As well as Emerson Hyndman a number of our youngsters will off with their countries this month - ”Tiago Casasola has been named in the Argentina Under-20 squad for the 2015 South American Youth Football Championship. The tournament – which takes place in Uruguay – starts with two groups, and Casasola’s Argentina are in Group A alongside Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. The top three teams then advance to the Final Stage of the competition, where they play a mini-league with the three best teams in Group B to see who comes out on top. The Championship will run from 14th January until 7th February. Mattias Kait has been called up by Estonia Under-19s for a friendly tournament in Russia. Harrison Paton will join up with Canada Under-17s for an International Tournament in Guatemala. And Magnus Norman has been chosen to attend an England goalkeeping camp at St George’s Park.
The United States’ U20 Men’s National Team took just one point from their opening two matches of the 2015 CONCACAF U20 Championship over the weekend. Emerson Hyndman featured in both matches. please log in to view this image Their campaign kicked off on Friday night but despite dominating the opening half against Guatemala, they went into the break goalless. Hyndman then entered the action in place of Junior Flores and set up the opening goal just before the hour mark when his corner was headed in by Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers. But as the clock reached 90 minutes, America failed to clear their lines from a corner and Andy Ruiz fired in a stunning volley from outside the area that whistled into the top left-hand corner to ensure the spoils were shared. Hyndman was included from the off in the States’ second match against Panama on Sunday, and they were the stronger team in the opening 45 minutes but just weren’t able to find the breakthrough goal. The key moment in the match arrived on 78 minutes when a chipped ball into the box found Carlos Small who was able to poke his shot beyond two defenders and the goalkeeper for what proved to be the winning goal. The United States are next in action against Aruba on Wednesday
It's a wowser from Emerson - "Emerson Hyndman found the net as the United States’ U20 Men’s National Team earned an emphatic 8-0 win over Aruba in the 2015 CONCACAF U20 Championship on Wednesday. USA were leading 3-0 in Kingston, Jamaica, through Romain Gall (2) and Ben Spencer when Hyndman’s corner from the left was met by Tommy Thompson to head home in the 26th minute. Two minutes later Hyndman got in on the act, intercepting a ball in midfield, eluding a defender and scoring inside the far post. Gall completed his hat-trick in the 32nd minute, slotting home Hyndman’s throughball, before second-half goals from Spencer, Bradford Jamieson and Amando Moreno completed the rout. Hyndman was replaced in the 79th minute. The U.S. had taken just one point from their opening two games prior to Aruba. They now head to Montego Bay for their two remaining group games against Jamaica on 18th January and Trinidad & Tobago on 21st January"
Emerson (well, his side) does it again - " Emerson Hyndman played 85 minutes as United States Under-20s defeated Jamaica 2-0 in the CONCACAF U20 Championship on Sunday. please log in to view this image The Fulham midfielder had the game’s first chance when the ball fell to him in the area, but his effort was well blocked by Malcolm Stewart, before he was denied again after 14 minutes when his goalbound strike from 18 yards was saved by Jamaican goalkeeper Nicholas Nelson. The States did take the lead, though, on 34 minutes when Tommy Thompson was fouled in the penalty area and Romain Gall tucked away the resultant spot-kick. And the American striker was on hand again from 12 yards with 20 minutes remaining to settle the game, after Bradford Jamieson was taken down by Nelson in the box. Hyndman made way for Junior Flores with five minutes remaining of the game, as the United States went third in Group A."
Good few days for our young Internationals - "Tiago Casasola made his first appearance of the 2015 South American Youth Football Championship on Thursday, and helped Argentina Under-20s to a clean sheet in their 3-0 win over Bolivia in Colonia. Argentina stormed into a two-goal lead after just 12 minutes courtesy of Giovanni Simeone’s brace – taking the River Plate striker’s tally to six in the tournament, more than any other player. Facundo Cardozo wrapped things up on 72 minutes. Argentina now advance to the Final Stage, where they make up a group alongside fellow Group A qualifiers Paraguay and Peru, together with Group B’s three strongest sides – Uruguay, Colombia and Brazil. The previous day, Emerson Hyndman played the entirety of the United States U20s’ narrow 1-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in Montego Bay. Hyndman went close to breaking the deadlock just before half-time when he weaved his way into the box before rifling in a powerful strike that goalkeeper Johan Welch claimed at the second time of asking. Bradford Jamieson IV then had an effort cleared off the line following a Hyndman free-kick just after the restart as the Americans continued to turn the screw. And the decisive goal eventually arrived when Jamieson tucked home at the end of a counter attack on 78 minutes. The result means the United States finish second in the group and will now face El Salvador in a Play-Off to see which nation qualifies for the U20 World Cup."
