By DAN KARELL
Following a troubling first two matches, the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team have turned their fortunes around.
In the past week, the U.S. thrashed Aruba, 8-0, and ground out a 2-0 victory against the hosts Jamaica in Montego Bay. Many folks have pointed to a chance in tactics, from 4-3-3 in the first two games to a 4-4-2 in the last two, as a reason for the recent wins. But U.S. head coach Tab Ramos revealed that the tactical switch was by design.
“That was really the idea from the beginning,” Ramos told SBI from Jamaica. “The coaching staff, we had spoken about the possibility of going with a 4-3-3 for the first two games because of the opponents.
“Against Guatemala, we wanted to make sure we opened the field really wide because we suspected that they would be defending the whole time, so we definitely wanted to go with two wingers. And against Panama, it wasn’t so much that we expected Panama to defend, but their outside backs go forward well, so we thought we could find space behind the outside backs when they went forward.”
Ramos said that he and his staff felt that a 4-4-2 formation would match-up best against Jamaica. Deciding to make the switch in the Aruba match was to give the team some practice, and it clearly paid dividends.
“It worked out well for us,” Ramos commented.
One of the other switches that Ramos made between the first two games and second two games was getting forward Ben Spencer in the lineup alongside the speedy Bradford Jamieson IV.
Long hailed as Ramos’ top option in the No. 9 position on the field, Spencer has suffered through an injury-plagued last eight months, which included him missing extensive time with Indy Eleven due to persistent knee injuries.
Ramos admitted that due to the injuries, the U.S. staff were bringing him along slowly, but they believe now that they have the perfect one-two punch that can compliment each other in all phases of the attack.
“I like playing (Spencer) with a second forward behind him and those guys have done well playing off of each other,” Ramos said.
Another player who has shined recently is Emerson Hyndman. The 18-year-old midfielder, who has already been called up and capped by the senior U.S. Men’s National Team, has shown that he’s a level above the likes of his opponents, and he’s been integral in a number of the U.S. U-20s last ten goals.
Hyndman has showcased the ability to split defenses with a pass but also take opponents on with his own dribbling skills. He’s also scored a goal in the tournament, a mazy run against Aruba in which he took out three defenders and scored with his left foot.
I can’t tell Emerson how to play,” Ramos said. “I can only put him in a position where we can get the most out of him, and the rest comes from him. He’s done a great job in all the games he’s been in.”
Heading into the team’s fifth game, only one player, Tommy Thompson, has started all four of the prior games. The San Jose Earthquakes forward and former Indiana Hoosier was subbed out at halftime of the Aruba thrashing, but his versatility and silky smooth dribbling skills make him a player Ramos can’t afford to leave out of the lineup.
“Tommy is a great player that you can’t limit,” Ramos admitted. “It’s tough to get Tommy off the field. Sometimes when I have to bring somebody else on, I’d rather have Tommy in a different position than not have him on the field.”
Thompson has played both as a forward and a winger so far for the U.S. U-20s and is often interchangeable during matches.
After the last two games, an American is now at the top of the goalscoring charts, thanks mainly to a pair of penalty kick goals. Midfielder Romain Gall has become the team’s de-facto penalty kick taker, and combined with a trio of goals scored from the run of play, his five goals leads the tournament.
Ramos said that at the beginning of each cycle he lets his players decide who they want to take penalty kicks, and that it takes a confident player to step up to the spot each and every time and finish in a one-on-one situation.
“Romain has that and he has taken on the responsibility,” Ramos said. “It’s not been my call, it’s something that’s happened over time with the team, and of course I’m totally okay with it because he’s good at it.”
With Panama’s win against Trinidad and Tobago – the USA’s next opponents – last Sunday, the U.S. were eliminated from automatic qualification through the group stage. Instead, they need at least a point against the Soca Warriors on Wednesday evening to ensure that they’ll advance to a one-game playoff against either the second or third-place finisher in Group B.
For a team that came in with championship aspirations, it could be seen as a huge blow, but Ramos and his staff are managing expectations to help keep his team’s World Cup qualification hopes alive.
“I wanted our team to come here thinking like champions, not coming here thinking about whether we were going to get a spot in the World Cup,” Ramos said. “Obviously, after two games, we couldn’t think about the championship anymore and the focus became a different one.
