United States U-23 men's national soccer team
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The United States U-23 men's national soccer team is a youth soccer team operated under the auspices of the United States Soccer Federation. Its primary role is qualification into and competition at the quadriennial Olympic Football Tournament, the next of which is to be held during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The team's next major tournament is the CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, projected to take place in early 2008. The current head coach is Bob Bradley. Piotr Nowak is the team's assistant coach.
While primarily a youth team, the roster can be augmented with three "overage" players, ostensibly possessing veteran experience, during Olympic competition, in accordance with FIFA regulations.
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[edit] History
Men's Olympic soccer as an under-23 competition officially began during the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. A win over Kuwait was not enough for qualification past the group stage, and, as expected, a loss to Italy and a draw with Poland eliminated the United States in the first round. Several US players on the roster, however, would go on to have a major influence with the United States men's national soccer team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which the United States would host.
The 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia would be the first time that teams could add overage players to their rosters. With the advantage as the host nation, and with Major League Soccer in the middle of its inaugural season, the USSF tapped then-DC United head coach Bruce Arena to manage the Olympic team. They would fall short again, however, as a loss to eventual-silver medalists Argentina, offset favorable results in a win against Tunisia and a draw with Portugal.
The 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia marked a significant turnaround in the fortunes of the team. This time, the United States, led by head coach Clive Charles won their group on goal difference, based on draws with Czech Republic and eventual-gold medalists Cameroon, and a win over Kuwait. A tense quarterfinal match against Japan ended in a penalty shoot-out, which the United States won. Losses to Spain in the semifinals and Chile in the bronze medal match fell short of rising expectations, but a fourth-place finish in a sixteen-team tournament led to the national youth team's greatest result at the Olympics.
The team did not compete at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece; the United States, led by head coach Glenn Myernick, would lose to Mexico in the semifinals of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament.
[edit] Current Players
Since failing to qualify for the 2004 Olympics, the U-23 Americans have been inactive, but the following notable players are eligible for the 2008 Olympic team which will begin qualifying in 2007.
- Jonathan Spector (b. 1986)
- Freddy Adu (b. 1989)
- Michael Bradley (b. 1987)
- Josmer Altidore (b. 1989)
- Charlie Davies (b. 1985)
- Lee Nguyen (b. 1986)
- Benny Feilhaber (b. 1985)
- Nathan Sturgis (b. 1987)
- Johann Smith (b. 1987)
- Tally Hall (GK) (b. 1985) [1]
[edit] Coaches
1995-1996: Bruce Arena
1996-2003: Clive Charles
2003-2004: Glenn Myernick
2006-present: Bob Bradley
[edit] See Also
- United States Soccer Federation
- United States men's national soccer team
- Football at the Summer Olympics
