FCTP Roundup...7-23-07...

I apologize to my loyal readers for the lack of recent updates. I went on a binge there after vacation and then petered out. The All-Star game didn't help.

...I am going to get back in to the swing of Rookie of the Week now that we are past the ASG break. I will post make ups this week. Ty Harden is going to get an honorable mention for his play against Chelsea on Saturday. Throw an American rookie defender against the like of Drogba, Malouda, Kalou and crew and you're bound to get mistakes, however Harden didn't get burned too badly and he kept that fierce attacking squad at bay. It helped him that Abel Xavier was playing an outstanding game next to him...

...The SUM U-17 Cup wrapped up with DC United taking home the silverware. Congrats to them. DC was one of the earlier MLS clubs putting youth teams out there so I can't say I'm surprised they had the best team. That club just knows how to win. Maybe someday that will wear off on my Rapids. I really hope MLS continues and expands this type of event to all of their age groups. I also hope MLS clubs enter their teams into youth tournaments outside their control, like the Dallas Cup...

The U-20 World Cup wrapped up with Argentina beating the Czech Republic 2-1. As anticipated the best MLS players in the event for the Americans have started to receive interest from around the world. Rumors have both Freddy Adu and Danny Szetela moving abroad. Now is the time for MLS to sell these hot commodities while they're hot and MLS still owns them. If the league waits past this summer there is more of a chance of the player finishing their contract and leaving on a free transfer. Rumors go so far as to say MLS wants $7.5 million for Adu. Yes, you read that correctly. Some European team may be crazy enough to pay that knowing that if he works out they can sell him for double in three years or less. This is how club soccer works around the rest of the world and MLS needs to take advantage. $7.5 million for Adu would be a great return on the league's investment and would help the league sign more designated players or another Juan Toja or ten...

...The second half of the season is upon us. Let's talk about Rookie of the Year. If voting were to happen today, who do you think would win the award? My money is on 2007 #1 draft pick, Maurice Edu. The kid has shown he was worth the #1 pick and has stabilized an expansion franchise. It is hard for rookies to step into the middle of the pitch and show they belong. Edu has done that. Runner up...Adam Cristman...

...Can you believe August is almost here? I can't. That means the college season is coming up quickly while the PDL season is winding down. The PDL playoff picture is firming up. Look for the top college prospects in their summer league. The 2006 Herman Trophy winner, Joseph Lapira, has been playing for the Baton Rouge Capitals but he's only seen action in 6 games. That didn't stop him from scoring 3 goals...

...Most if not all of the major college programs have reported their incoming freshman. Look for an update to the right margin for the different college classes in the upcoming weeks...

US U-20 Lose In Quarterfinals...Again...

The US U-20 men are making a habit of winning their group and then losing in the next couple rounds. Major League Soccer Talk put together this great history of the US' performance in the U-20 World Cup. They have now accomplished this feat three tournaments in a row.

This is how major tournaments go. They favorites often do well in the group stage and then the effects of many games in a short period of time catch up with them. They run up against an opponent who puts together the perfect tactic to beat them. Luck doesn't shine upon them. Winning a World Cup title takes talent, skill, good coaching and most of all...luck. The US didn't have any luck helping them score goals against Austria this weekend.

I had high hopes. Especially after the US beat Brazil to clinch the group win. When the young nats almost lost to Uruguay my faith was jolted but I convinced myself they would learn from mistakes and come out stronger against Austria. Austria who was clearly an underdog. They hadn't even made it to the final stage of the event in 28 years or something. The US had to win and I was already looking forward to a semifinal match against Spain. Too bad for both the US and Spain that wasn't to be, as it looks like sublime Spain lost to a tough Czech Republic squad.

Uruguay pressed us, didn't let us make good decisions and passes. They kept us from using our most talented players and they almost beat us. Austria came out and did the same thing. But they were able to take it a step further, they broke down our defense and put on incredible offensive pressure getting many shots from right outside the 18 yard box. It is hard to win against a team that plays like that.

