Emerson Hyndman has been named in the United States squad for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup. The States qualified through the CONCACAF U-20 Championship, and have been drawn in Group A alongside host nation New Zealand, Myanmar and Ukraine. Their first match takes place on Saturday 30th May, and the tournament runs until Saturday 20th June. Tiago Casasola has been named in Argentina's squad. They reached the tournament after winning the South American Youth Football Championship in February, and are in Group B alongside Panama, Ghana and Austria.
Tayo Edun played a major role in England Under-17s’ 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in the European Championship on Sunday. please log in to view this image Having been an unused substitute in their opening game – a 1-0 win over Italy – Edun was selected from the off against the Dutch, and took up a position on the left of a midfield diamond. The Young Lions took the lead with just 18 minutes played when Edun received a pass and advanced before firing in a low cross that Manchester United defender and Netherlands captain Timothy Fosu-Mensah could only divert into his own net. But the Dutch earned a point after Reda Boultam converted from the penalty spot on 56 minutes, although it was perhaps a harsh award considering the contact from Trent Arnold on Dani De Wit appeared to be minimal. The draw keeps England at the top of Group A, and a draw against the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday would ensure progression to the Quarter-Finals.
Emerson Hyndman, clearly back and fit, has been named USA captain. please log in to view this image “U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Tab Ramos announced to the team on Saturday that midfielder Emerson Hyndman will serve as captain at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand. “We’ve been discussing with the staff trying to figure out who was going to be a good leader for us on the field and off the field,” Ramos said. “We’re very fortunate with this group that we definitely have three or four guys who could have taken that role, but we felt that Emerson was the right person to lead the way for the group. Obviously he’s a good player, and at the same time I think he’s very professional on the field and off the field and I think the type of person at U.S. Soccer we’d like to have as a leader.” Hyndman is one of six players who appeared in all six matches for the U-20 MNT at the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Jamaica in January, where he scored once and led the team with three assists. “It’s obviously an honour to be captain of a World Cup team,” Hyndman said. “I’m looking to bring all the same qualities from qualifying and really just help everyone on the team. I feel like I can do that, so I’m up to the task.” The 19-year-old has also earned a cap with the senior U.S. Men’s National Team, debuting on September 3rd 2014 as a second-half substitute in the USA’s 1-0 win against the Czech Republic. He also played a friendly with the U.S. U-23 MNT on October 14th when he started against Brazil in Brasilia.”
Tayo Edun was sent off as England U17’s lose 1-0 to Russia and get knocked out of the European Championships. ”The Young Lions squandered an excellent opportunity to take the lead 25 minutes into the Quarter Final tie when Arsenal striker Stephy Mavididi was tripped in the box, but Everton’s Nathan Holland saw his spot-kick saved by Aleksandr Maksimenko before Mavididi smashed the follow-up against the post. But just minutes later the Russians broke the deadlock. Aleksei Tataev got his head on a cross at the far post and although Holland looked to have cleared it off the line, the goal was given by the linesman. England started the second half strongly and went close to an equaliser when Holland hit the bar. Edun then entered the action on the hour mark as a replacement for the Toffees midfielder. Fellow substitute Easah Suliman of Aston Villa then saw his shot saved by Maksimenko following a corner, with the rebound cleared off the line. Russia could have doubled their lead with seven minutes remaining when Edun was adjudged to have pulled back Yegor Denisov in the box. The Fulham man was booked for the foul but Newcastle United goalkeeper Paul Woolston made a fine stop to keep out Boris Tsygankov’s penalty. But England were unable to capitalise and so exited the competition, with Edun given his marching orders in stoppage time after being shown his second yellow card. They will now face fellow losing Quarter-Finalists Spain on Tuesday for a place in the World Cup in Chile later this year.”
See our Player of the Year, Ross McCormack isn’t in the Scottish squad for their upcoming friendlies. He pulled out the last time because of his ’bad leg’ but don’t know if that’s anything to do with his non-selection this time. Whatever, given their games are in June against the likes of Qatar (!?), actually happy to see him simply take a break - with the proviso that he take a bit more care than he did last summer. And of course, my other reason for posting was to mention that Charlie Mulgrew has been called up. Still think he could fill our troublesome defensive midfield spot … wonderfully! please log in to view this image
I must admit I don't know a lot about Mulgrew, but I've just looked him up on Wikipedia. He didn't play a lot of games for Celtic last season, having been reasonably regular prior to that. Cottager, do you know if that was due to injury or just not being selected? If it's the latter, that might mean he's open to the idea of a move. Wiki says he can play centre back or left back as well, so he'd be a versatile signing, covering at least two of our problem positions.
