Two years ago in Canada, the United States U-20 team called some attention to themselves with clever attacking play, a undefeated group round, a 6-1 drubbing of Poland, and a victory over Brazil before going out in the quarterfinal round. Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore in particular shone during the tournament, their performances directly leading to their moves to big clubs in Europe. Others, like Sal Zizzo, Danny Szetela, also made names for themselves, and looked to be bright prospects on the US National Team radar.
While this year's edition of the U-20 squad, might not have the star power that the '07 team did, they will attempt to replicate the success in ten days time when the seventeenth edition of the competition kicks off in Egypt.
Once again coached by Dutchman Thomas Rongen, the young Americans head to Africa with little to no hype following them. The roster is made up of MLSers, college players, and a few Europe-based players, and many (if not most) of the names will be unfamiliar to the casual US soccer fan.
That doesn't mean, of course, that one or two Americans can't make a name for themselves while on the greater world stage; just as with any team in modern age of American soccer, there's talent there. Which players, if any, step up and move to the forefront of the National Team discussion or become the "next big thing" (which, of course, doesn't guarantee that they will be) remains to be seen.
Injuries have changes the look of this team in recent days; original selections Sam Garza and Anthony Wallace are both out with knee injuries. Bryan Arguez and Gerson Mayer were named as replacements.
The US U-20 Roster, by position:
GOALKEEPERS (3):
Sean Johnson (Central Florida; Lilburn, Ga.)
Josh Lambo (FC Dallas; Middleton, Wis.)
Brian Perk (UCLA; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (6):
Gale Agbossoumonde (Miami FC; Syracuse, N.Y.)
Kyle Davies (FC Dallas; Danville, Calif.)
Aaron Maund (Notre Dame; Dorchester, Mass.)
Ike Opara (Wake Forest; Durham, N.C.)
Sheanon Williams (Unattached; Boston, Mass.)
MIDFIELDERS (9):
Bryan Arguez (Hertha Berlin, Miami)
Danny Cruz (Houston Dynamo; Glendale, Ariz.)
Mikkel Diskerud (Stabak; Oslo, Norway)
Dilly Duka (Rutgers; Montville, N.J.)
Jorge Flores (Chivas USA; Anaheim, Calif.)
Jared Jeffrey (Club Brugge; Richardson, Texas)
Gerson Mayen (Chivas USA; Los Angeles)
Brian Ownby (Virginia; Glen Allen, Va.)
Dillon Powers (Notre Dame; Plano, Texas)
Michael Stephens (UCLA; Naperville, Ill.)
FORWARDS (3):
Peri Marosevic (FC Dallas; Rockford, Ill.)
Brek Shea (FC Dallas; College Station, Texas)
Tony Taylor (Jacksonville; Jacksonville, Fla.)
The US faces a difficult challenge to repeat the 2007 feat of advancing out of the group stage; they are matched up against Germany, Cameroon, and South Korea.
What do you make of the Americans' chances in Egypt?
