Ahead of the United States opening match in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, SportingKC.com caught up with Top Drawer Soccer'sTravis Clark to talk Erik Palmer Brown, players to watch, and more. Live coverage of the United States opening match vs Ecuador starts Monday at 3 a.m. CT on FS1 and FOX Sports GO.
What role do you see Erik Palmer-Brown playing for the U.S. U-20 squad and how his experience could benefit the team?
Already named the captain of the U-20s, Palmer-Brown will be a key figure in the U.S. back line. Given that it's his second World Cup, his experience from New Zealand will be vital as the team looks to put together a deep run in the tournament.
Who are some players to watch on the U.S. squad?
Palmer-Brown's expected center back partner, Cameron Carter-Vickers, has seen minutes for Tottenham in a handful of Cup matches this past season in England. He's a dynamic and athletic presence at the back. Whatever role Tyler Adams ends up playing for the U.S., he will be key as they look to control and dictate the tempo in matches. Another midfielder, Luca de la Torre, has quietly climbed the ladder at Fulham, and can provide a spark either in central midfield or in a wide role.
What are realistic expectations for the United States? How far away is the U.S. from being a contender to win the U-20 World Cup?
While it's hard to gauge the chances of the U.S., this is the first time that the group enters a World Cup having won the CONCACAF Championship. That's certainly going to help the confidence, and one of the keys will be getting off to a strong start against Ecuador in the first group match. Scoring goals is something that the U.S. struggled with during some of the games in CONCACAF, as they couldn't find the back of the net against Panama in the title game, winning on penalties. It's realistic to expect at least a second straight quarterfinal appearance, especially considering the group. Defending should be a strong point, so the pace the attack can set will be crucial. Even if things go well, defeating youth sides from the likes of Germany, France, England, Italy and Argentina to win the whole thing will take some doing.
With some players in Europe unavailable for the tournament, which other players could benefit from the opportunity?
There's a decent list of players that weren't released by European clubs, and that will open doors for players up front in particular. Without the likes of Nick Taitague (Schalke), Josh Perez (Fiorentina) and Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), the likes of Brooks Lennon, Jeremy Ebobisse and Josh Sargent all could have better chances at playing time. Sargent is particularly interesting because he's expected to play in both the U-17 and U-20 World Cups this year. His involvement could range anywhere from minimal to a starting role.
The U.S. is in Group F with Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, and Senegal. What are your thoughts on their chances to win the group?
Without a clear powerhouse in its group, the U.S. should be in the mix to finish at the top. There are plenty of variables of course, from the team staying healthy to playing up to its potential. As mentioned, the attack really needs to fire on all cylinders in order to for the U.S. to stick around for a long time. At minimum, the U.S. has to like its chances of at least progressing to the Round of 16.
