Then And Now: A Look Forward At USA Soccer

As the present squad of the USA celebrates the conclusion of another successful World Cup qualifying campaign, Goal.com eyes the horizon and spots some talent that may be key to many games in the years to come.

In general, the future looks bright for the U.S. National team. We offer here a tentative list of players who are young and have the talent to impact the team for years to come.

Jozy Altidore, Hull City: Altidore is the headliner of the youth system at this point. The big striker is trying to make his mark on Hull City in the English Premier League. His combination of size and speed, along with a developing technical and tactical awareness for the game has pundits clamoring over the youngsters talents.

Though he has been thrown into the fire at a young age Altidore has already shown flashes of the player that he could become over the next few years.

Freddy Adu, Beleneses: Adu is another name that has rings throughout U.S. circles. Still a young man despite being a big name in U.S. Soccer for many years, Adu has not developed into the star that he was touted to be as a 14-year-old, but could still progress into being a top player for the Red, White and Blue.

Adu is still looking to break into the senior team as a regular and may well do so if he can find regular playing time with Beleneses, but even at 20, the clock is ticking for Adu to find a home at the club level and make his mark.

Dilly Duka, U-20 National Team: Duka was probably the most impressive player for the U.S. U-20 World Cup team that was ousted in the first round. Though the results of the team lacked, Duka showed signs of being a top flight player. His vision and clear confidence on the ball are rare commodities among U.S. youth players, and his ability to pick out the right pass could lead to a long and brilliant career for the full national side.

Guillermo Torres, Pachuca F.C.: The little brother of Jose Torres could be the next player the U.S. has to pry away from Mexico. Called into the U-20 team earlier this year, Torres left to begin his professional career in Mexico before the World Cup.

The younger Torres may not ever be the same type of player as his brother. He’s bigger than Jose, and not quite as refined at this point, but if his technical ability progresses like his brothers did at Pachuca he has the build to make an impact for the U.S. in the future.

Jared Jeffrey

Jared Jeffrey, Club Brugge, U-20 National Team: Already making his mark in Europe Jeffrey took the road less traveled and it could pay off big for the U.S. in the future. The Dallas native is a solid midfielder with a lot of growing to do before he becomes a regular fixture in Belgium or for the U.S. senior side, but he’s proven to be a competitive athlete with the desire to be a world class player.

Scandinavia and other smaller European countries like Belgium have become a common destination for U.S. youth stars. Can Jeffrey become one of the few to make the move up and away from that starting point? That’s yet to be seen, but regular playing time at the club level should be coming soon for the midfielder.

Gregory Garza, Sporting Lisbon: A young exciting defensive prospect, Garza is another player from the North Texas region who has made the jump to Europe at an early age. Playing for Sporting should help him grow into viable option for the U.S. National team in the build up to the 2014 World Cup though his prospects are extremely slim for getting a look for the senior side in the next year.

Alfredo Morales, Hertha Berlin: Another midfielder with big potential from the U.S. U-20 pool, Morales is honing his game in Germany. While he is blessed with the ability to take people on, playing in the German professional systems should give Morales some nice opportunities for the future.

With some seasoning Morales looks like the type of player who could become a regular starter for a top flight European club.

Chris Pontius, D.C. United: Pontius is making his mark on Major League Soccer in his rookie year, but prospects for the future are big. Not only does Pontius have natural athletic gifts in his size and speed, he has shown quality on the ball and knack for creativity.

Pontius is also a versatile player, which may help him fight his way into the national team setup, though it’s doubtful that he will find a place in the squad before next summer’s World Cup.

Gale Agbossoumonde, U-18 and U-20 National Teams: The big center defender has the tools to become a dominant player in the coming years. Though his showing in the U-20 World Cup showed some lapses in judgment and poor positioning at times, it has to be mentioned that Agbossoumonde is still only 17-years-old and was being asked to control the back line from the middle. His size will make him an intriguing target for professional teams in the U.S. and abroad and Agbossoumonde seems to be one of the safest bets to develop into a solid pro.

Maurice Edu, Rangers: Edu is the oldest player listed here, but he could also be the best. A proven player at the club level with Rangers and in Major League Soccer, Edu was starting to turn heads before an unfortunate injury setback at the end of last season.

While his recovery is not complete Edu should be working his way back into Ranger’s lineup in the near future. Despite the U.S. having a number of good options in the midfield Edu could have the chance to step into a starting spot in South Africa and make his mark on the world game.

Check out the Then of the Then and Now series.

Allen Ramsey, Goal.com

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