Cody Cropper Makes Roster of US U-20 National Team
Minnesota’s Cody Cropper has been chosen as one of two goalkeepers on the US U-20 National Team on a roster that consists of many foreign-based players.
17-Year Old Cody Cropper
The U-20 team will be traveling to the Netherlands, where it will play in the Cor Groenewegan Tournament, a contest that pairs some youth national teams with youth club teams. The U-20′s, coached by Thomas Rongen, will meet in his native Holland on May 15th with their first game on the 18th.
20 US players have been called in for the competition, which will include four international matches. The tournament schedule has not yet been finalized, but the U.S. team will play friendly matches against Senegal on May 18 and Korea Republic on May 20. Nine of the 20 players on the roster are based in Europe, a trend that is happening more frequently in recent years.
Cropper spent some time with the U-17 National Residency Camp in Bradenton, Florida last year but left at the end of the school year feeling it wasn’t the right fit for the young keeper.
Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Samir Badr (FC Porto; Fairfax, Va.), Cody Cropper (Ipswich Town; Athens, Ga.)
DEFENDERS (7): Gale Agbossoumonde (SC Braga; Syracuse, N.Y.), Chad Barson (Akron; Lewis Center, Ohio), Bryan De La Fuente (Chivas USA Academy; Bell, Calif.), Perry Kitchen (Akron, Indianapolis, Ind.), Kofi Sarkodie (Akron; Huber Heights, Ohio), Zarek Valentin (Akron; Lancaster, Pa.), Parker Walsh (1860 Munich; Irvine, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Erik Benjaminsen (Stabæk; Sandvika, Norway), Lester Dewee (Olympique de Marseille; Kensington, Md.), Bryan Dominguez (Miami FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Alex Molano (Dinamo Zagreb; Grapevine, Texas), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union; Sacramento, Calif.), Moises Orozco (Real So Cal; Oxnard, Calif.), George Pantelic (FK RAD Belgrade; Woodland Hills, Calif.), Cesar Zamora (Chivas USA; Sylmar, Calif.)
FORWARDS (3): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls; Barnegat, N.J.), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union; Alpharetta, Ga.), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich; Irvine, Calif.)
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Not only am I excited that 17 year old Cropper is getting a look on this U-20 team, I’m excited when I look at this roster and the experience so many of our bright young players are now getting. Just 10 years ago our Bradenton residency camp was the only thing going for these young players and that was a huge improvement over playing club and college ball. Now we have the Development Academy system and players that are moving from high level club soccer onto academy teams both here and in Europe. The future is bright for US Soccer. Its still going to take some time, but we are getting there. Hopefully I will be able to explain why I feel like this next week when I publish my story on Cody.
I believe that this time next week Brian will feel vindicated in his comments regarding the future of USA football.He will find that Cody Cropper in particular will be outstanding in this Competition.He has been keeping a low profile as of late being coached in England. This lad is outstanding and will no dought be one of the greatest Goal Keepers to come from the USA in the not too distant future. We need these players that are being coached abroad they are learning at the highest level and can only be good for the future of football in the USA.
Why is Cropper’s hometown given as Athens? That’s where I grew up, so his name stood out.
I believe that is where Cody’s dad presently lives.
What a brilliant performance cody cropper produced in the opening friendly against Senegal,Making several good saves and two outstanding saves that tied the score for a 0-0 Draw for the USA under 20 side Brian will surely be able to give you a more in depth picture on this remarkable young Goalkeeper, when he publishes his story on Cody Cropper in the very near future