This game will play in Home Depot Center of LA in Oct. 8. The last time US U-20 played against Japan U-20 was in 1999 WC when Japan had the best team of its history with a second place finish. The score was 1-3 with the only one goal scored by a Japanese-American. The current US U-20 had some players who came from the last U-17 who lost to Japan U-17 with 0:1 score. Of course, both of them didn't make through with the other two teams Franch and Nigeria finished one-two in the WC. It was a good gauge to see how much US improved in youth rank with a group match against S. Korea (again!). Any one think US and S. Korea will be in the same Olympic group too? The current US U-20 team is the first team that good athelets will stay in the soccer sport and not leave for NFL/NBA. The team is comprised by college goalkeepers and defenders with professional midfielders and forwards. Which is an improvement from last time when US U-20 lost 0:1 to China with only 5 professional players.
If the United States is grouped with Korea again next year, then Korea will surely show its superiority.
Not so fast. I know S. Korea has very good young stars as Lee Chongsu and Park Jisung who started in last World Cup, but so was USA's Donovan and Beasley. US youth rank are coming so strong right now, here is why: In the current US U-20, there are three forwards--Magee--is 18 and has 7 or 8 goals in MLS. Johnson and Quaranta who were starting in MLS at 16 and was closely monitoring by Man. U., already have three years of PRO experience at 19. There are two 18 years old forwards--Copper who plays for Man. U. reserve and Karbassyion who plays for Arsenal reserve who even cannot make the U-20 team. In the middle, the 20 ys old Convey has 16 caps for senior US Nats, and was denied a work permit for transfer to EPL club Tottemham Hotspur. Also the center d-mid Clark has tremendous potential. In the backline, 19 ys old Whitbread is already in Liverpool first team waiting for his EPL debut. Also the 19 ys old Simak plays for Arsenal reserve. Those players plus Donovan, Beasley, Buddle, Martino who all play for US NATS now, US can be a darkhorse for Olympics. They are much, much better than full US NAT now. Last time, a 10-men US U-23 less 4 major players beat Mexico 3-1 in Mexico.
Shaster I know. The United States will eventually surpass Korea and Japan and then will challenge Europe for superiority in short years to come. BUT AS OF THE MOMENT, we will CRUSH YOU! MUHAAHA. -_-;; Peace.
Especially since Yi is not a Japanese American. Marty McFly, This is still year 2003. You want year 2103, I presume.
When? Where? How? Oh - right. WC '02 I suppose. Or were you talking about U-17? THey can kiss my butt. Youth soccer doesnt necessarily mean success on the National side.
Honestly, I don't know how good these players are, but all but one play professionally. Code: GK: Eiji Kawashima 1983.03.20 185cm 74kg Omiya Ardija Tetsuya Enomoto 1983.05.02 180cm 73kg Yokohama Marinos Masahiro Okamoto 1983.05.17 186cm 73kg JEF United Ichihara DF: Shusuke Tsubouchi 1983.05.05 180cm 70kg Vissel Kobe Makoto Tsunoda 1983.07.10 178cm 78kg Kyoto Purple Sanga Yuzo Kurihara 1983.09.18 183cm 73kg Yokohama Marinos Noya Kondo 1983.10.03 180cm 67kg Kashiwa Reysol Yuki Okubo 1984.04.17 177cm 71kg Sanfrecce Hiroshima MF: Yasuyuki Konno 1983.01.25 178cm 73kg Consadole Sapporo Daigo Kobayashi 1983.02.19 176cm 63kg Tokyo Verdy 1969 Satoru Yamagishi 1983.05.03 183cm 72kg JEF United Ichihara Kei Yamaguchi 1983.06.11 172cm 64kg Nagoya Grampus Eight Yuhei Tokunaga 1983.09.25 179cm 75kg Waseda University Yuta Baba 1984.01.22 175cm 64kg FC Tokyo Norio Suzuki 1984.02.14 177cm 72kg FC Tokyo Tatsuya Tanizawa 1984.10.03 175cm 68kg Kashiwa Reysol Yusuke Kondo 1984.12.05 180cm 75kg FC Tokyo Yohei Kajiyama 1985.09.24 176cm 64kg FC Tokyo U-18 FW: Daisuke Sakata 1983.01.16 173cm 65kg Yokohama Marinos Yuji Unozawa 1983.05.03 181cm 72kg Kashiwa Reysol Hirouki Hayashi 1983.10.05 187cm 80kg Avispa Fukuoka Hiroto Mogi 1984.03.02 174cm 71kg Sanfrecce Hiroshima Kisho Yano 1984.04.05 185cm 71kg Kashiwa Reysol Yutaro Abe 1984.10.05 182cm 73kg Yokohama Marinos
I think Korea's full team and its youth are good, top twenty. But who are their best players now and who are they playing for, Bo is just another player in MLS and was Korea's best player in Japorea. Who are their top youth players and what teams have scouted or signed them. I have heard even less about Japan, Matsui was the best player in his league but once he signed with the best team in the best league he looked just ok.
Well, who were the US' brightest young players? Donovan and Beasley? Where are they now? MLS, right? They're the best players in their league but once they go to the "best" league where will they be? You can shut up now.
Agree with Poker. The US isn't better off than the Koreans or the Japanese. Korea's and Japan's current U-22 squad are products from the clubs' youth development program. Some kids are playing in Europe at an early age and they return home and sign with big clubs in Korea (and Japan). Some stay in Europe. We have one striker with West Ham Untd. Another 17 year old with Spain's Valladolid. Some other fellow playing in Portuguese 1st division. The list goes on. Yes, perhaps teams like Manchester United would like to sign players from the United States but in all honesty it sounds like a marketting scheme to me.
Depends on whether you're talking about the full national side or the juniors. The youth side isn't quite as good as the 1999 Youth World Cup/2000 Olympic side, but not many teams are. But we have decent defenders and forwards coming out of the youth ranks. I have no doubt that guys like Okubo, Matsui, Araiba and Abe will eventually be stars. And while the full national side has struggled under Zico, they're still in better shape than the US. - Shunsuke Nakamura, who wasn't good enough to make the squad of 23 last summer, was the Bronze Ball winner at the Confederations Cup. - Ono was named captain of Feyenoord this season (albeit partially because of some high profile exits). - Inamoto is a key part of Fulham's resurgence this season. - Hamburger SV has struggled so far but Takahara remains the first choice forward. - Yanagisawa, Suzuki and Toda weren't exactly stars for Japan but they're all playing in Europe. - Fujita and Hiroyama haven't played for Japan in years but they're playing key roles for their clubs in Europe. Meanwhile, where are the Americans? Other than the three goalkeepers, US players have made little impact in Europe. Reyna and O'Brien have injury to blame but other Americans have been pretty much invisible.