Emerson Pulls it Off "Emerson Hyndman helped his United States team secure qualification for the U20 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over El Salvador at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship play-offs on Saturday. Hyndman’s influence was felt from early on when he led a counter attack to put the ball through to Romain Gall in the 13th minute, but the player then missed the opportunity to put his side in front. Ben Spencer did open the scoring for the U.S. in the 37th minute, before Paul Arriola made it 2-0 in the second half and Hyndman was substituted on 70 minutes for Lynden Gooch. It will be the 14th time the United States team have played in an U20 World Cup when it kicks off in New Zealand on 30th May 2015."
I hope this experience enhances the ability and confidence of my long held prediction that Emerson will be a star of the future
Adetayo Edun and Foday Nabay are in the 22-man England U17s squad for the Algarve Tournament next month. "The Young Lions head to Portugal in February to take on the hosts, Germany and Holland in the annual friendly tournament. John Peacock's side kick-off the competition against the Dutch on Friday 13 February before tackling the home nation two days later. England will then end the trip with a final match against Germany at the Algarve Stadium on Tuesday 17 February. The competition will be the final opportunity for Peacock to take a look at his squad before they host the European Championship Elite Round qualifiers at St. George’s Park in March." Source: http://www.thefa.com/news/england/d...17s-squad-named-for-algarve-tournament-270115
Argentina beat Paraguay 3-0 in the South American Youth Football Championship on Wednesday. Suspension forced Tiago Casasola to sit the game out, since the centre-back had aleady been given two bookings in the tournament. But he was celebrating with his teammates come full-time. please log in to view this image He's the one with the mullet The result confirmed Argentina’s place at the Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand later this year, and a draw in their final match against second-place Uruguay would secure them the trophy and the 2016 Olympics spot that goes with it.
Tiago Casasola played the full 90 minutes as Argentina Under-20s were crowned champions of the 2015 South American Youth Football Championship following a 2-1 win over Uruguay on Saturday. please log in to view this image “Argentina needed just a draw against the host nation to secure the title, but they got off to a poor start and were 1-0 down with seven minutes played when Gaston Pereiro poked home from close range. But they drew level on 35 minutes, with Casasola playing a big part in the goal as he got a head to Angel Correa’s cross to set up Sebastian Driussi who lashed the ball in from 17 yards out. And it was Correa who won the match for his side with 10 minutes remaining when he showed some good skill before coolly sliding the ball in. The win means Argentina finished top of the final stage group by four points, securing their place at the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games in the process. Argentina’s Giovanni Simeone also claimed the tournament’s golden boot with nine goals. The last person to score more than that in the competition was a certain Hugo Rodallega in 2005, whose 11 goals fired Colombia to glory“.
