U20 USYNT November Roster Analysis
November 2024
The United States under-20 team has been selected by head coach Marko Mitrovic for a set of friendlies in Spain against South Korea on November 16 and France on November 18. It is unclear whether these friendlies will be broadcasted.
The U-20s will continue their preparation towards the U-20 World Cup in 2025. South Korea and France will be great tests for this group.
Cole Campbell, right-winger for Borussia Dortmund
The roster
Goalkeepers
Adam Beaudry (Colorado Rapids), Julian Eyestone (FC Dallas)
Eyestone is back and Beaudry replaces Gavin Beavers. Beaudry was the starter during World Cup Qualifying and Eyestone was the backup.
Who isn't here?
Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona), Gavin Beavers (Real Salt Lake)
It would be great to have our top overall goalkeeping prospect, Diego Kochen, but releases for these camps have been hard to come by. This one is a little confusing because the camp is in his country of residence, Spain. Might we see him with USMNT?
It's slightly surprising to not see Gavin Beavers here given his MLS season is over and he has more experience than the other two players that were selected. Perhaps he is getting a break after a long season?
Full-backs
RB, Leo Duru (Blackburn), RB, Aiden Harangi (Eintracht Frankfurt), RB/LB, Reed Baker-Whiting (Seattle Sounders), RB/CB, Ethan Kohler (Werder Bremen), LB, Peyton Miller (New England Revolution), LB, Nolan Norris (FC Dallas)
I count six (!) full-backs on the team if you go by their natural positions, but there is a lot of versatility in this group. Duru and Miller can both play as wingers, Miller is listed by U.S. Soccer as an attacker. Kohler and Norris can both play center-back. Baker-Whiting and Harangi both have experience playing as a left and right-back.
Overall this is a strong group. Duru made a very positive impression in his first camp and is back to build on that.
Harangi returns after missing last camp with an injury.
Who isn't here?
Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia Union), Luca Bombino (LAFC)
Westfield received his first ever USYNT camp last month, but does not return with Harangi coming back into the group. Bombino missed last window because of an injury which may also be why he isn't here in this camp.
Center-backs
Noahkai Banks (FC Augsburg), Matai Akinmboni (DC United), Josh Wynder (Benfica)
These are THE guys and it's great to see them together for the first team. Banks is one of the most talented players on this team. Akinmboni adds an experienced, left-footed option. Wynder is officially back. He was invited to the last team, but had to bail last minute because of a first team training opportunity with Benfica. Wynder played in the last U-20 World Cup.
Who isn't here?
Noah Cobb (Atlanta United)
Cobb has been in the last several camps, but with the first choice center-backs available, he drops out of the team.
Defensive/Center-mids
DM, Pedro Soma (FC Barcelona), DM, Brooklyn Raines (Houston Dynamo), CM, Benja Cremaschi (Inter Miami), CM, Taha Habroune (Columbus Crew)
I believe that these are the top four guys right now and all of these guys return from the last window.
Who isn't here?
DM, Bryan Moyado (LAFC), CM, Sergio Oregel Jr (Chicago Fire)
Bryan Moyado and Sergio Oregel Jr are dropped from the team. With more attackers available, the midfield group becomes smaller than it was in the last window.
Attacking-mids/Wingers
AM, Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes), AM, Paulo Rudisill (Feyenoord), WING, Kristian Fletcher (Nottingham Forest), WING, Cole Campbell (Borussia Dortmund), WING, Luke Brennan (Atlanta United)
Tsakiris returns as a leader of this team. Rudisill earns a promotion from the U-19 team and must have impressed in the last camp. Fletcher and Campbell return to the group after not being available for several camps. Both are the top winger options for this team and provide a huge attacking boost. Campbell has started to get minutes with Dortmund's first and will look to bring confidence and quality into this team. Brennan gets the call back after his first U-20 camp last window.
Who isn't here?
WING, Tarik Scott (FC Dallas), WING, Bryce Jamison (Orange County)
I still believe Scott deserves a chance to prove he belongs in this group, but U.S. Soccer does not seem to rate him as highly as I do.
I really like how Jamison finished the USL season and think he should be back in the fold with either the U20s or the U-19s.
Center-forwards
Keyrol Figueroa (Liverpool), Ruben Ramos (LA Galaxy)
Figueroa, like Rudisill gets promoted from the U-19 to the U-20 team. Ramos stays with the team and provides a versatile attacking option. Ramos, along with Peyton Miller are the two 2007s in this team.
Who isn't here?
Marcos Zambrano (Vitória Guimarães), Aidan Dausch (Coventry)
Zambrano has been the number one striker for this team for a while now, so it's surpising to not see him here. I am not sure what the reason is, it could be due to an injury. Dausch got his first USYNT camp in the last window with the U-20s, but gets moved to the U-19 team this window.
Roster grade: A
This is about as good as this roster can get. All of the big name guys from Europe are here except for Diego Kochen. I am not sure why he isn't available to this group.
There are a few players that I would rate over the players that have been selected, but all of the top players are in attendance and the roster construction makes sense to me.
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