I think Austria figured out the biggest weakness on the squad, the defense. Keeper Chris Seitz was hobbling from the first minute and a 50/50 college to professional ratio defensive line was inexperienced and made mistakes. Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore did what they could to balance the inexperience, but they couldn't do it all.

Until next time my friends. Now our hope for a World Championship rests on the U-17s. Their quest for glory starts on the 20th of August when they take on Tajikistan. On paper the US group is much easier this time around. We play Belgium, Tajikistan and Tunisia before hopefully moving on to the knock out stage.

Thanks to Major League Soccer Talk's research I'll have a new sidebar up and running here today. Enjoy.

US U-20s Advance to Quarterfinals...

Last night the US U-20 team looked to be in trouble. In the 73rd minute Uruguay scored a goal, to take the lead 1-0, that capped off a period of time where they looked dominant. In the minutes running up to the Uruguay goal I said to myself, "this is it, it is over." There were many stretches of play where it seemed the US couldn't string two passes together. Where they couldn't find their creative engine, Freddy Adu. Josmer Altidore was out with a knock after being hacked all night long, and he had been the most dangerous American player to that point.

Uruguay played the game right last night. They pressured well. They took the game to the US. They didn't let the US think about passes to make and it forced a lot of errors. I can't even count how many times the US passed to the other team. The US looked like a bunch of amateurs, which is not what they looked like against Brazil.

The starting team was 36% amateur. College players Brian Perk, Julian Valentin, Tony Beltran and Sal Zizzo got the start. Andre Akpan came on for the injured Altidore to bring the college total to five players.

There is an interesting comparison between the professional left starting flank and the right flank. On the left you have pros Athony Wallace & Robbie Rogers, while on the right you have college players Tony Beltran & Sal Zizzo. In my opinion Wallace defended better and Rogers was more dangerous with the ball then their team mates on the other side of the field. Additionally, both Beltran and Zizzo were subbed out of the game. I'm not going to say that the professional players were more talented or more qualified to be there. I am going to say that they were better prepared. The pros are in mid-season shape while the college players haven't played a serious game since the fall of 2006 (yes there is the college spring season, but the NCAA puts a lot of restrictions around practice and playing time in the off-season so it isn't the same as the fall).

Throughout this event the college players have shown they can play, but they've also showed they are not at their peak form. Brian Perk was shaky to start the match and gave up a tough rebound that led to the Uruguay goal. He did improve and we should give him a break since this was his first start in the tournament.

The biggest weakness this American team has is defense. Last night they were shaky and they committed a lot of fouls in dangerous places. They were lucky Uruguay didn't have David Beckham to take the free kicks from right outside the 18. The US will face Austria in the Quarterfinal this Saturday. They had better work on better organization in the back or they will not make it to the Semifinals.

In the World Cup there is always a bit of luck on the side of the eventual champions. Last night the US were lucky Uruguay let up the pressure after their goal, allowing the US more possession and time to create a goal, all be it an own goal. The US dogged a bullet and in the next match they had better control from the start, create good chances early and take a lead into the half. Because next time a squeaker comes around, it could be the other team's lucky day.

US U-20 Men In the Round of 16...

The US got a favorable draw for the knock out rounds of the U-20 World Cup. The path to the championship starts tomorrow, July 11, against Uruguay. Uruguay is certainly the underdog in the upcoming match as they only won one game, against Jordan, in group play. They tied against Spain and lost to Zambia.

The US has beaten the kings of soccer, Brazil. So any other team they play will certainly be nervous to play the giant killers. Similarly the US will play with new found bravado since they beat the big boys.

To my surprise there could be a rematch of the great group stage game if both Brazil and the US advance to the semi-finals. To do that, Brazil has to beat Spain in the round of 16, which will not be an easy task. Argentina, Poland, Portugal and Mexico are on the other side of the knock out tree and will not be seen until the final, should the US advance.

