By DAN KARELL
U.S. Under-17 National Team head coach Richie Williams has assembled his first squad of new players as he prepares them for the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.
Ahead of the 2013 ASG Cup in Alicante, Spain, Williams has called up a 20-man roster, featuring seven players in Major League Soccer academies. The U-17 squad will play three matches between September 25-October 6 against Real Madrid’s academy, Rayo Vallecano’s academy, and another opponent to be determined later.
Fourteen players on the squad are currently in U.S. Soccer’s residency program in Bradenton, Fla while four others currently ply their trade overseas. Joe Gallardo is on the books of Monterrey, Joshua Perez is in the Fiorentina academy, Luca de la Torre plays at Fulham FC, and Daniel Barbir recently moved to Manchester City.
In total, all but two players on the roster were born in 1998. Those two players are Tyler Adams and Edwin Lara, who were each born in 1999.
Here’s a closer look at the U-17 National Team squad for the ASG Cup:
U.S. UNDER-17 ROSTER FOR ASG CUP
GOALKEEPERS: Abraham Romero (LA Galaxy Academy; Altadena, Calif.), Kevin Silva (PDA; Bethlehem, Pa.)
DEFENDERS: Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls Academy; Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), Hugo Arellano (Chivas USA Academy; Norwalk, Calif.), Daniel Barbir (PDA; Allentown, Pa.), Pierre Da Silva (New York Soccer Club; Port Chester, N.Y.), Edwin Lara (San Jose Earthquakes Academy; San Leandro, Calif.), John Nelson (Internationals; Medina, Ohio), Matthew Olosunde (New York Red Bulls Academy; Trenton, N.J.), Tanner Dieterich (Tennessee Soccer Club; Nashville, Tenn.)
MIDFIELDERS: Eric Calvillo (Real So Cal; Palmdale, Calif.), Luca De La Torre (Fulham F.C.; San Diego, Calif.), Thomas McCabe (PDA; South Orange, N.J.), Logan Panchot (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; St. Louis, Mo.), Brian Zelaya (De Anza Force; San Mateo, Calif.), Alejandro Zendejas (FC Dallas Academy; El Paso, Texas)
FORWARDS: Joe Gallardo (Monterrey FC; San Diego, Calif.), Joshua Perez (Fiorentina; La Habra, Calif.), Christian Pulisic (PA Classics; Hershey, Pa.), Haji Wright (LA Galaxy Academy; Los Angeles, Calif
——
What do you think of this roster? Who do you see having a good tournament in Spain? Do you feel this is a good test for the U.S. squad?
Share your thoughts below.