Best and Worst of 2007: US Youth Teams

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Best Performance: The US’ 2-1 victory over the Pato led Brazil squad at the U-20 World Cup in Canada

Biggest Revelation: Sal Zizzo. The UCLA product playing out wide in the US midfield for the U-20s got himself a contract in the Bundesliga with his outstanding World Cup.

Worst Performance: John Hackworth’s U-17 team imploding at the U-17 World Cup

Biggest Dissapointment: Johann Smith and Quavas Kirk injuring themselves right before the U-20 World Cup. This pair could have been the difference in pushing the US to the semifinals and perhaps beyond in Canada.

Best Coaching Job: Wilmer Cabrera. It;’s early in his tenure but the U-17s looked more confident and composed in the Nike Academy matches versus Brazil, Russia and Turkey than at any point in the past two years.

Potential Breakout 2008: Dax McCarty on the U-23 team. He played a solid role coming off the bench with the U-20s and could feature prominently for both FC Dallas in MLS and the U-23s in Olympic qualifying and the Olympics itself.

Friday: Best and worst 2007: US National Team

Saturday: Best and worst of 2007: USL

Sunday: Best and worst of 2007: MLS

Monday: Best and worst of 2007: Yanks Abroad

US Eliminated from U-17s

The summer of disappointment got worse for US Soccer today with a 2-1 Round of 16 loss to Germany today. The US controlled much of the play, but as is typical with American youth teams in major competitions, the finishing was poor and all the high energy play led to being susceptible at the back. It is a story we have have seen before most recently at the 2003 and 2005 U-20 World Cups where the US controlled play against opponents superior in technical skill but could not finish opportunities.

US Advances. Will Face Germany in Round of 16

Despite losing its first two matches, fortuitous results elsewhere sent the US U-17 team to the second round with a second place finish in the group with a 2-0 win over Belgium. Kirk Urso and Maykell Baytes scored goals in the 2nd half to lead the US to the victory.

Young Americans Humbled

After dominating the first half hour of play John Hackworth's US squad has been shocked in the U-17 World Cup by Tajikistan who has qualified for the first time for any FIFA event. The 4-3 Tajik win over a nation that has qualified for every single U-17 World Cup speaks volumes about the progress US Soccer isn't making at the youth level despite the much talked about residency program at the Bradenton Academy in Florida. Much more on this later.