The U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team was also in action on Friday, taking on Egypt in a friendly in Spain.
Despite several talented players in the U.S. U-23 starting XI, they would fall 2-0 to the Egyptians behind goals from Mohamed Sadek and Ahmed Yaser.
The match got to see several future USMNT hopefuls fight for a strong first impression under new head coach, Jason Kreis. Timothy Weah, Djordje Mihailovic, and Emmanuel Sabbi all started in the attack while Cameron Carter-Vickers and Matthew Olosunde headlined the backline.
Keaton Parks, Donovan Pines, Marco Fabian, Haji Wright, and Derrick Jones rounded out the starting XI for the U.S. San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski got the nod in between the posts.
The U.S. U-23’s will take on the Netherlands on Monday, closing out their two-match trip in Spain.
USA looked like a team that hasn’t played much together. Some players individually clearly were very talented. Everyone was subbed so hard to really take too much away from this one except that the goals conceded were some pretty poor individual mistakes.
Would hold off too much judgement until a few more games with consistent lineup.
Slapped together team that had barely practiced together playing an almost completely domestic Egypt team well into their domestic season who have probably seen each other before.
For moments in the first half, it looked like some ncaa team playing, maybe Indiana or something. All the defense looks big and muscular and athletic but really poor skill level and technique. Speed and size is not going to do it anymore.. lots of long balls and direct full speed ahead running. Egypt much more clever, skilled on the ball, playing soccer. USA very one dimensional. Not one good passer/player in midfield. No transition. This has little to do with the coach. This is a bunch of so-so players that no magical tactitian can fix. Tthe future is less bright than I would have hoped.
Thanks Debbie downer. First of all many of these players are not okay regular minutes. 2 how much did they get to practice? 3 did Kreis get more than a few hours with them. I’d hold judgement until the qualifiers.
I worry that these flaws can not be fixed by training or practice. At this age , technique and intuition can not be fixed, some of them may be too old already. I see no streetball smarts in these kids. Hope I am wrong.
Agree, Better off with the U20,
A bit rash and overstated judging the future based on this match. The better part of u23s are with the full team. This team isn’t that- thrown together last minute, no time with each other or coach or in this camp. 2 days? Same day, the u20s had a nice, gutsy showing v France. Shall we declare a golden generation in response? Nah. The middle way usually bought right. We’ve got some really nice pieces at various stages of development. Let’s hope US Soccer doesn’t *&^% the bed.
You had me until you said, “no good passer/receiver in midfield”. I don’t agree. I thought Jones passed, he was guilty for the first goal. Parks passing was mostly on point, I think I only counted 2 passes that were intercepted or too long. I thought the kids did as well as we would to expect a bunch of kids put together for the first time.
Was this also Egypts u23s (or u21s) or was it their full squad?
Also, what formation were they in?
Gotta think they will want to mirror the varsity team.
It is their U23s preparing for the African U23 Cup of Nations (their Olympic qualifying competition). Egypt is hosting so they do not have to qualify for the competition as other African nations are doing this week. UEFA is the only region that uses the U21 tournament as the qualifier.
The write up says that Marco Fabian started for the US?
Ok, supposed to be Farfan, obviously.
Only saw the first half. But they were bad. I guess that happens if most of these guys are not playing regular minutes.
Yeah it was hard to watch, no fluidity and too passive with the ball. Only one shot on goal that I remember causing the keeper any trouble through Timo, who by the way was invisible through most the first half but probably through no fault of his own. Antonee Robinson struggled in the second half as well, had a Tim Ream moment that led to the second goal. All in all just a bad performance