da esoccer bet： Not every youth national team star makes it to the senior team, and the 2019 U.S. team shows how a group can go in different directions
da betano casino： The goal of a youth national team is simple: to push players toward the senior team. However, even in the best of cases, everyone knows that only a few select players from any age-group will ever truly make an impact at the senior level.
Because of that, projecting the future of an Under-20 team is quite difficult. They're much closer to the senior level than say, the U17s, but, at the end of the day, the hope is that three, maybe four, of the players involved can become legitimate senior contributors. If you do that every time, your pipeline is in good shape, with each ageing generation being replaced by a younger one on the conveyor belt.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this summer is the first time in four years that teams have gathered for an U20 World Cup. And, because of that, we're blessed with a bit of hindsight when it comes to the U.S. team that competed in the 2019 tournament in Poland.
That team, famously, defeated France in the last 16 before falling to Ecuador in the quarter-final. It's also a team that provided something of a backbone for the senior squad that competed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In total, 11 players that featured that summer have earned senior USMNT caps, but a few have actually taken their talents elsewhere.
Where are they now, and how many of the 2019 U.S. U20s have truly made a difference in the years since? GOAL takes a look…
Getty ImagesBrady Scott
The starting goalkeeper that summer, Scott hasn't yet broken through in MLS and has yet to appear in American soccer's top flight. After playing for FC Koln's second team for a few years, he's bounced around stateside, signing with Nashville SC, Austin FC and, most recently, the Columbus Crew.
AdvertisementGettySergino Dest
You cannot understate how important this U20 experience was for Dest. When the Netherlands came calling after his breakthrough at Ajax, Dest stayed loyal to the USMNT, citing the relationships built during his time with the youth national team. In the years since, Dest has become a mainstay for the senior side and was the first-choice starter at right-back in Qatar, with 25 total caps to his name.
He faces some competition this cycle due to a disastrous loan spell with AC Milan, but, at 22, Dest is still likely the USMNT's right-back of the present and future.
ProShotsChris Gloster
After a few seasons with Hannover and Jong PSV, Gloster returned to the U.S. to join New York City FC, where he made 20 appearances in two seasons. However, the club bought out the defender's contract ahead of the 2023 season, leaving him as a free agent.
GettyMark McKenzie
The then-Philadelphia Union defender has developed nicely since his time with the U20s. Now starring for Genk in Belgium, McKenzie narrowly missed out on the squad for Qatar, but figures to be part of the center-back pool as the 2026 World Cup cycle truly begins this summer.
A recent unlikely goalscoring surge has him back in the picture, and McKenzie should be confident whenever he next joins up with the USMNT. He has 11 total caps to his name and was a part of the 2019-20 CONCACAF Nations League winners, although he did have a rocky final against Mexico.