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The United States under-20 men’s national team is headed for Poland next spring. Tab Ramos’ side took advantage of a favorably altered CONCACAF Championship format and dominated the tournament perhaps more than any class before it.
The U.S. won all six of its meaningful games, including their initial classification stage match against Costa Rica to book their trip. To help you understand how dominant the young Yanks were against their out-matched competition, check out this handsome blogger’s tweet from six days ago:
Stat of the Year: The USMNT U-20 team had a higher goal differential (+37) in the group stage of the CONCACAF Championship than the Colorado Rapids had goals scored (36) in the entire 2018 MLS season. What a complete joke on both accounts.
— Rob Usry (@RobUsry) November 10, 2018
This doesn’t even take into account the 4-0 win over Costa Rica, lifting the total goal differential for the six games to an incredible +41.
So. Did we learn anything from this complete and utter humiliation of inferior opponents? No.
Should we still be excited that the USA qualified for a major youth tournament? Sure.
Do I still like asking myself questions only to answer them with obvious answers? 100 percent.
I won’t sit here and analyze every game. I admittedly did not care once seeing the schedule and only watched sparingly throughout after I realized the team would either stroll through to the World Cup or suffer one of the most embarrassing moments in the federation’s history. Thankfully they got the job done.
Please head down to the comments and let me know what I missed by not paying attention.
Here. Check out this awesome goal from Alex Mendez, who recently signed with SC Freiburg after coming up in the LA Galaxy academy:
WHAT. A. RIP.
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@ussoccer_ynt) November 17, 2018
Alex Mendez fires from 30 yards away to give the a 1-0 lead vs. ! pic.twitter.com/BKgoXTFlvT
Another Galaxy product, Uly Llanez, also impressed in the tournament with a handful of goals.
The lack of competition here shouldn’t take away from these young player’s accomplishment. However, it’s really hard to come to any conclusions when the team puts up a PLUS FORTY ONE goal differential.
Nevertheless, we get a great chance to see the best American prospects gather in Poland beginning on May 23 and take on the world. Here’s to hoping we get to see a great team that injects some hope for the future.