Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
U.S. Under-20 head coach Tab Ramos has announced his first squad since the FIFA Under-20 World Cup this past summer, and it’s loaded with youngsters plying their trade both professionally and overseas.
A whopping 50 percent of the squad selected by Ramos for a camp in Verona, Italy from November 10-20 play for various clubs in Europe, including Romain Gall with FC Lorient, Emerson Hyndman with Fulham FC, and Junior Flores with Borussia Dortmund. The 22-man U.S. squad will face the Hellas Verona U-20 side, the Iranian U-20 team, and another opponent to be determined during the 11-day trip to Italy.
Six players in the U.S. team are members of Major League Soccer clubs, with Amando Moreno, Matt Miazga, and Santiago Castaño members of the New York Red Bulls organization. Zach Pfeffer, a homegrown signing for the Philadelphia Union, is on-loan with TSG Hoffenheim in Germany. FC Dallas’ Kellyn Acosta is the only returning member from the last U-20 cycle.
In addition to the 22-player squad, Ramos has added Clint Mathis and Tony Meola to Ramos’ training staff during the camp’s duration.
Here’s a closer look at the U.S. Under-20 squad for their November camp in Italy:
U.S. UNDER-20 ROSTER FOR ITALY CAMP
GOALKEEPERS: Santiago Castano (New York Red Bulls; Union City, N.J.), Ethan Horvath (Molde FK; Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
DEFENDERS: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Conor Donovan (Capital Area RailHawks Academy; Fuquay Varina, N.C.), Matias Fracchia (NJSA 04; Roselle Park, N.J.), Matthew Miazga (New York Red Bulls; Clifton, N.J.), Shaquell Moore (IMG Academy; Powder Springs, Ga.), John Requejo Jr. (Real So Cal; Carpinteria, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS: Russell Canouse (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim; Lancaster, Pa.), Marco Delgado (Chivas USA; Glendora, Calif.), Junior Flores (Borussia Dortmund; Manassas Park, Va.), Romain Gall (FC Lorient; Herndon, Va.), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland AFC; Santa Cruz, Calif.), Emerson Hyndman (Fulham FC; Plano, Texas), Kristian Scott (Swansea City AFC; Winterbourne, Bristol), Omar Thompson (Wigan Athletic; Miami, Fla.)
FORWARDS: Kainoa Bailey (Bayer 04 Leverkusen; Henderson, Nev.), Benji Lopez (Real Salt Lake; San Diego, Calif.), Amando Moreno (New York Red Bulls; Morganville, N.J.), Zach Pfeffer (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim; Dresher, Pa.), Rubio Rubin (Unattached; Beaverton, Ore.), Ben Spencer (Molde FK; Albuquerque, N.M.)
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What do you think of this squad? Excited about the potential of some of the youngsters? Which players are you most looking forward to seeing how they fare?
Share your thoughts below.