Julian Eyestone, Brentford (2006), Adam Beaudry, Colorado Rapids (2006), Duran Ferree, Orange County SC/San Diego FC (2006)

Beaudry and Ferree represent two of the three keepers for the last U17 World Cup. Eyestone has been a favorite of Nsien's in this cycle. This group is without their top two options in Diego Kochen from Barcelona and Gavin Beavers from Real Salt Lake, but all three of these guys should be able to get the job done.

My starter would be Eyestone because he has the highest ceiling, but I could see Nsien selecting Beaudry who has proven to be the most consistent and he has big game, International experience.

LB, Nolan Norris, FC Dallas (2005), LB, Luca Bombino, LAFC (2006), RB, Ethan Kohler, Werder Bremen (2005), RB, Aiden Harangi, Eintracht Frankfurt (2006)

Both Norris and Kohler will provide center-back coverage and both have experience playing at that position. They both give Nsien the flexibility to play in a three or five back system if he sees an opportunity to change their shape.

Norris is the captain and will get the majority of minutes at left-back, with Bombino providing coverage. It's unclear whether Kohler or Harangi will be the preferred right-back, they may be competing for that job

Noah Cobb, Atlanta United (2005), Stuart Hawkins, Seattle Sounders (2006)

This is without a doubt the most concerning position group on the roster. The top three options are not available: Noahkai Banks, Matai Akinmboni and Drew Murray. The first two are top prospects and Murray is a very talented player as well. There are really only two true center-backs on the roster, which is my biggest gripe with the roster construction.

Cobb and Hawkins will bring intelligence and tactical awareness to the group, but Cobb could struggle with bigger players and Hawkins may struggle a bit with quicker attackers. Cobb has gained some valuable first team minutes this year in MLS and Hawkins has received a couple of Open Cup starts and has a lot of experience in MLS Next Pro.
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Norris and Kohler will provide center-back coverage if Cobb and Hawkins get into card or fitness trouble. It’s also possible Norris or Kohler join Cobb and Hawkins to form a back three.

DM, Pedro Soma, Cornella (2006), CM, Niko Tsakiris, San Jose Earthquakes (2005), CM, Brooklyn Raines, Houston Dynamo (2005), CM, Sergio Oregel Jr, Chicago Fire (2005), CM, Taha Habroune, Columbus Crew (2006)

I believe the starters for this group will be Soma, Raines and Tsakiris. I heard that these three were fantastic when the United States went down to South American to face Argentina and Uruguay and I think they could be the engine that drives this team to qualification and potentially a trophy.
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Oregel and Habroune will provide depth. Both are more comfortable as part of a double pivot or as box to box 8s. Oregel is a gifted passer and Habroune has a knack for making things happen in the final third. Soma is the only true 6 on the roster, but Raines can do that job if Soma is unavailable at any point.

AM, Cruz Medina, San Jose Earthquakes (2006), AM, David Vazquez, Philadelphia Union (2006), AM, Ruben Ramos, LA Galaxy (2007), W, Zavier Gozo, RSL (2007), W, Nimfasha Berchimas (2008)

Medina, Vazquez and Ramos are all most comfortable playing higher up in central positions as playmakers. Medina will likely play more as a free 8 and Ramos and Vazques will likely see time as inverted wingers. Of the three, I think Vazquez has the best chance to make an impact in this tournament. Ramos has been productive in MLS Next Pro and one of two 2007s on the roster.

The two true wingers are two of the most exciting players on the roster: Nimfasha Berchimas and Zavier Gozo. Both are age eligible for the next U20 cycle. The main reason these two players are here is because the top two wingers for this age group are not available: Kristian Fletcher and Cole Campbell.

Berchimas is the youngest player on the roster and the highest rated prospect on the team, playing three age groups up. Gozo has had a resurgent year and has been explosive for Real Salt Lake this year. These are two players I am really excited to evaluate during this tournament.

Marcos Zambrano-Delgado, Vitória Guimarães (2005), Keyrol Figueroa, Liverpool (2006)

The last U20 team played without a true center-forward, but this group will bring two with very different profiles. Marcos Zambrano has looked for this group so far in this cycle. He is a more technical striker that drops in, connects and holds up play and finds good spaces in the final third.

