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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007
<SPAN class=art-title2>CONCACAF class convenes in Panama</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
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<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>US U-20 head coach Thomas Rongen has a chat with the lads in a preparatory training camp in Florida ahead of the qualifiers in Panama. (photo courtesy of USsoccer.com)
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">12 Jan 2007</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Led by world-renowned prodigy Freddy Adu and a stable of full professional stars from the domestic top flight Major League Soccer and abroad, the United States will be consideredhot favourites to take the laurelswhen North, Central American and Caribbean zone FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifying kicks off in Panama on 17 January.
But with hosts Panama led by one of the country's all-time greats in player-turned-coach Julio Dely Valdes, Guatemala always a power in Central American circles and Haiti brimming with Caribbean style and technical improvisation, the Americans will do well to beware as they look to become the first CONCACAF team to qualify for six consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cups at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City.
The top two finishers from Group A in Panama will qualify automatically for this summer'sFIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. They will be joined by the top two finishers from next month's Group B in Mexico, which will see the fancied hosts take on Costa Rica, St. Kitts and Nevis and Jamaica. As hosts, Canada qualify automatically for the competition and round out the first five-team field of CONCACAF competitors at any FIFA finals.
The USA are led by Thomas Rongen in the technical area. The one-time MLS Coach of the Year with the now-defunct Miami Fusion and former DC United and New England Revolution coach is no stranger to the world of US U-20 football. In 2003, inthe United Arab Emirates, it was the Dutch-born boss who led the Americans - and a then-14-year-old Freddy Adu - to within seconds of a semi-final spot. The Bobby Convey-led side only lost out in the dying moments of the quarter-final to South American powers Argentina in Abu Dhabi.
With nine full professional players in the side, Rongen is excited by the upswing in quality since his last stint in charge. "The level of quality is much higher in this cycle than in the past," he said. "I believe we have what it takes to get the job done down in Panama, in what will assuredly be a tricky qualifying tournament away from home."
Josmer Altidore of the New York Red Bulls and the Columbus Crew's Danny Szetela - who made his name for the USA at theFIFA U-17 World Cup in Finland in 2003 - will be key figures in the team alongside Adu who, despite being the third-youngest player in the squad at only 17, was named by Rongen as captain citing his, "unique leadership abilities and superb qualities on and off the pitch."<TABLE id=IMGTAB height=150 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=left summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><IMG id=SECIMG20851 height=150 alt="Guatemala striker David Aroche celebrat
<SPAN class=art-title2>CONCACAF class convenes in Panama</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR class=paddingall><TD vAlign=top>
<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>US U-20 head coach Thomas Rongen has a chat with the lads in a preparatory training camp in Florida ahead of the qualifiers in Panama. (photo courtesy of USsoccer.com)</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">12 Jan 2007</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>Led by world-renowned prodigy Freddy Adu and a stable of full professional stars from the domestic top flight Major League Soccer and abroad, the United States will be consideredhot favourites to take the laurelswhen North, Central American and Caribbean zone FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifying kicks off in Panama on 17 January.
But with hosts Panama led by one of the country's all-time greats in player-turned-coach Julio Dely Valdes, Guatemala always a power in Central American circles and Haiti brimming with Caribbean style and technical improvisation, the Americans will do well to beware as they look to become the first CONCACAF team to qualify for six consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cups at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City.
The top two finishers from Group A in Panama will qualify automatically for this summer'sFIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. They will be joined by the top two finishers from next month's Group B in Mexico, which will see the fancied hosts take on Costa Rica, St. Kitts and Nevis and Jamaica. As hosts, Canada qualify automatically for the competition and round out the first five-team field of CONCACAF competitors at any FIFA finals.
The USA are led by Thomas Rongen in the technical area. The one-time MLS Coach of the Year with the now-defunct Miami Fusion and former DC United and New England Revolution coach is no stranger to the world of US U-20 football. In 2003, inthe United Arab Emirates, it was the Dutch-born boss who led the Americans - and a then-14-year-old Freddy Adu - to within seconds of a semi-final spot. The Bobby Convey-led side only lost out in the dying moments of the quarter-final to South American powers Argentina in Abu Dhabi.
With nine full professional players in the side, Rongen is excited by the upswing in quality since his last stint in charge. "The level of quality is much higher in this cycle than in the past," he said. "I believe we have what it takes to get the job done down in Panama, in what will assuredly be a tricky qualifying tournament away from home."
Josmer Altidore of the New York Red Bulls and the Columbus Crew's Danny Szetela - who made his name for the USA at theFIFA U-17 World Cup in Finland in 2003 - will be key figures in the team alongside Adu who, despite being the third-youngest player in the squad at only 17, was named by Rongen as captain citing his, "unique leadership abilities and superb qualities on and off the pitch."<TABLE id=IMGTAB height=150 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=left summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><IMG id=SECIMG20851 height=150 alt="Guatemala striker David Aroche celebrat