Soccer By Ives

U.S. Under-20 national team heading to Spain

                                                                                Photo by ISIphotos.com

The 2009 Under-20 World Cup is still almost a year away but it isn't too early to start thinking about the U.S. Under-20 team that will look to improve on the 2007 tournament performance that saw Michael Bradley, Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore lead the Americans to the quarterfinals.

U.S. Under-20 national team coach Thomas Rongen selected an 18-player roster for a training camp in Madrid in November. The list is chock full of many of the best prospects in the U.S. pipeline.

Here is the group:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Earl Edwards (San Diego, Calif.), Josh Lambo (FC Dallas)

DEFENDERS (5): Gale Agbossoumonde (Syracuse, N.Y.), Anthony Arena (Kenmore, Wash.), Kyle Davies (Southampton FC), Zarek Valentin (Lancaster, Pa.), Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Bryan Arguez (Hertha Berlin), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA), Gregory Garza (Sporting Lisbon), Josh Hernandez (Dallas, Texas), Jared Jeffrey (Club Brugge), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Giuseppe Nazzani (Reggio Emilia, Italy)

FORWARDS (4): Vincenzo Bernardo (SSC Napoli), Tristan Bowen (Los Angeles Galaxy), Abdusalam Ibrahim (Toronto FC), Jose Torres (Loros de Colima)

What next for dismissed U.S. Under-17 star Martinez?

                                              Photo by ISIphotos.com

It was about 10 months ago when most U.S. national team fans first saw or heard about Carlos Martinez.

The young Under-17 national team player wowed spectators with his two game-winning goals in last winter's Nike Friendlies and eager and overzealous fans began penciling him in as one of the potential stars of the national team program even though he was just 15 at the time.

Martinez was certainly on that track as one of the jewels of the U.S. Under-17 national team residency program. At least before he was kicked out of the program recently.

Bowen to sign with Galaxy and become first youth academy grad in MLS history

The Los Angeles Galaxy will become the first team in Major League Soccer to sign a graduate straight from its youth academy when it officially signs forward Tristan Bowen, sources with knowledge of the deal told SBI on Monday.

The deal, a Generation adidas contact, will make Bowen the first player to graduate from youth academy level to the professional level since MLS began its player development initative after the 2006 season. It remains unclear when the club will formally announce the signing, but sources have confirmed that the club has agreed to a deal with Bowen.

Recapping the week: Catching up on MLS news and some recommended reading

                                                                           Photo by ISIphotos.com

Good afternoon folks. With another week in the rearview mirror, and another weekend upon us where we can relax and enjoy some soccer, here is a look back at some stories I missed during the week, some hot topics I wanted to touch on and some recommended reading:

The San Jose-Houston Dynamo match set for this weekend has been postponed as Houston recovers from Hurricane Ike. The match has been rescheduled for Oct. 15.

Rumors are swirling that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has his eye on U.S. national team prodigy Charles Renken. That's all well and good but some people need to realize that Renken can't sign a professional contract outside the United States until he turns 18. For those unfamiliar with Renken's story, here is a great piece on Renken by ESPN.com colleague Justin Rodriguez.

Although you can't watch Clint Dempsey play for Fulham these days since he's been glued to the bench, you can read all about him in this amazingly in-depth piece on Dempsey by fellow Designated Player Adam Spangler of This Is American Soccer. It's a must-read.

Meet the Future: New U.S. Under-17 program class unveiled

                                                                    Photo by ISIphotos.com

The U.S. Under-17 residency program in Bradenton, Florida has produced many of the best players in American soccer and the next crop of would-be Freddy Adus, Jozy Altidores and Michael Bradleys is set to be revealed.

U.S. Under-17 head coach Wilmer Cabrera announced this fall's 40-player academy class and it boasts the nation's best young talent, including Charles Renken (10), Carlos Martinez (11) and Earl Edwards (1) (all pictured above) and several other players who impressed for the U.S. Under-17 national team at the Nike Friendlies last December.

All 40 players are eligible for the 2009 Under-17 World Cup and the majority of that eventual U-17 team will come from the crop of standouts chosen as the latest in a storied line of professionals.

Here is the new U.S. Under-17 residency class:

U.S. Under-20s rout Mexico, 3-0

It wasn't the familiar 2-0 scoreline, but 3-0 sounds even better.

The U.S. Under-20 national team scored three first-half goals to topple Mexico, 3-0, in a friendly in Laredo, Texas on Friday night. University of Michigan forward Peri Marosevic scored a pair while New England Revolution midfielder Brandon Manzonelli added a pair of assists.

The Americans dominated the match in front of the mostly pro-Mexican crowd of 4,000 in attendance, holding Mexico without a shot on goal all game. The match had its requisite feistiness, with three red cards issued, including one to Manzonelli.

Not a bad way for Americans to start off the same weekend we will see SuperLiga kick off.

What do you think of the result? Share your thoughts below.

A peek at the future: Red Bulls U-18 vs. U.S. Under-17

If you are wondering where the future of American soccer is this weekend, it is not in London or France. it is in a midwestern Illinois city where hundreds of top prospects have converged to show how the American talent pool is being filled.

The U.S. Soccer Development Academy kicked off its Spring Showcase in Rockford, Illinois on Friday with all 126 member teams sending representatives.

The first day of action featured a high-profile match-up between the U.S. Under-17 national team vs. the New York Red Bulls Under-18 team. In a match-up featuring some of the most highly-regarded prospects in American youth soccer, the U.S. team posted a thrilling 3-2 victory.

The game had it all. From top prospects (such as Stefon Jerome, Shaquille Phillips and Joe Gyau for the U-17s and Jonny Exantus and Matt Kassel for the Red Bulls), to insane goals like Luis Gil's Gol Olympico (corner kick straight into the Red Bulls net), to two-goal star performance from Exantus to a game-winning free kick by Marlon Duran.

Wish you could see the highlights? You can, courtesy of the folks at U.S. Soccer:

Edu replaces Feilhaber on USA roster vs. England

                                                                       Photo by ISI Photos

Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu will replace Derby County midfielder Benny Feilhaber on the U.S. national team roster that will face England at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday, sources told SBI on Thursday.

Toulon Tournament: USA vs. Turkey (Running Commentary)

Good morning folks. Today marks the U.S. Under-23 national team's debut in the Toulon International Tournament. The Americans will take on Turkey.

I will be following the match and providing a running commentary. Feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match.

Matt Kassel called in to U.S. Under-20 camp in England

Red Bulls youth prospect Matt Kassel was one of 18 players selected to take part in a U.S. Under-20 national team camp in Manchester, England next week. The U.S. team will play friendlies against the reserve teams from Bolton (May 7), Manchester United (May 8) and Liverpool (May 10).

Also on the squad are former U.S. Under-17 standout and New Jersey native Billy Schuler, U.S. Under-20 World Cup reserve goalkeeper Brian Perk as well as Wake Forest standout defender Ike Opara.

Here is the rest of the roster for the U.S. Under-20 camp:

Eric Avila close to signing with MLS

Eric Avila, the UCSB midfielder who helped lead the Gauchos to the 2006 NCAA College Cup title, is close to signing a deal with Major League Soccer.

According to MLS sources, the skillful midfielder is set to forego his senior season of college and is considering a Generation adidas contract that would make him one of the most highly-coveted players in the 2008 MLS Draft. He had been rumored to be planning a move to Argentina, but sources say Avila is now closing in on a deal with MLS.