Ah yes, the competition which led to Hugo proclaiming "I'm undoubtedly better than Messi, the difference is he plays for Barcelona and I play for Quindio"
The FA (England) have highlighted our U18 player, Foday Nabay ahead of England U17s matches at the Algarve Tournament. please log in to view this image “The Fulham midfielder was a regular in the U16s set-up last season, featuring in both the Victory Shield and Montaigu Tournament, but he is yet to represent his country this campaign – and that is something he is looking to put right in the upcoming games against Holland, Portugal and Germany. “There have been a few times when John [Peacock] has rang up my coach, but I’ve had to miss out with injury, like the America trip,” Nabay explained to TheFA.com. “It's been frustrating, but it has made me even more determined to get back in the squad and stay in it. I’ve been performing quite consistently for Fulham and trying to make myself an important part of how we play. I like to get on the ball a lot, and I’ve done a lot better this season than I did last. I’m enjoying my football and doing what I like doing – getting on the ball and knocking it about.” Full story: http://www.thefa.com/news/england/d...k-for-england-u17s-110215#sxZ7epZyug611gt5.99
Tayo Edun and Foday Nabay both featured for England Under-17s in their 1-1 draw against Portugal in the Algarve Tournament on Sunday. Left-back Tayo played the full 80 minutes of the encounter, while central midfielder Foday came on at half-time in place of Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Connor Ronan. The Young Lions went in front on 26 minutes when attacking midfielder Marcus Edwards floated in a free-kick that Portugal goalkeeper Felipe Dinis could only parry towards Andre Green. He headed the ball back across goal towards Tottenham Hotspur forward Kaziah Sterling who bravely nodded in. The hosts equalised quarter of an hour into the second half in unusual circumstances. Leeds United goalkeeper William Huffer was penalised by the referee for holding onto the ball for too long, and so Portugal were awarded an indirect free-kick in the penalty area. Huffer saved the subsequent shot that came in after the ball was laid off, but Goncala Vieira was on hand to turn the rebound in. The performance and result was a massive improvement on their opening fixture on Friday, when they were on the wrong end of a 7-0 thumping by the Netherlands. Tayo didn’t feature in that game, but Foday played the first half. A Javairo Dilrosum hat-trick and goals from Rashaan Fernandes, Teun Bijleveld and Jay-Roy Grot, along with a Cameron Humphreys own goal, did the damage. England’s final match is against Germany on Tomorrow.
Noe Baba played for Republic of Ireland U19s tonight as they thumped Azerbaijan 6-0. please log in to view this image
”Luca de la Torre claimed his third assist in as many games as the U.S. defeated Guatemala 4-1 at the CONCACAF U17 Championships in Honduras on Thursday. please log in to view this image After Josh Perez’s hat-trick had put the U.S. into a 3-0 half-time lead, Pierre Da Silva increased their advantage shortly after the break after being set up by De la Torre’s driving run and pass. Erick Soto pulled one back for Guatemala in the 65th minute. The U.S. had already defeated Cuba 5-0 and Trinidad & Tobago 2-0 prior to the Guatemala fixture. The latest win moved them to the top of Group A and one victory away from clinching a place at the U17 World Cup later this year. The U.S. face Honduras on Sunday”
”[B”Luca De La Torre[/B] was on target for the United States as they drew 2-2 with host nation Honduras in the CONCACAF U17 Championship on Sunday. Honduras took the lead shortly after the quarter hour mark when Victor Matamoros volleyed in following a corner, but the States were level shortly after through De La Torre’s cheeky back-heel. And they turned the game on its head with 32 minutes played when Josh Perez found the top corner, a goal that looked set to win the contest until David Sanchez bundled in an equaliser for Honduras in the dying embers of the game. The result keeps the United States at the top of Group A, and victory over Jamaica on Wednesday would guarantee their place at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile later in the year.”
"Luca De La Torre’s United States Under-17s will need to go through a play-off match to secure their spot at the 2015 FIFA World Cup after losing 1-0 to Jamaica in the CONCACAF U17 Championship on Wednesday. De La Torre played 72 minutes of the game before being replaced by McKinze Gaines, by which point Jamaica had already struck the winning goal when Nicholas Nelson converted from the penalty spot following a handball by Hugo Arellano. United States and Jamaica finished level on points in Group A, but the head-to-head record between the two sides saw the Reggae Boyz finish above their opponents in the standings. America now have to wait and see who they face in Sunday’s play-off."
”The United States secured their place at the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup with a penalty shoot-out win over Jamaica in their CONCACAF Championship Play-Off on Sunday. Luca De La Torre came off the bench in the 81st minute of the winner-takes-all contest, but the sides could not be separated and so – with no extra-time in the regulations – the match went straight to penalty kicks. America’s Christian Pulisic took the first penalty but saw his effort saved, but they netted their subsequent five spot-kicks to defeat Jamaica 5-4 and book their place in Chile later in the year.”
