PBP: 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship: USA vs. Mexico 11/21 7:00 ET

Is Llanez still injured?

 

I only live 2 hours from IMG, can you go watch the game? I assume you can but want to be sure before I make the drive. If so, is there an admission price?

 

$25 a ticket, if you are older than 16

https://www.imgacademy.com/events/concacaf-under-20-championship

 

I have repped this post - provisionally - pending an evaluation of your live reportage from this evening's match.

 

I think we will see a similar game to Mexico vs Panama with Mexico getting over run in the middle. The favorite is the US.

 

The thing to watch out for with Mexico is that they may not be as physical but they are smart and flexible and can come up with some passing weaves which will mess up the opposition's rhythm and change the run of play. I was very impressed with what they did to Panama in the early part of the second half and it was enough for them to recover from two goals down.

Development wise they are going for the Barcelona philosophy of picking for IQ first. Right now at U20 they may be a little overwhelmed but in the long run the cohesion they build up will tell more. That said, I think in international soccer it's not an easy philosophy to implement. More of a club ball thing. NTs rarely build up enough cohesion unless a bulk of the players are in the same club.

 

Will be interesting to see if both clubs can pick up their effort after so many games and the last one being dull for each. I'm guessing that the rivalry will kick it up. Hope all our players are available.

 

It's not player availability I'm worried about - it's poster availability, interest level, intensity. After three weeks I sense fatigue, just when we need to dial it up a notch.

 

The U20's are the oasis for all of us.

 

Headed to the game now. Just waiting for my boy to finish coaching his youth in Largo.

Agreed

 

Based on the last few youth team games vs. Mexico, expect us to press the shit out of them. If it's played at our pace, the game won't be the prettiest, but it will be played mostly in their half.

Mckennie and Richards will be huge in terms of holding a high line, snuffing out counter attacks, and making sure Torres doesn't have space to run into when he gets the ball. Lainez will be a handful, but Servania, Gloster, and Pomykal/Llanez will be more than just a little bit aware of him. The play of Soto, Akinola, Pomykal, and Llanez (hopefully he's healthy) in quick transition moments when we win the ball back will be vital to creating chances. Expect Mendez and Pomykal/Torres and Servania to win the midfield battle as Dest and Gloster play aggressively stepping into the wide areas of the field.

 

Might be interesting to see where Lainez plays. Does he play on the left to exploit Dest, who is more likely to get caught forward than Gloster, or does he stay on the right? Or, does he move from side to side and pick up the ball wherever he can? [I'm assuming Dest plays over Lindsey, but that's just a guess]

 

Didn't Dest politely request that you not push him so far forward?

 

I think our guys should feel confident, but they know that they haven't really been tested in the seven games we've played so far. For better or worse, Mexico has battled three competitive opponents: Jamaica, El Salvador and Panama.

 

Echoing the question from above, do we know if Llanez is good to go or not?

 

Starting line-up:

Historic rival. Confederation final. Doesn't get much better than this. Meet the U-20 #USMNT starting XI! #TheFutureIsUS // https://t.co/YW8Pl3I1uo pic.twitter.com/AlMHTcn5F9

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) November 21, 2018

 

I guess our coach thought this strong a lineup would be unfair.

 

Wasn't he injured last match?

 

Looks like not. I see no other reason why he wouldn't start.

 

Rennicks over Soto is not necessarily a downgrade in my opinion. Real over Gloster is a bit of a surprise. My only real concern is Amaya...

 

Is Llanez at least on the bench?