By DAN KARELL
Jonathan Klinsmann, Sebastian Elney, and 18 other players are heading to Spain this month for a winter training camp with the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team.
Head coach Javier Perez selected a 20-player squad for a training camp in Marbella, Spain from Dec. 11-20. Included in the training camp will be two friendly matches against Germany’s U-18s on Dec. 17 and Dec. 19.
The U.S. squad includes 13 players who won the title at the 2014 Tournament of Vaclav Jezek in the Czech Republic last August, including Klinsmann, who was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper, Elney, who scored two goals, and Collin Fernandez, who had a pair of assists. The squad also includes 13 players either currently signed to MLS clubs or in MLS academies.
One new face in the team is 17-year-old Everton left back Antonee Robinson, who plays for the Everton U-18s.
Here’s a closer look at the U.S. U-18 squad:
U.S. U-18 SQUAD TO FACE GERMANY IN SPAIN TRAINING CAMP
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jonathan Klinsmann (Strikers FC; Newport Beach, Calif.), JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes; Alamo, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (6): Kyle Duncan (New York Red Bulls; Brooklyn, N.Y.), Malcolm Jones (LA Galaxy; Chino Hills, Calif.), Pablo Pelaez (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire; Bolingbrook, Ill.), Tommy Redding (Orlando City; Oviedo, Fla.), Antonee Robinson (Everton; Liverpool, England)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Amir Bashti (San Jose Earthquakes; Cupertino, Calif.), Michael Boakye (Oakwood SC; Glastonbury, Conn.), Collin Fernandez (Chicago Fire; Downers Grove, Ill.), Cameron Lindley (Chicago Fire; Carmel, Ind.), James Murphy (Players Development Academy; Scotch Plains, N.J.), Ben Swanson (Crew Soccer Academy; Grove City, Ohio), Jackson Yueill (Minnesota Thunder Academy; Bloomington, Minn.), Eyrk Williamson (D.C. United; Alexandria, Va.)
FORWARDS (4): Sebastian Elney (Boca United; Boca Raton, Fla.), Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake AZ; Paradise Valley, Ariz.), Victor Mansaray (Seattle Sounders FC; Des Moines, Wash.), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake; Casa Grande, Ariz.)
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What do you think of this roster selection? Do you like the USA’s chances against Germany?
Share your thoughts below.
Congrats to Eryk Williamson, the pride of Alexandria and T.C. Williams High School. He continues to give everyone back home a reason to Remember the Titans!
Yes! The coach’s son! Now, there’s the best goalkeeper the US will ever have. Mark my words, better than Timmy and Kasey. Heck better than Cech. Exciting stuff.
You must feel real big ragging on a 18 yr. You remind of the loser adults insulting 18/19 college kids during college games. GK is not a position USA should be worried about. Other players will beat him out if they are better.
Interesting that the Minnesota Thunder of the NASL had a player called up to the senior USMNT and now have an Academy call up to the U-18 team
Different clubs. The NASL club is Minnesota United. The Thunder are an unaffiliated youth/academy setup.