Things could get exciting this week! With a win over Uruguay I'm sure the US will be full of confidence and ready for anything.

Keep an eye on our college friends on the team. They are getting playing time, however I'm not sure Tony Beltran will get the start next time. He played ok but gave up possession a lot against Brazil. The Coach may want to give someone else a shot. Zizzo and Beltran did link up well together but you could tell they were outclassed by their professional team mates in many cases.

U-20 World Cup is Upon Us...

This entire year I've been more excited about the U-20 World Cup then I have the Gold Cup or Copa America. I guess that is the kind of guy I am. I am disappointed to say I won't be able to see much of either event because I am going to be in Minnesota on a Lake without cable television during the majority of the remaining US Soccer events. I also don't get GOLtv despite paying a ton of money for digital cable, thank you Comcast.

Today Thomas Rongen announced his roster. 21 U-20 players will head to a pre-tournament camp this weekend and their first match in Canada is June 30th against South Korea. Seven of the players are college players and depending on their play in the tournament they could skip the fall college season if the right professional team comes calling. I hope MLS will be included in that group as I think the college kids on this team are some of the most exciting prospects the US has seen. However, foreign clubs use this event as a shopping market of young talent. A good performance in Canada will mean big money for the top talent from around the world.

You can check the above link and announcement for the entire roster. The college players follow:
Brian Perk - GK - UCLA
Steve Sandbo - GK - SMU
Tony Beltran - D - UCLA
Ofori Sarkodie - D - Indiana University
Julian Valentin - D - Wake Forest
Andre Akpan - F - Harvard
Sal Zizzo - F - UCLA

The college kids are certainly at a disadvantage to their professional teammates as they are coming off a short spring season and maybe some PDL time while the MLS pros are coming off 10 weeks of full time soccer and the Euro pros are coming off a full season. It will be interesting to see how coach Rongen integrates the professionals and the non-professionals. They're all going to be at different fitness levels.

Keep an eye on these kids, they're our future pros.

FIFA U-20 World Cup Groups Are Set...

This afternoon FIFA conducted the draw for the final groups at the U-20 World Cup 2007, being hosted by Canada. Canada, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Argentina and Nigeria were the top seeded teams and will each be in their own group. Play starts June 30th in Montreal and Ottawa. The tournament wraps up July 22nd in Toronto.

6 groups contain the 24 teams competing in the summer 2007 event. Group D will host the Americans in addition to Brazil, South Korea and Poland. Replace Brazil with Portugal and you've got the American's 2002 World Cup group. The Americans will no doubt with they didn't have to play the always dangerous Brazilians in the first round, however in the past they have shown they can play with anyone. Poland and South Korea will surely be the underdogs while Brazil and the young Americans are my favorites to advance beyond the group stages. Simply by having a group with Brazil and the Americans you could call D the Group of Death. However, I think the groups are for the most part evenly weighted.

As an American fan I'd rather see the young Nats play in Group F with Japan, Scotland, Nigeria and Costa Rica. Group E should be exciting with Argentina, Czech Republic, North Korea and Panama. Group C could be the most contested group with Portugal, New Zealand, Gambia and Mexico. I know Portugal and Mexico are strong but the Kiwis and Gambia are big unknowns. Group B should see Spain and Uruguay advance past Jordan and Zambia, but African countries showed they shouldn't be overlooked at World Cup 2006. The hosts will play against Chile, Congo and Austria in Group A, the easy as pie group in my opinion.

American fans should start looking at flights to Montreal. Watching Brazil and the US fight it out will be a great match! I might have to see how I can swing that one...unfortunately it is doubtful.

This tournament should showcase some of the future great players. Stars like Lionel Messi, Javier Saviola and Landon Donovan have made their presence known in the past.

Adding to the excitement of the event is the fact that tickets are selling fast, even before people knew where teams were playing. Canada announced recently that over 500,000 tickets had already been sold for the event, ensuring some great crowds following the action.