“Now we’re just focused on that one and hopefully we can accomplish our second goal, which is to go to the World Cup.”
CAN SOMEONE STREAM ME
Correction, Romain Gall is tied at 5 goals to co-lead the tournament alongside Hirving Lozano.
What are the scenarios for the US today? Do they need to draw or win? Would a loss put them through, based on GD over T&T? Or would the head-to-head result doom them?
They need to draw or win.
Based on performances of individual players so far, it would be very hard to make a case that being in Europe is better for your development than being in MLS. Thompson, Jemieson, Gall, Miazga, look just as good or better than their teammates who are in Europe. Hyndman perhaps looks best of them all, but he is getting professional playing time.
“Based on performances of individual players so far, it would be very hard to make a case that being in Europe is better for your development than being in MLS.”
Give it a couple of years and then tell me where these players all are.
The CONCACAF sites ( and several others) that show the playoffs to be a seeded 1-4, 2-3, where the best team, outside the group winners, would be the best seed (1) and would play against the fourth seed, whatever group it was in, so the US, may not necessarily play against a Group B opponent. Should they beat T&T they would be the 1 seed and play whoever would be the fourth seed,in group A or B.
I do not think,the change of formation had any thing to do with how the US performed but rather the opponents it faced. Whatever formation the US started against lowly Aruba would produce a win, The Jamaica win was produced by Jamaican defenders fouling US players in the box and providing the US with penalty kicks, with the Jamaicans trying a high line and having to run back and defend (and foul) whenever the US broke the trap.
The US looked slow and had very few ideas against an inferior Guatemala and Panama sides, perhaps it was the playing surface (bumpy) or a case of the nerves,but the US,which supposedly had one of the best U-20 team in years,will need to be a lot better in the CONCACAF playoff game and a whole lot better in New Zealand should they want to get out of the group stage
Hoping US wins, Guatemala loses, and we can get some revenge.
I’ll give Guatemala credit for the 1-1 draw previously, but we missed a lot chances and only missed out on a win due to a wonder strike around the 90th minute.
While I have to agree that the U-20 team will have to be much better in the Playoff game and beyond….their biggest issue has been their finishing. Chances have been there, but the final product has lacked execution.
Keep in mind that IF the US makes it to New Zealand they will have the option/ability to call in players who were prohibited (Not Released) from attending the qualifcation tournament. The fact that CONCACAF always schedules the Youth Qualification Tournaments on Non-FIFA dates has hindered the US more than any other CONCACAF Country as our brightest prospects are usually Abroad and are not released by their clubs.
How many US U-20’s can be called up to the NZ WC, that are not playing in this tournament? maybe three-four?
Also. the concacaf u20 is being held the same time as the comebol u20 (SA) tournament, so we are not the only ones holding the tournament on a non fifa date. in the case of the SA tourney, a lot of euro scouts are beating the bushes at this tourney to discover new talent and as most of the already discovered U20 are plying their trade in the Euro Leagues, it gives more chances for the “selling teams” from Santos to Colo_Colo a chance to showcase new talent, so they will make sure their best players will be there
“I do not think,the change of formation had any thing to do with how the US performed but rather the opponents it faced”
Why do you insist that it has to be one or the other?
The US has failed to get a result from weak opponents before. Or maybe you forgot the Porter Olympic qualifiers fiasco
Tab switched to a formation that better suits the available players. The players feel better, they play better. If you think Jamaica, with a home advantage and a very sympathetic referee could not have beaten the US then you are very naive.
Never take a result for granted.
Pointless to over analyze trying to assess the reason why they picked up victories the last two matches when you really don’t need to look any further than who the opponent was.
Completely agree. They dominated the Guatemala game, but failed to put the game away because they couldn’t finish their chances. This left the door open for the last minute golazo by Guatemala to tie the game.
Then, Panama just outplayed them and were the better team.
These last 2 opponents have been awful.
That said, I have been impressed with Thompson. Fun to watch.
doesn’t it seem like every U.S. team at every level sooner or later comes to the conclusion that a 4-4-2 is the best suited forma ion for them?
Honestly that totally depends on what you think the definition of a “forma ion” is.
No this tournament just calls for it. We play a fast and fluid ground passing game. The field is terrible and muddy and the refs are trash. We have to adjust to the circumstance.