Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team have arrived in Portugal for the Lisbon International Tournament, where they’ll face the likes of Norway, Portugal, and Sweden in the next couple of weeks.
An 18-man squad has been selected featuring seven players in MLS youth academies as well as U.S. youth national team regulars such as Rubio Rubin, Mukwelle Akale, and Tommy Redding, who has started three games for Orlando City in USL Pro this season before they make the jump to MLS in 2015.
The squad also includes soon-to-be Atletico Madrid forward Dembakwi Yomba, Mauricio Pineda, younger brother of Chicago Fire forward Victor Pineda, Nigerian-American midfielder Maduabuchi Obinwa, and USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s son Jonathan Klinsmann.
Klinsmann made waves recently for his controversial tweet mocking Landon Donovan’s exclusion from the U.S. World Cup team. A tweet his father wound up having to address.
With Javier Perez assisting the senior USMNT in their preparations for the 2014 World Cup, former USMNT winger Eddie Lewis will take charge of the squad in Portugal. The U.S. will begin the 11-day stay in Portugal with a friendly match against Benfica’s U-19s on Tuesday.
Next, the U.S. open the tournament against Norway U-18 on Friday before taking on Portugal U-18 on Sunday. The U.S. wrap up the tournament on June 10 with a match against Sweden U-18.
Here’s a look at the U.S. U-18 roster for the Lisbon International Tournament:
U.S. U-18 ROSTER FOR LISBON INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jonathan Klinsmann (Irvine Strikers; Newport Beach, Calif.), JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes; Alamo, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (5): Chase Gasper (Bethesda Olney; Alexandria, Va.), Malcolm Jones (LA Galaxy; Chino Hills, Calif.), Quentin Pearson (Colorado Rapids; Longmont, Colo.), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire; Bolingbrook, Ill.), Tommy Redding (Orlando City; Oveido, Fla.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Mukwelle Akale (Minnesota Thunder; Minneapolis, Minn.), Collin Fernandez (Chicago Fire; Downers Grove, Ill.), Brooks Lennon (RSL Arizona; Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Cameron Lindley (Chicago Fire; Carmel, Ind.), Maduabuchi Obinwa (Chicago Magic; Orlando, Fla.), Sebastian Saucedo (RSL Arizona; Casa Grande, Ariz.), Ben Swanson (Crew Academy; Grove City, Ohio)
FORWARDS (4): Coy Craft (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Sebastian Elney (Boca United; Boca, Fla.), Rubio Rubin (FC Utrecht; Beaverton, Ore.), Dembakwi Yomba (Concorde Fire; Lithona, Ga.)
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What do you think of this squad? How do you think the U.S. will do in Lisbon? Which of these players do you expect to impress in Portugal?
Share your thoughts below.