Injured for a lot of last season, first game back was at the weekend. Mulgrew was player of the season a few years ago. Izzaguerrie is a good left back, seems to be able to cross a good ball, but his defending is erratic. James Forrest or Kris Commons would be a step up from Kacaniklic wonder if we could do a swap for him or Ruiz ? If there was one Celtic player I'd like to get it would be Scott Brown, but that's not going to happen. Emerson Hyndman and the United States warmed up for the U20 World Cup with a 2-1 win over Australia in Gosford, New South Wales, on Tuesday.
Woodrow and Bettinelli have been named in the provisional 30 man squad for the European Championship. Full squad: Goalkeepers: Bettinelli (Fulham), Bond (Watford), Butland (Stoke) Defenders: Chambers (Arsenal), Dier (Tottenham), Garbutt (Everton), Gibson (Middlesbrough), Jenkinson (Arsenal), Keane (Burnley), Moore (Leicester City), Stones (Everton), Targett (Southampton) Midfielders: Carroll (Tottenham), Chalobah (Chelsea), Hughes (Derby County), Forster-Caskey (Brighton & Hove Albion), Lingard (Manchester United), Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Pritchard (Tottenham), Redmond (Norwich City), Ward-Prowse (Southampton) Forwards: Afobe (Wolves), Bamford (Chelsea), Berahino (West Bromwich Albion), Kane (Tottenham), Ings (Burnley) Woodrow (Fulham) I'd be very surprised to see Cauley make the final squad of 23 with that competition, Marcus has every chance.
Gabor Kiraly has been named in the Hungary squad. please log in to view this image They face Lithuania in Debrecen on Friday 5th of June in a friendly match, before travelling to Helsinki to take on Finland in a European Championship Qualifier eight days later. Hungary currently sit third in Group F, four points behind Northern Ireland and five adrift of leaders Romania.
Pat Roberts has been named in the England Under-18 squad for their double-header in Russia at the Arena Khimki on Monday 8th and Wednesday 10th June please log in to view this image
“Argentina U20s played Tahiti twice in preparation for the World Cup, with Tiago Casasola starting each match. please log in to view this image The first ended in disappointment on Thursday, despite Angel Correa firing the South Americans in front, as a Donovan Bourrebarre goal and a brace from Raimana Li Fung Kuee earned Tahiti a 3-1 win. But Argentina responded in positive fashion in their second meeting on Sunday. Again, Correa put them in front only for Tahiti to equalise almost immediately through Hiroana Poroiae’s penalty. Goals from Giovanni Simeone and Facundo Monteiseirin put Argentina in control going into half-time, before both sides were reduced to 10 men when Jonathan Tehau was dismissed for a professional foul and Monteiseirin was shown a second yellow card. Emiliano Buenda had the final say, though, as he grabbed a fourth for Argentina to seal a 4-1 win in their final match before flying to New Zealand.” Strange that he can’t get a game in any of our sides
There were some rumours a few months ago that the club wouldn't play him after he sent some tweets out about the Falkland Islands. I haven't a clue what he allegedly said but they've since been deleted. Not sure if there's any truth in that but his lack of game time could possibly be down to him not being able to speak English. I imagine Centre Back is the last place you want a player who can't communicate with his team mates. I thought when we signed him he'd be in and around the first team or a leading player for the U21s. Surely he's got to have something about him if he's a regular for Argentina's under age sides. In other news Sean Kavanagh has been called up to the Republic of Ireland U21s to play an England 'C' Team on the 1st June and England U21s on June 5th.
These international tournaments might hopefully give some competitive game time to the younger players for the start of the season and keep their fitness topped up. Hyndman coming back from injury it might get his fitness up to scratch and get him starting at the beginning of the season. On the downside there is a possibility of injury. With Tiago Casasola it can take time for youngsters to settle into new countries and he could well have been home sick etc, but it's a learning curve, and wouldn't read too much into gossip.
Emerson Hyndman is on the ball in the U20 World Cup qualifiers. please log in to view this image "It did not begin well, though, for the Fulham midfielder and his team as the Asian nation scored with just nine minutes played when Yan Naing Oo poked in at the end of a goalmouth scramble following a corner. Hyndman played a key role in the equaliser eight minutes later as he delivered a dangerous corner which was flicked on to the far post when Maki Tall was waiting to slam the ball high into the net. And Hyndman had the final say 10 minutes after the restart when he finished expertly at the end of a swift counter attack. Rubio Rubin held the ball up well before playing in his captain who had covered a lot of ground to get up the pitch. Hyndman then took one touch before placing a low strike across goal and into the bottom corner. With New Zealand and Ukraine drawing 0-0 in the other match, their result in Whangarei leaves the United States sitting at the top of Group A“.
