The USA at the U20 World Cup So Far
Can they go all the way?
The USA U20 team defeated Italy 3-0 yesterday to advance to the quarterfinals of the U20 World Cup for the 5th straight time. That’s a record of success going back 12 years, an impressive statistic that shows the consistency the team has found in this age level.
At the same time, the last 4 editions have ended with heartbreak in the quarterfinals. In the last three, the USA has met a South American team with more quality and more control of the game, and just could not get a result. Does this team have what it takes to break through and get to the semifinals?
Team Performance
Even discounting the opener against a horribly outmatched New Caledonia, who admirably adapted to the tournament after the first 20 minutes, the USA has been head and shoulders above the rest of their competition. Yes, they did drop a game against South Africa, but that was after they had already won their group and rotated heavily.
No team has allowed fewer xG per game than the USA, even taking the New Caledonia game out of account. Only Japan has managed to produce more xG (for all the good it did them). The ability to throttle opponents while pursuing a pleasing style of soccer has made this team a real standout among youth national team followers.
It’s hard to look past the performance of Benjamin Cremashi. He sits at 5 goals and 2 assists on the tournament (though just 2 goals against non-Oceania teams). His off ball movement has been a thorn in the side of every team he’s played, and he’s popped up in the box to get on the end of crosses or headers. In many ways, this is the ideal environment for him. He’s not a great passer by any stretch, and struggled in MLS to play consistently forward with the ball. At the same time, in MLS Next Pro his physical ability and off ball movement were a constant challenge for peer age defenders. We see that again in this tournament where defenders who are similar in age just don’t know how to handle him or his runs. In many ways, it’s similar to Cade Cowell who looked unbeatable in 2023; against grown adults, though, it’s been tougher going.
Outside of Cremaschi, the team has had valuable contributions from Zavier Gozo. Gozo had found a rich vein of form prior to his call for the tournament, and brought that with him. While he can play as a striker or winger, he’s been more successful out wide where he can run at defenders and use his physical advantages. In a way, he’s a more polished version of Cowell from 2 years ago. He leads all players with more than 200 minutes in entries into the Danger Zone (25 yards from goal) per 96 minutes played. Since he has fewer minutes on his legs than some of his teammates, he should be expected to shoulder a bigger role down the stretch.
Finally, the back line has been outstanding. It’s been a long time since the USA has had a young defender as polished and competent as Josh Wynder. His center back partner, Ethan Kohler, has been a pleasant surprise as well. Since Kohler primarily plays in Germany’s reserve leagues, he’s not as well known, but he’s played very capably. Frankie Westfield has been the best fullback in the tournament with valuable contributions on both sides of the ball and Nolan Norris was crucial in the opener against Italy. All in all, the USA team has benefited from some very high quality play in their run in the tournament so far.
The Atlas Lions: The Next Opponent
Morocco, the next opponent, has been one of the most impressive teams in the tournament. A heavily European based squad, their players are primarily spread between the Belgian, Dutch, and French professional leagues. They were drawn into the most difficult group with Spain, Brazil, and Mexico. Of that group, Brazil was the team out and the remaining 3 went to the knockouts and won each of their games.
Morocco’s approach is classic from an international team that has a talent disadvantage (even if it is debatable that they even do have a disadvantage). They sit very deep, and defend rabidly around the box. On the ball, they attack quickly and especially try to spring attacks behind the opposing left back. They’ve been extremely effective in attacking quickly; they are second in the tournament in attacking efficiency with just 35.7 passes in the final third per xG created (the average is around 75, and the first place team, Cuba, had multiple penalties which skewed their xG).
Notably; Morocco has yet to allow a goal in open play. At the same time they have given up 3 penalty kicks. This is probably in large part due to their practice of defending mainly in their own box. When they aren’t committing penalty infractions, though, they are fairly difficult to break through.
The attack starts with their killer front 4. Yassir Zabiri, the striker, has 3 goals on 1.65 xG in the tournament (he also had a bicycle ricochet into the net for an own goal against South Korea). Saad El Haddad is the attacking midfielder; while he doesn’t do as much on the ball as some of the other attackers, he is a hard worker off the ball and joins Zabiri in pressing the back line in a 4-4-2 shape. Othmane Maama has drifted to either wing, but Morocco has had the most success with him making runs behind the back line on their right side.
The talisman for Morocco is Gessime Yassine; he plays all over but is primarily a winger, one of the best players in the tournament so far. He opened the tournament on a tear with a goal and 3 assists against Brazil and Spain; since then, he’s been rotated and kept more quiet but is still dangerous any time he has the ball at his feet. He’s also a committed defender; he burst onto the larger soccer consciousness with an outstanding performance against PSG in the Coupe de France, showing that he does not back down in any situation. Here’s his performance against Spain:
Midfielders Yassine Khalifi and Hossam Essadak appear to be first choice. Essadak started the tournament very well, but may be hurt; he only saw 10 minutes against Mexico and did not play against South Korea. His backup, Naim Byar, is good but not quite as good. All three are very good at running around and harassing opponents in the low block.
The defense is mostly geared around preventing chances, and will play fairly safely in order to do so. Right back Ali Maamar does not get forward very often but will use his ability to launch balls into the channel to try to spring Maama. On the left side, the fullback (Either Fouad Zahouani or Mohammed Kabdani) will get more forward, but still hold their shape in rest defense.
Starting GK Yanis Benchaouch has been outstanding this tournament as well, probably the best individual shotstopper. He was the starter when the USA drew 0-0 with Morocco in the friendly prior to the tournament. So far, he’s prevented almost a full goal per game based on performance against xGOT. No other goalkeeper has come close.
Key Questions
This is undoubtedly the toughest test yet for the USA. Morocco plays in a style very similar to South Africa, who made the most of their chances in the group stage; at the same time, the USA will send their absolute best group and ask difficult questions of Morocco’s defending.
Will the USA be able to generate those high quality chances? Settling for long shots or half chances probably won’t work with as many players as Morocco will have in the box, or with their keeper performing as he has. The temptation will be to take the chance as soon as it appears but the team will need patient attacking and dynamic movement in and around the box to maximize their chances. The USA has been excellent attacking set pieces, and leads the tournament in set piece xG. This may be a way to break through an otherwise stout defense.
Will Morocco be able to exploit the USA’s left side? Neither Bombino or Norris have excelled as defenders, but for the most part they haven’t had to. Bombino’s gaffe in defending led to South Africa’s second goal, and if he plays he will need to be much sharper against Maama. Norris may not have the pace to cover in behind, and if he can’t then Wynder may have a long day in support.
Will the USA be able to avoid mistakes in the build out? Morocco is not a high pressing team, and won’t chase the USA, but they will absolutely take advantage of any mistakes. Adam Beaudry gave away a goal once this tournament and has looked less than confident as a shot stopper as well.
Looking Ahead
If they do make it past Morocco, the winner of Norway and France awaits. The France team that the USA faced is not entirely the same; they added former Monaco starlet Saimon Bouabre after the group stage. He recently completed a $10 million move to NOEM in Saudi Arabia, in large part due to Monaco’s reluctance to let him represent French national teams.
Norway, on the other hand, is another team that has yet to allow an open play goal. Though not as offensively capable as Morocco, they are even more solid in defense. The USA played them in a friendly in June, and lost 1-0. Although they are missing some of their better players from the U19 UEFA Championships, their team strength makes them difficult.
The path to the final and even a title is not outlandish; as long as the USA continues to perform at a high level, they should be favored against many potential opponents. This could be the start of something special for this group.