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U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team
Head Coach: Thomas Rongen
Continuing the Cycle
In 2009, the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team will be moving full force toward the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt in October. Qualifying for the event takes place in Trinidad & Tobago in March.
Thomas Rongen's team, which has proved itself as one of the top youth programs in the world, will conduct training camps, domestic matches and compete in international tournaments. Rongen is at the helm of the team for his third cycle after guiding the U-20s in both 2003 and 2007.
Rongen will draw from a player pool that is made up of professional players from Major League Soccer and overseas leagues, college players and players from the top youth clubs across the country. Included in this pool are professional players such as Brian Perk and Anthony Wallace, who were members of the squad that reached the quarterfinals of the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada and are age-eligible to play in 2009.
Looking Back at ‘07
The Under-20s kicked off 2007 in style, winning their group at the CONCACAF Qualifying Tournament in January to advance to the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada. The U.S. dominated their three opponents in Panama, giving up only one goal while scoring nine in three games. The team capped off it's qualifying campaign with a 5-0 victory over the hosts to assure themselves a spot in the World Cup.
Drawn into what many considered the "Group of Death" at the World Cup in Canada, the U.S. was matched up against South Korea, Poland and Brazil in Group D. Leading up to the tournament, the U.S. held training camps in Montreal and Ottawa, sites of their three Group D games, staying in the same hotels and playing in the same stadiums that would later host them in the World Cup.
After getting off to a relatively shaky start against South Korea, the U.S. came away with only a point in their first game, while Poland turned perhaps the upset of the tournament by topping Brazil. Needing a win over Poland to stay alive in the tough group, the Americans put together one of the best performances in U.S. history and beat Poland, 6-1, to tie the best output ever in a men's FIFA tournament and put themselves in control of their own destiny.
For just the second time in history, a U.S. men's team beat Brazil, 2-1, at a FIFA competition, and won the group that many gave them no chance of advancing out of. Playing in front of sold-out crowds in Montreal and Ottawa, the U.S. was one of the most dynamic teams throughout the tournament, and opened the eyes of the world by earning seven points in group play for just the second time in team history.
Moving on to the Round of 16 in the newly expanded tournament, the U.S. faced a tough South American opponent in Uruguay. After falling behind in the first half, the Americans displayed heart and forced overtime in the 88th minute. In the two fifteen-minute overtime periods, the team played its best soccer of the night and came away with a 2-1 victory.
Facing an unlikely quarterfinal opponent in Austria, it was apparent that the U.S. was worn down from four must-win games in two weeks. Austria came away with a 2-1 overtime victory, thus ending the Americans run in Canada.
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U.S. Under-20 Men's Natonal Team 2007
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