the first touch. Keeper was coming hard so the choice to push it by him or to shoot immediately was a tough one. Underrated play by the keeper
True
5th minute? Is this Spain vs Haiti?
Horrible miss, should be 1-1 now.
“Tab Ramos said Walker Zimmerman just hadn’t played much lately. Going to bet he’s played more meaningful minutes lately than Javan Torre.” — so true! NCAA players CANNOT play against international elites..
while NCAA can produce good MLS prospects there is no way they can compete at this level especially when he has been out of season for months now..
I love Tab. One of my all time fave players but not bringing Z is flat out stupid.
Yeah, like Dempsey.
Good point! Exactly like Dempsey. He went from Furman to New England for three years before moving to Fulham. He was not ready for international play right out of Furman and then grew tremendously at New England and Fulham.
Danny Garcia handled it fine. Its the fact that Torre couldn’t get on the field at UCLA that hurt him not that he plays college.
Torre was like a parking cone out there. He could cash down a turtle, was out of position all day and couldn’t make up for it with his lack of speed. Seriously that forward of theirs was running the long way around him the whole day.
The loud Spanish coaching staff (or so I assume) is starting to annoy me. Maybe there’s a way for them to adjust the way the broadcast picks up sound.
If we keep them from scoring 5 or 6 I’ll be happy.
If we keep you from posting I’ll be happy.
Sorry if reality is tough.
I have to be honest, I know we are down 1-0 right now, but we have played great. After the early goal I thought we were done for(we still could be) but we have had plenty of chances to tie.
Four minutes ago it was 1-0…what the..
Spain has a pretty clear penalty denied and now we’re Tahiti.
Urg, that long slow ball was just silly. Keeper should have come out and kicked away the initial pass. Not the cross, should have had the long ball.