It's soon! Up Next: The U-20 MNT now prepares for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup set to take place May 20-June 11 in Korea Republic, and will learn their group opponents during the tournament draw on March 15. http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/201...-for-first-time-with-shootout-win-vs-honduras Here's the full list of 24 qualifying teams: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_FIFA_U-20_World_Cup#Qualified_teams In a global soccer sense, there's a pretty glaring absence from that list, among others arguably less glaring. Also, Vanuatu!
What could the pots look like? 1: South Korea, Japan, CAF Winner (Zambia, South Africa, Senegal, Guinea), USA, Uruguay, France 2: Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico 3: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, three of Zambia, South Africa, Senegal, Guinea 4: England, Germany, Portugal, Italy, New Zealand, Vanuatu Best group for us: Venezuela, Vietnam, Vanuatu Worst group: Argentina, Zambia (they look like the best African team), Germany Median Group: Ecuador, Guinea/Iran, Portugal/Italy Even the median group looks difficult. We were probably better off not winning, and just hoping we didn't draw Uruguay or France's group.
After a nightmare draw in 2013 and a walk in the park draw in 2015, perhaps we'll finally get a regular old normal group.
Netherlands were in a group with England and France. England had a very good group stage, and that French team was a buzzsaw (even w/o Dembele) that beat the Dutch 5-1 en route to beating Italy 4-0 in the UEFA U19 final
That's crazy as well. They didn't even make it out of qualifications. Lost on away goals to Sudan, who then finished bottom of their group in Cup of Nations
There's not a lot of carryover from one U20 cycle to the next (except Adu). So would you really expect the same teams to be good every time?
I didn't really put that much thought into it, honestly. It is a little surprising that a team can have that much talent in one cycle and not even qualify in the next, though.
These things can be funny, though. Judging the quality of a player pool by U20 WCQing and WC results is a dangerous game. Its just one coach's opinion of the player pool, and there are often injuries or players with rejected callups. Bad luck happens. For instance..................2013 U20 World Cup centerbacks for the United States: Shane O'Neill, Caleb Stanko (converted to CB for a game when O'Neill was suspended), Javan Torre (versatile, yet crappy, defender of the bench). Not on that roster and eligible as '93s? John Anthony Brooks (hadn't committed to the US), Walker Zimmerman (coming off an injury, but available), and Tim Parker. These are three of the best youngish defenders we have in the pool right now. Jonathan Campbell, who's coming off a good season with the Chicago Fire, was also in that age group. Right back selected? Oscar Sorto. Right back not selected? Keegan Rosenberry We can go on with the analysis forever in vitually every cycle. The point is that for the US and for other nationals teams, individual U20 results are terrible indicators of overall program success. Patterns mean something. If a team repeatedly misses out on qualification for the Olympics, for instance. That means something. Also, what I've noted is that sometimes U20 teams just have a glaring, inescapable weakness at one position. You can have a fantastic crop of defenders one cycle, but you're not winning if you don't have forwards that cycle. You'll have three forwards the next 2-year cycle, and then you'll be fine..........................
So if I can do my time conversions right, the draw happens at 2am EST tomorrow, so soon? The pots are listed on FIFA.com here: http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/new...a-republic-2017-draw-on-fifa-com-2875703.html They are definitely different than guessed. (It is based on performance in the last 5 U-20 World Cups, weighted toward the more recent one, +5 points for winning the confederation tournament). To save a click through: Pot 1: Korea Republic, Portugal, Uruguay, France, USA, Germany Pot 2: Mexico, Argentina, New Zealand, Senegal, Japan, Costa Rica Pot 3: Zambia, Honduras, England, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Venezuela Pot 4: Ecuador, South Africa, Iran, Vietnam, Guinea, Vanuatu
Interesting pots. So we can have USA, Argentina, Italy, SA or USA, NZ, Saudi Arabia, Vanuatu (Vietnam if NZ and Vanuatu don't go together)
Good draw so far. Should be a favorite in all games. Edit: Mexico decent draw. Tico's as well. Wow Hondo to...I could see all CCAF teams going through.
Ecuador could give us a problem, but we should have more than enough to get through as top of the group. Our team, if Tab doesn't eff up the call-ups, should be stacked.
The reality is that we don't know squat about these teams and that we can't assume they'll be good or bad based on the recent performances of their senior teams. There is very little correlation. Saudi Arabia could be really good. Ecuador could be really bad. Neither or both could be true.