2001 and 1999 U-17 teams

Discussion in 'Youth National Teams' started by um_chili, Aug 14, 2003.

  1. um_chili

    um_chili Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    Losanjealous
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I didn't follow US soccer as closely during the past two FIFA U-17 tournaments as I do now, and in looking back to the US performance in past U-17 tournaments, I noticed that while the US had a great tournament in 99 (4th place, LD and DMB excelling), we appear to have sucked in 01 (last place in group, 0-0-3).

    Can anyone explain why our performance dipped so much in the 01 tournament? Did we not have a good crop of players that year? Were they highly touted but failed in the tournament itself? It seems strange that we should do so well in 99 (and apparently in 03) but so poorly in 01. It also seems strange b/c US soccer has been steadily improving throughout the past four years. If anyone can shed some light on the subject, I'd appreciate it.
     
  2. appoo

    appoo Member+

    Jul 30, 2001
    USA
    I'm not sure of the players on that squad (Johnson? Quaranta? Convey? Rico Clark?) but I do know that the tournament started on Septembet 12th, 2001. Not exactly a good day for American's. The first game we lost to Japan. Then next two matches were against France and Nigeria, the two countries that played in the final in this tournament.

    Actually I just found the Roster

    Goalkeeper WILLIAMS Ford CASL Elite 20-Feb-1984
    2 Defender CHUN David Irvine Strikers 30-Mar-1984
    3 Midfielder MAPP Justin Jackson FC 18-Oct-1984
    4 Forward JOHNSON Paul SSC Dalglish 22-Jan-1984
    5 Defender WAHL Tyson Irvine Strikers 23-Feb-1984
    6 Defender LANCOS Chris Middletown North 12-Jul-1984
    7 Forward MAGEE Mike Chicago Sockers 02-Sep-1984
    8 Defender HARVEY Jordan Irvine Strikers 28-Jan-1984
    9 Forward QUARANTA Santino Washington D.C. Utd. 14-Oct-1984
    10 Forward JOHNSON Edward Dallas Burn 31-Mar-1984
    11 Midfielder SIMO Chefik Solar 28-Feb-1984
    12 Defender GRIFFIN Gray Charlotte SC 02-Jan-1984
    13 Midfielder JOHNSON David AGSS 16-Jan-1984
    14 Defender MARSHALL Chad Irvine Strikers 22-Aug-1984
    15 Midfielder STONE Jordan Dallas Texans 16-Mar-1984
    16 Midfielder CAPANO Craig Chicago Sockers 07-Jul-1985
    17 Forward DIAZ Erwin Bethesda Alliance 11-Jul-1984
    18 Goalkeeper SCHUERMAN Adam Elmbrook United 04-Jun-1984


    http://www.u17.fifa.com/cda/U17/hom...D=102_siteCategoryID=2736_siteID=1000,00.html

    While I'm not sure who got the majority of PT or how developed some of the guys were.

    The forwards seem to be pretty good with Eddie Johnson, Santino Quarantam and Mike Magee. I would have guessed that the midfield would have consisted of Craig Capano, Justin Mapp, David Johnson, and Jordan Stone.

    Its more telling to consider the current youth squads (these guys are all eligible for the U-20s). Johnson, Quaranta, and probably will all make the squad. I think only Stone and Mapp would make them squad as midfielders. Not sure about the defenders at all
     
  3. um_chili

    um_chili Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    Losanjealous
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ouch. I did not know that about the starting date of the tournament. I suppose it also factors in that there is a much smaller window of opportunity to play at this level so there is less continuity between squads. In any case, thanks for the knowledge. Very interesting.
     
  4. JG

    JG Member+

    Jun 27, 1999
    We had a very difficult group--France and Nigeria were the two finalists, and Japan was the top non-cheating Asian team.
     
  5. um_chili

    um_chili Member+

    Jun 3, 2002
    Losanjealous
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Who was the cheating Asian team?
     
  6. Fanof Twelve

    Fanof Twelve New Member

    Jul 26, 2003
    Huntersville, NC
    The biggest impact on the performance in 2001 was definitely the 9/11 tragedy. As soon as reports surfaced in Tobago regarding the terrorist attack, the team was surrounded with armed guards and escorted to practices. (One of the bin-Laden brothers lives in T&T.) A few days later, the armed escort was dropped. The team's down-time in the hotel was completely spent watching the news. Frantic calls back to the States to parents were emotionally draining. With the suspension of air travel throughout the US, and all flights into the country affected, parents and friends could not get to any of the games until the Nigeria game. The crowd was definitely anti-American for each game.

    The starting line-up used for the first two games was:
    EJ and Mike Magee up top
    Santino, Justin, Craig, and Jordan in MF
    Harvey, Marshall, Griffin, and Chun in defense
    Erwin Diaz, Simo, Paul Johnson, and Lancos were used as subs.

    For the Nigeria game, Simo, Tyson Wahl, and Lancos started for Harvey, Marshall, and Chun.

    David Johnson played none of the first two games, but sub'd on at 30 min into the Nigeria game. (He should have seen more action.)

    The first game against Japan was lost on a defensive mis-cue by a player that had been side-lined for several weeks with a hip injury. To say he was not ready to play is an understatement. The early goal proved too much to overcome. Other factors, of which there are several opinions that are better left unspoken, only added to the disappointing performance.

    France was incredible, and if not for the very wet conditions, the result may have been different. If I'm not mistaken, a couple of their goals squirted through the keeper's gloves.

    Nigeria was quite a different matter. Seeing the game in person, it was obvious those gentlemen were not 17. A few weeks after the completion of the tournament, reports surfaced that at least one player was impersonating a rostered player that had been hurt and did not make the trip. In addition, most of their players were found to be over-age. Apparently, the president of the Nigerian Federation fired the U-17 coach for using the over-age players. Unfortunately, it didn't help our team at the time.

    As a side note, the Australian team and coaching staff was quite supportive of the US Team and the emotional stress inflicted upon them by the 9/11 Tragedy. They sent encouragement and condolences.

    Hope the info helps clarify our dismal performance in 2001.
     
  7. JG

    JG Member+

    Jun 27, 1999
    Iran and Oman, the two finalists at the Asian championship, both had multiple players fail the wrist scan. They were allowed to compete at the WC because FIFA had not officially recognized the validity of that technique, but the AFC suspended the players for two years each, and the teams were not allowed to compete in qualifying for this U-17 WC.

    Yemen is in the same situation this year, as four players failed the test at the Asian championship.
     
  8. johnaldo9

    johnaldo9 New Member

    May 2, 2002
    I had not heard about the AFC wrist scanning there players. I didn't think that the wrist scan was accurate enough to use the information recieved from it to suspend players/teams.

    Does CONCAF do the same wrist scanning, and if it did, wouldnt that settle the whole Freddy is to old debate? (Im just asking if its possible, please dont chime in on if you think he's too old or not)
     
  9. appoo

    appoo Member+

    Jul 30, 2001
    USA
    Thanks that does clear it up. And should be wiped out of our memories. But its disturbing to hear that the corwds were anti-american so soon afterwards. If that was me out there playing I would have hated to be on the field
     
  10. guamster

    guamster Member+

    Mar 30, 2001
    Winnetka, CA
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    Guam
    I am surprised to hear that there were anti-American feelings right after 9/11. I thought most of the world were very sympathetic to the Americans at that time.

    I would not be surprised about anti-American sentiment if it was during the recent Iran war but back then?
     

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