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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 25 2003 : 04:35:56 AM
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FIFA World Youth Championship UAE 2003
Rongen’s Americans all set to go
The young Americans are taking no chances in the final run-up to the FIFA World Youth Championship United Arab Emirates 2003. With a side full of burgeoning Major League Soccer professionals, developing overseas talent and promising amateurs alike, coach Thomas Rongen is pushing his boys to the limits with a number of eleventh-hour friendlies. And ‘friendly’ they will be in name alone. The competition will surely be ferocious, as Rongen has not yet nailed down a final 20-man squad for the upcoming football festival.
USA off to a flyer
High hopes
Spirits are high in the American camp heading into the home stretch. Bobby Convey – team captain, full international and professional with MLS side D.C. United – is itching for the chance to don his nation’s all-white armour and shine under the Gulf sun. A member of the American side that reached the second round of the FIFA World Youth Championship Argentina 2001 and perhaps the hardest-working youngster in American football, Convey is eager to get started.
A member of the US U-18 and U-23 Olympic squads, doubts have emerged about the youngster’s demanding schedule and varied commitments. But in typical fashion, the bustling, hard-working midfielder shrugs off such claims. His devotion to the U-20 cause is obvious. “The Under-20 World Championship is a huge thing, and everyone wants to play," Convey recently exclaimed. “I want to stay focused on the tournament.”
Tough final tests
Currently at a training camp in sun-drenched Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the US U-20 national team are slated to play four matches over the course of 12 days, including a clash with MLS’ Colorado Rapids, before jetting off to Portugal to test their mettle in the Madeira International Tournament against their Iberian hosts, as well as against Norway and a regional select squad.
The US will take on Portugal on 3 March, Norway two days later and a Madeira regional select team on 7 March.
“The chance to play four matches, including two internationals, in 13 days is invaluable preparation for the team,” said Rongen. “There are still a few things we are working on, and we’ll use the next two weeks to get our team together...”
Rongen has selected 22 young Americans for the final friendlies. He will have to trim down further to a lean 20-man squad before his side’s opener with Paraguay in Abu Dhabi.
With the likes of warhorse Convey, speedy Eddie Johnson of Dallas Burn and US U-20 top scorer Santino Quaranta, Convey’s team-mate at D.C. United, the final cut will be an interesting cocktail of ambitious overseas players, collegiate talent and full professionals.
The two Americans abroad in Rongen’s current 22 are David Johnson of Holland’s Willem II and defender Frank Simek of English Premier League side Arsenal. Both will meet up with their US team-mates in Portugal.
A deadly group ahead
The US have been drawn into one of the toughest groups in the competition. Alongside Germany, Korea and Paraguay, the American youngsters will have their work cut out for them in Abu Dhabi.
Convey admitted, “It's going to be tough to advance to the second round, but we've got a good team and we have confidence in ourselves.” Rongen too remains upbeat about his side’s chances. “We’re in with one of the European powerhouses, a very interesting South American team, and if the last World Cup is any indication, an up-and-coming team in Korea. This group poses some great challenges, but at the end of the day, we’re quite pleased with the draw and looking forward to meeting this challenge head-on.”
With a torrid succession of last-minute friendlies and a keen desire to emulate their elders’ Far Eastern successes at last summer’s FIFA World Cup™, the US U-20s will surely be primed to make a real competitive splash out on the Gulf coast come March.
Goalkeepers: Steve Cronin (Santa Clara), Ford Williams (North Carolina)
Defenders: Ryan Cochrane (Santa Clara), Jordan Harvey (UCLA), C.J. Klaas (Washington), Chad Marshall (Stanford), Drew Moor (Furman), Heath Pearce (Portland), Frank Simek (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Ricardo Clark (MetroStars), Bobby Convey (DC United), Ned Grabavoy (Indiana), David Johnson (Willem II-Holland), Justin Mapp (Chicago), Justin Moose (Wake Forest), Jordan Stone (Dallas)
Forwards: Arturo Alvarez (San Jose), Devin Barclay (DC United), Knox Cameron (Michigan), Ed Johnson (Dallas), Mike Magee (MetroStars), Santino Quaranta (DC United)
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Copyright © 1994-2003 FIFA. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1994-2003 En-Linea, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Karl |
Edited by - Karl on Feb 25 2003 04:42:37 AM
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Preparation!
