By IVES GALARCEP
With Olympic qualifying set for October, the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team will push preparations into full swing as it takes part in the Toulon Tournament.
The U.S. kicks things off today in France against the French Under-23 team (1pm, BeIN Sports).
SBI will be providing live commentary on today’s match so please feel free to follow the action here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today’s live commentary is after the jump):
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Isn’t Herzog Klinsman’s friend?
After that game, it’s hard to believe that most of the US players are actually professional players. It also looked like they hadn’t practiced together–errant passes, bad giveaways, poor deliveries, failed clearances, etc. I’m 69 years old and with 15 minutes practice, I could make better dead ball deliveries than the US did. Truly pathetic. Some of this has to fall on Coach Herzog for bringing a team that was obviously unprepared. Once again it was Morris who was about the only player who showed real ability and even some flair. Please, please turn pro now, the US needs you.
This tournament could be huge for Morris. It could be the difference between playing for the Sounders or playing for a top or mid-level European club (and the money difference that goes along with that). Unfortunately that midfield didn’t give him much service. He did well to still get a goal though.
The US did better in the 2nd half. Hope they get better results with the other teams.
This team is made up of about 3-4 guys that will actually be on the squad trying to qualify… this is pretty much a try-out for most of these guys… the real guys are playing in MLS or just got done with long seasons.. RELAX…
i wish you were right, but I don’t think you are. About the only guys they are missing are Hyndman, Gill, Brooks, and Yedlin. Most everyone from MLS was released by their clubs.Who am I missing? The French were probably missing more top players than we were, according to the announcers.
You are missing a few. The list probably looks something like this:
U-23 Guys:
J. Brooks
D. Yedlin
L. Gill
M. Rodriguez
J. Villareal
W. Trapp
C. Stanko
K. Shelton
U-20 guys that are good enough:
(? means maybe good enough)
R. Rubin
Hyndman
O. Sorto ?
Jameison ?
Zelalem ?
Palmer Brown?
Cameron-Vickers?
Of the U-23’s you listed, I think only Trapp would be an improvement. I didn’t consider any U-20’s because we have no idea how good they are and won’t until their WC and the U-23′
s is a step up anyway, so I have doubts more than 1 or 2 could make the jump to the U-23’s. If you saw the game, it wasn’t just about how good the French were, but how badly the US played. They should have been embarrassed. This certainly didn’t look like the team that soundly beat Mexico.
Forgot Andrija Novakovich from the U-20 maybe good enough guys.
No one on this team can serve in a dead ball.
For those ready to give up on our entire program….
1. The US team is made up of guys not currently playing or with a team or in college
MLS is in season so a large number of potential players aren’t here
The French players are all attached to big clubs in Europe and just finished their season so they’re all available
2. They’re just much better than us
Finally found this site here where i can get the score, and here we are again…the US getting smoked 3-0 and from what Im reading looking horrible…..can we just once, go in and beat a really good handily? Just once….these are our next round of WC stars? We are in big trouble….perhaps my kids will see a the USA in a WC final in their lifetime. We just can’t find 11 guys that can register with the rest of the world.
Not much positive to take form that.
Another age group, another round of U.S. players with fear in their eyes when they play the top teams. Sigh.
The French seem quicker, more skilled and better organized. However, the US kits are definitely prettier.
Does anyone on this team actually play for their club team? Besides O’neill it is a college guy and a bunch of guys who play for reserve teams/don’t play at all
I am not counting on us qualifying for the Olympics if this is our squad. We are beyond poor
Well this is getting ugly fast