By Mike Woitalla
The World Cup-bound U.S. U-17 boys national team played fellow qualifier France, which featured Zinedine Zidane‘s son Luca Zidanein goal, to a scoreless tie en route to finishing runner-up at the Limoges Tournament in France.
Besides tying the host, which took first place, Coach RichieWilliams’ team tied 1-1 with Australia, which also qualified for the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile Oct. 17-Nov. 8.
In its final game, the USA beat French club Stade Rennais, 4-0.Joe Gallardo, who scored four goals at the Concacaf Championship, scored twice and notched one assist for the USA at the tourney.
WHY HE’S AKEEPER. Luca Zidane is the second oldest of Zizou’s four sons, all of whom play at Real Madrid, where Zinedine coaches the reserve team of his former club.
Theeldest, Enzo — named after Uruguayan legend Enzo Francescoli — has played for his father on Real Madrid B. Luca, who started out at Marseille, got worldwide internet fame whenduring a penalty kick shootout at the U-17 European Championship he tried to emulate his father’s successful panenka during the 2006 World Cup final — but shot too high.
Luca did, however, end up the hero by making three saves as France beat Belgium in the semifinal before downing Germany, 4-1, in the final.
On becoming a goalkeeper, Luca told
France fielded its key players against the USA,including striker Odsonne Edouard, who scored a record eight goals in five games at the European U-17 Championship in May. France beat Australia, 6-0, at the Limoges Tournament.
FC DALLAS CHAMPS GET A TRIAL. Prior to the tournament in France, the U.S. U-17s finished seventh at the Vaclav Jezek International Youth Tournament in the CzechRepublic. A trio of U.S. regulars returned to their clubs.
Christian Pulisic went back to Borussia Dortmund, where played the entire second half of the first team’s friendly at second division St.Pauli in front of a crowd of 25,731. Alejandro Zendejas returned to FCDallas and started in a 3-0 win over the Columbus Crew. Haji Wright returned to the New York Cosmos and was on the bench for its 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Joiningthe team in France were four players who weren’t part of the squad at the Concacaf qualifying tournament. They included Wisconsin product Luka Prpa, who is at the U-17 residency inBradenton, Fla., and three members of the FC Dallas team that won this year’s U-15/16 U.S. Soccer Development Academy national title: defender Reggie Cannon, midfielder WestonMcKennie and striker Toshiki Yasuda.
Sept. 6 in Limoges, France
USA 4 Stade Rennais 0. Goals: da Silva(McCabe) 67 Gallardo (pen.) 70, Vazquez (Adams) 81, Vazquez (Gallardo) 88.
USA — W.Pulisic; Nelson, Trusty (Arellano, 46), Dieterich,Cannon; McCabe (Calvillo, 76), Adams, de la Torre (Vazquez, 58); Gaines (da Silva, 58), McKennie, Yasuda (Gallardo, 58).
Stade Rennias — Louis, Passy, Letard, Nyamsi, Roudaut;Gautier, Bernauer (Huard, 72), Touffique (Sow, 84), Mezange (Roudaut, 72), Matondo, Le Targat (Nkada, 84).
Sept. 4 in Limoges, France
France 0USA 0.
France — Zidane; Maouassa, Doucoure, Mecano (Ouaneh, 75), Georgen; Cognat, Ruiz (Fomba, 61), Boutobba; Reine-Adelaide (Bassouamina, 61), Edouard, Ikone (Issa,75).
USA — W.Pulisic; Trusty, Arellano, Barbir, Cannon; McCabe, Adams, Gaines, de la Torre (Dieterich, 90); Vazquez (Calvillo, 46), Gallardo (McKennie, 71).
USA 1 Australia 1. Goals: Gallardo 88, Derrick 63.
USA — Silva; Nelson (Trusty, 41), Barbir,Velela (Arellano, 46), Dieterich; Calvillo, Prpa (de la Torre, 62), McKennie (McCabe, 84); Da Silva (Gaines, 46), Vazquez (Gallardo, 62), Yasuda (Adams, 74).
Australia —Delianov; Devereux (Bandiera, 62), Reardon (Kim, 69), Fotakopoulos, Vakirtsis; Caletti (Laws, 46), Hope (Reiners, 81), Dimitroff (Mendez, 46); Armenakas (Arzani, 62), Waring (Joice, 62), Derrick(Petratos, 69).
this was a great result v France U-17 which is very strong
which result? the 4-0. That was against a club… not a National team.