U17 Euro Semifinals Are Set + USYNT Headed To Europe

The U17 Euro Semifinals Are Set

Following a highly competitive group stage phase the U17 Euro Semifinals are set. Group A was the first to finish action on Sunday May 25th, and it did not disappoint. The group stage opened with two blowouts as Portugal routed Albania to win 4-0 against the host country. In the other Group A matchup France got the best of Germany beating them 3-0 on day one. Match day 2 saw Germany bounce back with a dominant performance over Albania winning 4-0 to keep their qualification hopes alive. An impressive win which saw USMNT eligible Alexander Staff score the second goal for Germany in the 20th minute. The other Group A matchup on the second match day was a stalemate as France and Portugal drew 0-0. This left Portugal on top of the group with four points and a +4 goal difference heading into the final day. France was tied on points with Germany behind them sitting on three points. Albania became the first team to be eliminated from competition following their loss against Germany as they sat deadliest with a -7 goal difference and 0 points. Now onto the final day which saw France dominate the hosts and cruise to a 4-0 victory against Albania. Djylian N'Guessan bagged two goals in this match while Hermann Diandaga got the opener. This secured France’s semifinal hopes as they top Group A. The heavily anticipated matchup between Portugal and Germany delivered as well. With Portugal just needing a draw to gain qualification while the Germans needed all three points. Somewhat surpisiningly, it would be Germany who opened up the scoring in the 72nd minute through Lasse Isbruch. This lead would not last too long though as Portugal strikes back through one of their main men Tomas Soares who plays his club ball for Benfica. This left Germany in trouble, and unfortunately for them, they were unable to recover and Daniel Banjaqui scored the winner for Portugal in the 89th minute securing their spot in the semifinals of the U17 Euros. This secured qualification for Portugal, and they await the winners of Group B in the semifinals.

In Group B we have some strong nations including Italy, England, Belgium, and Czechia. In match day one. Italy took on Czechia in the first match. This match proved to be completive, but it was Italy who would come out on top 2-1 and take an early lead in Group B. England and Belgium would go head to head in the second match, and this match we would see some serious stars take the field. The likes of Max Dowman and Rio Ngoumah were both in the front three for England, but it was midfielder Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez who would open the scoring. This would be answered by Belgium’s Noah Fernandez who scored a lovely free kick. The match would end 1-1. This lead us into match day two which saw Belgium take on Czechia in the early game. Ali Camara bagged two goals early on for Belgiumm, and this helped them earn a 3-1 victory officially eliminating Czechia from claiming the European trophy. In probably the most anticipated match of the group stage England took on Italy. Samuele Inacio opened the scoring early for Italy in the 10th minute, but it was Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez who would fire back yet again for England scoring shortly after. Italy would steal the lead before halftime though as Cristiano De Paoli put them infront 2-1. Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez got his brace in the second half to make the score 2-2, but Italy would fire two more goals in before the 90 minutes was up via Thomas Campaniello and Andrea Luongo leading them to a 4-2 and qualification. This led to Italy sitting atop of the group with 6 points followed by Belgium with four, and England sitting with just one heading into the final day of the group stage. England and Czechia faced off in the first match of match day three in group B. The match started off very well for Arsenal’s Max Dowman who bagged his first goal of the tournament, and he also later assisted Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez to put England up 2-0 early on. From there, England would tackle on a few more goals and eventually win the match 4-2. This meant they needed Italy to beat Belgium by at least two goals to advance via goal difference this would prove a tough task, but Samuele Inacio helped them out bagging a brace. This would have pushed England over the line, but Belgium did score one goal of their own which means they advance. Italy finishes atop of the group with a perfect nine points followed by Belgium with four, England with four, and Czechia with zero.

The semifinals will see Belgium take on France on May 29th. This game will be highly completive as both teams have some of the top prospects, and this will be one of the best games we see all tournament. We are going to go for France to take this one. In the other semifinal Italy will take on Portugal, and it is hard to see this Italian side slow down. We are going for Italy to make it to the final and to bring home the 2025 U17 European Championship.

The USYNT U18s Are Headed To Switzerland

The USYNT U18 squad will head to Switzerland to take on various countries from around the world in the U18 Friendship Cup. The tournament begins on June first and the USYNT has been placed in Group A with powerhouses Argentina, France, and Oceania side Australia. The USYNT will open their campaign against France on June 1st. Three days later the Stars and Stripes will face off against the U18s of the World Cup champions Argentina, and will then finish off their group stage campaign against Australia. From there they will matchup with whatever side from Group B finishes in the same place as them. The top two will square off in the championship match while the second place sides from each group fight for third and so on. Group B contains some very historic football nations as well.The likes of Portugal, Uruguay, Senegal and Japan will battle it out in Group B. The USYNT U18s will be expected to put up a strong fight in this competition, and this will be the same age group for the next U20 World Cup in 2027. This tournament will provide an early look as to what squads could make a difference at the World Cup in two years time.

The Dreams Cup Finishes As Inter Miami Dominate The Championship Matches

Inter Miami hosted the second ever Dreams Cup this past weekend. A tournament backed by Leo Messi and various other Inter Miami stars. The tournament featured well over 1000 squads with age groups ranging from U7 to U19. The tournament opened with a packed Chase Stadium which saw Inter Miami U13s defeat Orlando City U13s with a 59th minute winner just before the final whistle was blown. The finals were played on Monday, and we will be coving the U13 games and up. Benjamin Suarez bagged a brace as the Inter Miami U13s defeated One FC in the final. They would go on to win 3-0, and add another trophy to their cabinet. In the U14 final Inter Miami took on Athletic Juventus FC. Inter Miami would again cruise to a 3-0 victory over Athletum, and claim a second title for Inter Miami at the Dreams Cup. The U15 and U16s finals featured this exact same fixture of Athletum FC vs Inter Miami. Miami would win both these finals by two goals. The U15s winning 2-0 and the U16s catching a 3-1 victory respectively. The U17 final saw two new teams qualify. Solar Sc from Texas would claim one spot while Doral SC would also qualify for the finals. Doral SC defeated Inter Miami’s academy on route to the final, and they would dominate this game winning 5-1. A major victory for the ECNL-RL squad defying nearly all odds. A greta showing from the side. The U19 final once again saw Inter Miami hoist the trophy following a 2-0 victory over Strikers Miami FC.