By FRANCO PANIZO

For the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team, last week’s lopsided loss to Ukraine is in the rearview mirror.

The sole focus is now on the road ahead.

The U.S. will look to keep its World Cup dreams alive on Wednesday when it enters the knockout rounds of the competition against a nation that also finished second in its group. Colombia settled for the runners-up spot in Group C after compiling an unconvincing 1-1-1 record, and enter the Round of 16 match-up at Wellington Regional Stadium (3:30 am ET, Fox Sports/Telemundo) as the underdogs given the Americans’ more impressive display thus far in New Zealand.

While the U.S. has looked better through three games at the World Cup, head coach Tab Ramos will need to mull over some of his lineup decisions after suffering a humbling 3-0 defeat to Ukraine last Friday. The good news for Ramos is that he should have all but one player in Maki Tall completely healthy and available, leaving Ramos with all of his top youngsters for a do-or-die match against a technical but not physically imposing Colombian side.

Which players will Ramos turn to for the Round of 16 clash with Colombia? Here is the starting lineup we could see take the field in New Zealand:

If this lineup looks familiar, it is because it is the same one that Ramos used in the Americans’ 4-0 thrashing of New Zealand back in the second game of group play. This group seems to be Ramos’ preferred starting eleven at this point, especially since he labeled that match against the Kiwis as the U.S.’s “most important” one last week.

Matt Miazga and Desevio Payne return to the fold here after sitting out the loss to Ukraine to avoid potential yellow card accumulation. The defensive duo should help fortify the American back line as well as give it more of an attacking edge, with Payne’s surging runs forward and Miazga’s passing range and aerial ability all helping the U.S. cause.

Miazga also provides the type of leadership in defense that was missing against the Ukrainians. Ramos said last week that Miazga is currently the leader of the back four, one that helps keep everybody organized and in good positions. That should help younger centerback partner Cameron Carter-Vickers as well as left back Kellyn Acosta against a crafty Colombian side that includes the forward tandem of Jeison Lucumi of America de Cali and Rafael Santos Borre of Deportivo Cali.

Behind the U.S. defense, starting goalkeeper Zack Steffen once again gets penciled in due to his ability and familiarity with his teammates. Colombia managed to score just once in each of its Group C games, and should not overly trouble Steffen so long as he and the defense stay on the same page.

In the midfield, Marky Delgado again slots in as the defensive midfielder due to the lack of other options there. Delgado has not had the best of World Cups so far, but will need to do a good job of limiting the impact of talented 19-year-old midfielder Joao Rodriguez, who is on loan at Portuguese outfit Vitoria de Setubal from Chelsea.

Delgado also has to move the ball quickly so as to get it to the attacking talents of Emerson Hyndman, Gedion Zelalem, and Paul Arriola. That trio will shoulder much of the chance-creating burden, and Hyndman and Zelalem both need to rebound strongly after looking like ghosts in the defeat to Ukraine.

Up top, Ramos should turn back to the tandem of Rubio Rubin and Bradford Jamieson against a Colombian defense that has conceded four times. Rubin was rested for the start of the Ukraine match, and his absence was felt in a big way as the Americans had no one who could consistently win aerial balls or hold the ball up well.

Rubin and Jamieson have worked well together when they’ve been on the field at the same time in this tournament. It could be argued that the technical and quick Tommy Thompson would serve as a better fit next to Rubin given the opposition’s skill set, but Jamieson has played too well – he’s been involved in three of the Americans’ six goals so far – when partnered with the Utrecht striker not to get the nod.

What do you think of this projected lineup? Hoping Ramos mixes it up a bit more? What will be the key to the game in your eyes?

Share your thoughts below.