I was pleasantly surprised to see U.S. Soccer announce a camp for the 2006 age group. While I don’t think this roster includes many future USMNT players, I’ll always applaud more camps and more opportunities to build relationships with players.
U.S. Soccer is labeling this a U-20 team, which is technically true for this cycle. However, after the U-20 World Cup at the end of September, the 2006 class won’t have another meaningful youth tournament until possibly the 2028 Olympics. This group will be led by Rob Valentino.
The roster
GK – Andrew Rick, Philadelphia Union (#13 2006 prospect)
GK – Mohammed Shour, Seattle Sounders (2007)
GK – Matias Marin, Inter Miami (2007)
RB – Owen Presthus, Hartford Athletic (2006)
RB – Sawyer Jura, Portland Timbers (2006)
CB – Freddie Anderson, Cork City (2006)
CB – Christian Diaz, LAFC (2006)
CB - Finn Sundstrom, North Carolina FC (2006)
CB – Chibuike Ukaegbu, Sacramento Republic (#11 2007 prospect)
LB – Tahir Reid-Brown, Orlando City (2006)
LB – Riley Dalgado, LA Galaxy (2006)
DM – Edwyn Mendoza, San Jose Earthquakes (2006)
DM – Stiven Jimenez, FC Cincinnati (2007)
CM – Diego Garcia, FC Dallas (2006)
CM – Nathan Worth, New York Red Bulls (2007)
AM – Cruz Medina, San Jose Earthquakes (2006)
AM – Devon Decorte, Anderlecht (2006)
AM – Micah Burton, Austin FC (2006)
WING – Bryce Jamison, Orange Country SC (#16 2006 prospect)
WING – Mykhi Joyner, St. Louis City (2006)
WING – Aiden Hezarkhani, Real Salt Lake (2007)
CF – Eddy Davis III, Philadelphia Union (2006)
CF – Sal Olivas, Philadelphia Union (2006)
Top eligible players not on the roster
AM, CJ Olney, Lexington SC (#7 2006 prospect)
Surprised not to see him. Personally, I think he should be competing with the main U-20 team. His absence from both rosters suggests he may have declined a call-up, not wanting to leave his club for what is essentially the “U-20 B team.”
AM, Paulo Rudisill, Feyenoord (2006)
Rudisill has only one U-20 cap and doesn’t appear high on the depth chart. If available, he would have been a logical fit here.
WING, Andre Gitau, Mainz (2006)
He’s been out of the USYNT picture for a while but is playing at a solid level in Germany. It would be nice to see him reintegrated, though the travel demands of a domestic camp may have played a role.
CF, Keyrol Figueroa, Liverpool (2006)
Likely would only leave his club for the main U-20s. In my opinion, that’s where he belongs.
Player receiving first camp
GK – Matias Marin, Inter Miami (2007)
I don’t know much about him yet, but he has started 12 MLS Next Pro matches for Inter Miami II this year.
CB - Finn Sundstrom, North Carolina FC (2006)
On my scouting list. He has started 18 USL Championship matches this season.
AM – Devon Decorte, Anderlecht (2006)
Former Philadelphia Union academy player who moved to Belgium. He has five youth caps with Belgium and is now in his first U.S. camp.
Roster grade: B
This roster digs deep into what is a relatively thin 2006 class, so there’s not much to nitpick. A few players here should be in the “A team,” and three are in my top 20 for the 2006 age group. Six 2007s are also included, with Chibuike Ukaegbu the only one in my top 20 for that class.
It’s a bit unclear why these particular 2007s were chosen here instead of the 2007 team that was also announced. Are they rated higher than their 2007 peers? I don’t think so, which makes the selection logic murky. Still, there aren’t many glaring omissions. The one player I’d like to see reintegrated is Andre Gitau. As for Olney, Rudisill, and Figueroa, my guess is they declined invitations, believing they should be considered for the “A team.”
Overall, I’m glad to see U.S. Soccer continuing to invest in camps and keep every age group active on a consistent basis.
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