Keyrol Figueroa is a very different kind of striker. He is a vertical and aerial threat with elite explosiveness. He will look to stretch the backline and he can also be a real menace in the final third. He has an explosive right foot and he can jump high in the air and get a lot of power on his headers.

LB, Christian McFarlane, NYCFC (England/2007)
RB, Malachi Molina, FC Dallas (Jamaica/2006)
CB, Tyler Bindon, Reading (New Zealand/2005)
CB, Lazar Stefanovic, Toronto FC (Canada/2006)
CB, Adrian Pelayo, Chivas (Mexico/2006)
DM, Obed Vargas, Seattle Sounders (2005)
CM, Noel Buck, New England Revolution (England/2005)
CM, Alejandro Granados, Club Brugge (Spain/2006)
W, Bora Aydinlik, Hull City (Turkey/2005)
W, Fidel Barajas, Chivas (Mexico/2006)
W, Olger Escobar, New England Revolution (Guatemala/2006)

CM, Benjamin Cremaschi, Inter Miami (2005)
W, Esmir Bajraktarevic, New England Revolution (2005)

GK, Gavin Beavers, Real Salt Lake (2005)
GK, Diego Kochen, Barcelona (2006)
RB, Reed Baker-Whiting, Seattle Sounders (2005)
CB, Josh Wynder, Benfica (2005)
CB, Drew Murray, Freiburg
CB, Noahkai Banks, Augsburg (2006)
CB, Matai Akinmboni, D.C. United (2006)
AM, Paulo Rudisill, Feyenoord (2006)
W, Cole Campbell, Borussia Dortmund (2006)

LB, Tahir Reid-Brown, Orlando Cit(2006)
LB, Peyton Miller, New England Revolution (2007)
DM, Matthew Corcoran, Birmingham Legion (2006)
W, Kristian Fletcher, D.C. United (2005)
W, Serge Ngoma, RBNY (2005)

RB, Leo Duru, Blackburn (2005)
CB, Neil Pierre, Philadelphia Union (2007)
AM, CJ Olney, Philadelphia Union (2006)
W, Tarik Scott, FC Dallas (2005)
W, Luke Brennan, Atlanta United (2005)

GK, Andrew Rick, Philadelphia Union (2006)
RB, Oscar Verhoeven, San Jose Earthquakes (2006)
RB, Ajani Nixon, LAFC (2006)
CB, Grayson Dettoni, Bayern Munich (2005)
CB, Elijah Scott, Stuttgart (2006)
DM, Miguel Perez, Birmingham Legion/St. Louis City (2005)
AM, Tyler Pasnik, Nashville (2005)
AM, Favian Loyola, Orlando City (2005)
CF, Rodrigo Neri, Atlanta United (2005)
CF, Adam Dausch, Coventry City (2006)
CF, Ed Davis, Philadelphia Union (2006)
CF, Julian Placias, Westerlo (2006)

Nsien and his stuff were in a tough spot, no doubt. He is without a ton of talented players both from MLS and Europe and that left some position groups pretty bare. I would have liked to see Neil Pierre added to the center-back group. He is a top prospect and could have provided some size and athleticism to the group. I assume Drew Murray was not released by Freiburg, if he would have been available, I think that is a miss.

At full-back, I am curious to know if Leo Duru is on USSFs radar. It’s possible he has a chance to play for Blackburn’s first team and if that is the case, better for him to stay for preseason. He has yet to join a USYNT camp and I think he is one of the more talented dual-nationals that might be knocking at USMNTs door in the next couple of years.

In the attack, I think there are too many attacking-mids that are not dynamic enough and not enough true wingers. If CJ Olney, Tarik Scott or Luke Brennan were available, I would have preferred to see them instead of Medina or Ramos.

Even though this is not close to being an A squad for this age group, it's still probably the most talented team in the tournament next to Mexico. The expectation should be U20 World Cup qualification and I think it would be disappointing to not defend the title, but I wouldn't expect as dominant of a run through the tournament as the last U20 group.