News update
News and Notes on the U.S. U-20s and USMNT camps
There is plenty of news surrounding the various U.S. national teams right now with a hybrid USMNT/U-23 camp underway in Maryland and the U-20 World Cup ongoing in Poland. ASN looks at the top stories
UNITED STATES national teams are taking center stage at the moment as the U-20 World Cup is in full swing, the pre-Gold Cup training camp is underway in Annapolis, and the U.S. women’s team is preparing to set up camp in France for the World Cup.
With all of that said, there are plenty of news to report.
The U.S. team has one more game left in group play and that will take place on Thursday against Qatar. The U.S. team has three points after a win over Nigeria and Thursday’s results will likely determine where it will finish in the group.
A loss could eliminate the United States from the tournament. A draw will send them through as either the second or third place team. A win could give them the group title – while also having the possibility of a second or third place finish. The outcome will be determined by the result of the Nigeria – Ukraine game as well as goal differential. The U.S can win the group if Nigeria beats Ukraine and the U.S. team finishes with a goal differential higher than Nigeria.
Regardless, a second-place finish in Group D is a decent possibility for the United States and that would pit it against tournament favorites France in the round of 16.
So a tricky road awaits Ramos and the U.S. team but the team received a bit of favorable news regarding two of its players who had injury concerns following Monday’s 2-0 win over Nigeria. Central defender Chris Richards was forced out of the game in the 60th minute and reports suggest that he might miss the Qatar game but be back in time for the knockouts.
Also, attacking midfielder Alex Mendez also tweeted that he is okay after he was seen limping post game.
Ramos will certainly have big decisions to make for Thursday’s game. In addition to Richards likely being out, four players are carrying yellow cards: Chris Durkin, Alex Mendez, Konrad de la Fuente, and Chris Gloster.
American midfielder Duane Holmes was not up to fitness in his return from injury to play for Derby County in the promotional playoff final vs. Aston Villa on Monday. In the end, Derby lost 2-1 and will remain in the Championship
But Holmes, 24, was still part of the U.S. national team’s pre-Gold Cup camp and traveled to the United States on Tuesday to take part in the camp. For Holmes, this is his first ever international call-up at any level. It remains to be seen, however, if he will make the Gold Cup team.
The pre-Gold Cup camp is a hybrid USMNT/U-23 camp and while some players are very experienced at the international level, most are not.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter invited the team’s all-time leading goal scorer, Landon Donovan, to the camp as a “guest observer.”
Berhalter and Donovan were teammates on both the 2002 and 2006 World Cup teams.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to begin integrating some of the younger players into the full National Team and for the coaching staff to get a good look at them and really start ingraining the style of play with both groups,” Berhalter said about the camp on Monday.
“The younger players are getting a good understanding of what the full National Team is about, and at the same time, the older players get to meet the younger players. I think it’s really important for us to be connected to the younger age groups in a number of ways.”
Also joining the team for Tuesday’s practice was U.S. U-17 international Bryang Kayo.
With all of that said, there are plenty of news to report.
U-20 injury situation
The U.S. team has one more game left in group play and that will take place on Thursday against Qatar. The U.S. team has three points after a win over Nigeria and Thursday’s results will likely determine where it will finish in the group.
A loss could eliminate the United States from the tournament. A draw will send them through as either the second or third place team. A win could give them the group title – while also having the possibility of a second or third place finish. The outcome will be determined by the result of the Nigeria – Ukraine game as well as goal differential. The U.S can win the group if Nigeria beats Ukraine and the U.S. team finishes with a goal differential higher than Nigeria.
Regardless, a second-place finish in Group D is a decent possibility for the United States and that would pit it against tournament favorites France in the round of 16.
So a tricky road awaits Ramos and the U.S. team but the team received a bit of favorable news regarding two of its players who had injury concerns following Monday’s 2-0 win over Nigeria. Central defender Chris Richards was forced out of the game in the 60th minute and reports suggest that he might miss the Qatar game but be back in time for the knockouts.
Report: U.S U-20 defender Chris Richards might only miss 2-3 days as well as the Qatar game but be ready for the knockout stages if the U.S team makes it https://t.co/y9MWiNZ2uC
— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) May 28, 2019
Also, attacking midfielder Alex Mendez also tweeted that he is okay after he was seen limping post game.
Thank you for the support I’m okay ???????????????? https://t.co/DT8jjzdvGq
— Alex Mendez (@aleexm21) May 28, 2019
Ramos will certainly have big decisions to make for Thursday’s game. In addition to Richards likely being out, four players are carrying yellow cards: Chris Durkin, Alex Mendez, Konrad de la Fuente, and Chris Gloster.
Holmes joins the USMNT camp
American midfielder Duane Holmes was not up to fitness in his return from injury to play for Derby County in the promotional playoff final vs. Aston Villa on Monday. In the end, Derby lost 2-1 and will remain in the Championship
But Holmes, 24, was still part of the U.S. national team’s pre-Gold Cup camp and traveled to the United States on Tuesday to take part in the camp. For Holmes, this is his first ever international call-up at any level. It remains to be seen, however, if he will make the Gold Cup team.
Donovan & Kayo visit USMNT camp
The pre-Gold Cup camp is a hybrid USMNT/U-23 camp and while some players are very experienced at the international level, most are not.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter invited the team’s all-time leading goal scorer, Landon Donovan, to the camp as a “guest observer.”
Glad to have this guest observer at #USMNT training today... ???? pic.twitter.com/IRNpQETIzM
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) May 28, 2019
Berhalter and Donovan were teammates on both the 2002 and 2006 World Cup teams.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to begin integrating some of the younger players into the full National Team and for the coaching staff to get a good look at them and really start ingraining the style of play with both groups,” Berhalter said about the camp on Monday.
“The younger players are getting a good understanding of what the full National Team is about, and at the same time, the older players get to meet the younger players. I think it’s really important for us to be connected to the younger age groups in a number of ways.”
Also joining the team for Tuesday’s practice was U.S. U-17 international Bryang Kayo.
The group also welcomed U-17 @USYNT midfielder and @DCUnited Academy product Bryang Kayo to training this morning. #TheFutureIsUs pic.twitter.com/algEubPps6
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) May 28, 2019