Emerson Hyndman was on the ball again as USA booked their place in the last 16 of the FIFA U-20 World Cup with a 4-0 win against New Zealand. It took just six minutes for the US to lead the host nation, when Hyndman’s corner was headed onto the post by Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Rubio Rubin was on hand to turn the rebound in. And Hyndman grabbed his second goal of the tournament shortly after the half-hour mark when a long ball was pumped into the box and New Zealand goalkeeper Oliver Sail, who was under pressure from Rubin, could only punch as far as the Fulham man, who made no mistake with his finish from the edge of the area. Two became three on 58 when Paul Arriola fired in via the post, before Rubin rubber-stamped the victory with seven minutes remaining from close range. The States sit two points clear at the top of Group A after the win, and a draw in their final match against Ukraine will guarantee they progress as group winners. . Pre-tournament favourites Argentina were defeated by 3-2 Ghana, despite mounting a late fight back. Tiago Casasola was an unused substitute for the match. This leaves Argentina sitting third in Group B, meaning they need to beat Austria in their final match to guarantee progression.
Marcus Bettinelli has been named in Gareth Southgate’s final 23-man England Under-21 squad for the European Championships. England’s final warm-up match sees them face Belarus on Thursday 11th June, before they head across Europe for their Group Stage matches against Portugal, Sweden and Italy. Unfortunately, Cauley Woodrow will not be joining Bettinelli in the Czech Republic, with Southgate selecting Harry Kane, Saido Berahino and Danny Ings as his strikers. However, a fit again Lasse Vigen Christensen has been named in the Denmark squad for their upcoming Under-21 European Championship in the Czech Republic. Denmark are in Group A alongside the hosts, Germany and Serbia.
Bad day at the office for our two World Cup U20s - Casasola knocked out and Hyndman misses a penalty - “Argentina are out of the FIFA U-20 World Cup after failing to overcome Austria in their final Group B match. The pre-tournament favourites needed a win to ensure progression to the knock-out phases, but an excellent display by Austrian goalkeeper Tino Casali meant the game finished goalless. Tiago Casasola was restored to the starting line-up please log in to view this image and played the opening 50 minutes before being replaced by attacking midfielder Alejandro Romero as Argentina went in search of the goal they needed. But despite having 27 attempts to Austria’s four, they were unable to make the breakthrough and finished third in the group with two points. Their elimination was not confirmed until several hours after the final whistle, though, but their hope of being one of the four best third place sides was extinguished when New Zealand defeated Myanmar 5-1. And, the United States were beaten 3-0 by Ukraine which meant they finished second in Group A. Viktor Kovalenko put the Europeans in front direct from a free-kick 10 minutes into the second half, but the US could have drawn level immediately when Jordan Allen was fouled in the area, only for Emerson Hyndman to see his penalty saved by Ukraine captain Bohdan Sarnavskyi. Kovalenko then grabbed two more to secure his hat-trick and top spot for Ukraine, meaning the United States will face whoever finishes second in Group C (Portugal, Colombia or Senegal) in the last-16.”
Here is a list of all our players performing in Internationals over the next wee while - [Interestingly the Club have included Jon Buatu (who has been released) and Kostas Stafylidis (who has gone back home at the end of his loan. More interesting though is that of the players in the ‘Senior Team ’ list, only LVC is likely to be in our 1st team next season. Best news undoubtedly however, is that Jesse Joronen is back playing.] Senior team Fernando Amorebieta – Venezuela (Copa America) Nikolay Bodurov – Bulgaria (Friendly, European Championship Qualifier) Jonathan Buatu – Angola (Africa Cup of Nations preliminary round match) Lasse Vigen Christensen – Denmark (Friendly)* Jesse Joronen – Finland (Training camp) Gabor Kiraly – Hungary (Friendly, European Championship Qualifier) Kostas Mitroglou – Greece (European Championship Qualifier, Friendly) Bryan Ruiz – Costa Rica (Friendlies, Gold Cup) Kostas Stafylidis – Greece (European Championship Qualifier, Friendly) Under-21s Marcus Bettinelli – England (Friendly, European Championship) Lasse Vigen Christensen (Friendly, European Championship) Sean Kavanagh – Republic of Ireland (Friendlies) Marek Rodák – Slovakia (Friendly) Under-20s Tiago Casasola – Argentina (FIFA U-20 World Cup) Emerson Hyndman – United States (FIFA U-20 World Cup) Under-18s Anthony Dolan – Republic of Ireland (Friendlies) Patrick Roberts – England (Friendlies) Under-17s Luca De La Torre – United States (International Tournament) *Lasse Vigen Christensen has been selected to join up with the full Denmark squad for their friendly against Montenegro, and will then meet up with the Under-21 side ahead of the European Championship.
Late addition Magnus Norman has replaced Sam Howes in the England U18s squad for their double-header in Russia.
