Not sure if anyone caught USMNT U20 vs. Myanmar last night. I haven't had much of a chance to watch them, only been doing some reading about them. But last night I came away with a few impressions.
2-1 win, Myanmar is not very good but their press got to U.S. in first half.
Team seems to be in good hands with Tab Ramos. He's also got Landon Donovan on his staff helping out. After a bad first half, they adjust in the 2nd and dominated everywhere but on the scoreboard.
A lot of hype about Arsenal MF Gedion Zelalem. He only played about 35 minutes, but obviously was the best ball handler on the squad. I am not sure if he's going to be the superstar many are predicting, but his talent is definitely above most everyone else on that squad. Though the same could be said for Jozy Altidore at the same age, and he's been little more than a tease his whole career.
GK Zack Steffen is very promising...he's about 6'2"...which is sort of on the edge of acceptability on a upper echelon keeper. If he were 6'4 or 6'5 I'd be more excited. But he is definitely the most promising US prospect since Brad Guzan. Glad he's getting reps in the Bundesliga rather than MLS. He's got a shot.
CM Emerson Hyndman is probably the most technically sound of all the U20 players, probably because his grandfather was a college coach. Reminds me a lot of a young Mike Bradley.
Sadly, like all of the USMNT squads, the U20's are very poor in their passing form. At times they appear to grasp the skill, others, they look like a pack of amateurs. Deep balls need much work as well. Until USMNT improves their passing form, which is key to ball security, they will be prone to giving up late goals.
There are some very athletic players on the U20...sadly, most are dum-dums. Just stupid, stupid mistakes. Rubio Rubin, who some say is the next great USMNT star, has 3 caps with the main squad, and plays frequently for FC Utrecht, had a couple of real head scratchers...worst of which was a cross he brought down in the box, 4 meters from the goal, dead center, no one within 3 meters of him, back to goal, he could have pivoted, set, and scored...but instead he chooses to bicycle kick, right into the keepers gut.
In the 2nd half, Rubin had an epic ground gross that had the keeper fall to his knees, MF Kellyn Acosta, another one of the highly skilled dum-dums, has an open goal, and 4 meters to make it happen, and completely biffs the ball wide left.
Two other kids that stood out were F Maki Tall and Bradford Jamieson....both tremendous athletes with much promise.
U20's ahould move on from this group...Myanmar was the weakest, followed by New Zealand and Ukraine in the group. NZ/UK tied at nil. If U.S. gets their $hit together, they will win the group.
