da apostebet: GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from the first three games of the U20 World Cup
da gbg bet: Six goals scored, zero conceded: Mikey Varas couldn't have dreamed it up any better. The U.S. U20 men's national team head coach led his side through a perfect group stage, and that isn't hyperbole. These three games couldn't have gone much better.
Wins over Ecuador, Fiji and Slovakia, showed the team's different sides. They battled it out against Ecuador before a heroic late goal. They battered an overmatched Fiji until they capitulated. Finally, they created a host of chances against a pretty game Slovakia side, who did little to nothing with the ball.
What made it all the more impressive is the sheer amount of players that had a good run. Varas did well to rotate his side, one already weakened by absences, and every game felt like it had a different star. From Jonathan Gomez's heroics in the opener to Cade Cowell's blitz in the finale, this wasn't a one-man show.
There were several standouts, though, for a team that saw just about everyone make their case. Varas will have some problems in the knockouts as he'll now have to figure out how to line up a team with just about everyone in form.
Those are good problems, though. He'll enjoy that part of it as the U.S. prepares for the knockouts yet again. They've been here five times running, but have yet to make the semifinal.
Is this their year? We'll see how it all shakes out but, based on what we've seen, the U.S. will be a scary opponent for anyone in their way.
With that said, here's a look at the winners and losers from the team's group stage run…
GettyWINNER: The Philadelphia Union
Brenden Aaronson, Paxten Aaronson, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Jack de Vries, Anthony Fontana… all Union homegrowns currently plying their trade in Europe. If this group stage was any indication, there will be a few more names added to that list soon.
The Americans' top two performers in the group stage are both Union starlets, as Jack McGlynn and Brandan Craig stole the show in the opening three games.
McGlynn, who started the first two matches and then came off the bench against Slovakia, was absolutely marvellous, running the midfield with ease in both games. The 19-year-old midfielder, who started in the MLS Cup final last year, has poise beyond his years. Europe, take notice.
The same can be said for Craig, who has been phenomenal in defense. His passing range has been superb and, with the U.S. not conceding a goal through the group stage, it's fair to say his defending has been too. The central defender has also been a set-piece taker, adding another layer to his game.
Finally, there's Quinn Sullivan, who hasn't been quite as good as the other two. Still, it shows just how good the other pair are to put Sullivan in third here, given his spectacular assist against Serbia.
The Union have been the best team in MLS when it comes to developing talent, and it isn't stopping any time soon. They likely won't have these three for long. The U-20 World Cup is a showcase for starlets, and the Union's phenoms have been among the best. At some point soon, the club will be paid handsomely for that fact.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Paxten Aaronson
In some ways, it must be hard to watch for Aaronson. He could be, and should be, a key member of this team, and it's hard not to imagine how fun this would all be with him in the line-up.
Aaronson was the team's star during CONCACAF play, He won the Golden Ball and Golden Boot thanks to his seven goals, helping the U.S. overcome their lack of pure striker. In CONCACAF, Aaronson was nothing short of dominant as he looked set to be this team's breakout star at the World Cup.
Eintracht Frankfurt, though, decided otherwise. The Bundesliga side, as is their right, opted to keep Aaronson with the team for the team's final matches of the season: a league clash with Freiburg on Saturday and a DFB-Pokal final against RB Leipzig one week later. That decision comes as Aaronson has played his way into a bit-part role for the club, making six substitute appearances since mid-March.
Are substitute appearances for Frankfurt more valuable than a starring role at the World Cup? That's up for debate, but Frankfurt clearly chose their side. As a result, Aaronson is watching on as his teammates dominate, likely wondering how many he could have scored had he been allowed to join them.
Buda Mendes – FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesWINNER: The Luna-Cowell connection
Say what you want about these two, but you have to acknowledge that this duo wreaks havoc.
Caden Cowell and Diego Luna absolutely tore Slovakia to shreds in the 2-0 win, creating chance after chance after chance, even if they struggled to put them in. That performance came after the two both got on the scoresheet against Fiji, but it was the Slovakia game that we'll talk about here.
When he gets into his stride, Cowell is just about unstoppable at this level. He's simply too fast and too strong. He's also very good on the ball, allowing him to bounce off of defenders while also weaving between them.
Can his finishing use some work? Hell yeah it could. The San Jose Earthquakes star missed chance after chance on Friday but, at the end of the day, the optimist would give him credit for creating those chances.
As for Luna, he seems to be the perfect partner for the chaos-raising Cowell. His curled finish against Fiji was mesmerizing and he would have had another against Slovakia, too, if the post didn't get in the way. His movement is a perfect compliment for Cowell, leaving the U.S. without a true need for a normal No.9, should they go that route.
Whether it's Kevin Paredes, Caleb Wiley or Darren Yapi joining them in the attack, this duo needs to stay together. It's one we could see for the USMNT someday, and it's one that World Cup opponents won't want to see any time soon.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Owen Wolff
Loser is very harsh here, considering Wolff did put in some good shifts. He had an assist in the win over Ecuador and was otherwise solid in the other two matches.
But, with Rokas Pukstas joining the fray, Wolff is likely the one making way in the midfield. And with the U.S. nearly faultless through three games we needed a second loser and, given the situation, Wolff will have to do.
Pukstas didn't fly all this way to sit on the bench. Having won the Croatian Cup this week with Hajduk Split, Pukstas is expected to jump right into the midfield for the knockout rounds.
The question is who joins him. McGlynn is a lock, we know that, while Daniel Edelman, the team captain, is likely in there, too. That leaves Wolff as the one most likely to move to a substitute role.
Given the fact that he started all three games while the other two were rotated out, that was likely always the plan. Wolff guided the U.S. through the group stage, so job done in that regard.
The fight for substitute minutes will be tough, too. Niko Tsakiris looked good off the bench, scoring a goal in the Slovakia win, while Obed Vargas looked composed in a more defensive role. Depending on the game, Varas could turn to those two.
Or he could turn to Wolff, who proved pretty reliable in the first three games, but could see a reduced role going forward.