Spain holds no fear for U.S. U-17s

KANO, Nigeria -- Heading into the FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea two years ago, the "can't miss" future American star was Alex Nimo. In 2005 in Peru, it was Quavas Kirk who was destined to carry the reigns of the next American generation.

As those two players -- currently plying their trades in the USL -- might attest, advance billing as future star or world-beating team at the youth level is no guarantee of success. So even with all the promise represented by the corps of young stars leading the American U-17 national team into play Monday in Kano, Nigeria, there is still a lot to be learned about this group.

The Americans have the perfect chance to prove themselves right off the bat, as they take on world power Spain in their opening match. The Iberians' second-place finish to Nigeria in Korea two years ago is looking more like a championship these days, in the wake of revelations of age-related cheating in this year's Nigerian player pool. The three time U-17 World Cup runners-up Spanish also boast a record eight European titles at this level, the most recent ones coming in 2007 and 2008.

The showdown with the Spaniards will go a long way toward defining the U.S. as a potential title contender, or just another American team fighting to go as far as possible.

"The first game of any tournament is always the most important," said American defender Perry Kitchen. "It sets the tone for the rest of the games to come. So a win would definitely be ideal, but we're just going to try and get what we can."

Though the Spanish youth side -- in the midst of a 21-game unbeaten run -- has been emulating their country's full national team of late, a win over Spain is certainly not an impossible task for the Americans. In February, an American team featuring most of the players who will take the field Monday played Spain to a close 2-1 loss in Madrid, in which the hosts scored in second-half added time to secure the victory.

U.S. U-17 men's schedule
Oct. 26 U.S. vs. Spain Sani Abacha Stadium; Kano, Nigeria 2 p.m. ET, ESPNU, ESPN360.com Oct. 29 U.S. vs. Malawi Sani Abacha Stadium; Kano, Nigeria 11 a.m. ET, ESPNU, ESPN360.com Nov. 1 U.S. vs. UAE Gateway International; Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria 10 a.m. ET, ESPNU, ESPN360.com

That result has the Americans confident going into Monday's match, despite the challenge of facing one of the world's premier soccer-playing countries.

"They're a great team and we know that," said Kitchen. "Last time we played them it was a great game and we lost in the final minute. We know we can play with them. We can play with anyone in the world. We feel very confident about what we're trying to do and what we can do."

The friendly in Spain was one of a string of matches with high-profile teams in which the Americans have achieved increasingly positive results. During the yearlong series of practice games -- which included opponents such as fellow World Cup contenders Uruguay, Colombia, Argentina and Gambia -- the team grew in confidence and jelled as a unit. They are now anxious to show how much they have improved since that first match against Spain.

"I think we were a little nervous starting out, because we know as a country they're always good," said goalkeeper Earl Edwards of the loss to Spain. "They got an early one and we fought back, but they won it in the last seconds. But this is the strongest we've ever been, so I think we'll be a better team going into the World Cup, and hopefully we can prove ourselves."

Whether the team is really stronger than it was in February is another question that will be at least partially answered on Monday. In February, the Americans featured three high-profile players -- Charles Renken, Joseph Gyau, and Sebastian Lletget -- who won't be with the team in Nigeria. Only time will tell if coach Wilmer Cabrera's group is indeed better in the face of those absences.

Either way, Spain will not be surprised by the Americans this time around.

"I know we have Spain's respect," said Cabrera, "because when we played them at home we played face to face the same level, so my players know that Spain respects us, and we respect Spain."

Unlike the relatively static American roster, Spain has made a bevy of changes to its group since the beginning of the year. The Spanish have a disparate and deep pool of young talent performing with youth teams throughout their professional league, considered by many to be the best in the world. The roster includes six youth players from European club heavyweight FC Barcelona, and three from Real Madrid.

"We are going to face one of the top teams in the world, not only at the full national teams level, or that they have one of the most important leagues in the world, but also in terms of youth develop, that makes them favorites all around the world," said Cabrera. "At the World Cup, you have to be prepared for the best teams in the world."

Against its run of good form, Spain struggled through an odd European Under-17 tournament over the summer in which it wasted numerous scoring chances in mustering only three scoreless ties in the group phase, leaving it in third place and out of the running for a third consecutive European title.

Though disappointing, the effort was good enough to see La Roja through to the World Cup, where they hope their scoring touch will return behind a strike cast that includes Atletico Bilbao forward Iker Muniain, who recently became the youngest goal scorer ever in La Liga. Atletico Madrid duo Koke and Borja Gonzalez also figure to play a significant role in assuaging those offensive woes, along with future Real Madrid playmaker Pablo Sarabia.

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After their opening duel, the Americans and Spanish face what look to be less threatening sides in the United Arab Emirates and Malawi. That makes Monday's clash all the more vital in setting the tone in Group E.

"It very well could come down to the two of us fighting for the top of the group," said Edwards. "So I think we're going to have to be very focused in trying to win that first game. Winning the first one always helps to get off on the right foot."

With a history of young stars and teams expected to do well, only to come up short of expectations at the U-17 World Cup, a victory would also go a long way toward proving that this American team will be different.

Brent Latham covers U.S. soccer for ESPNsoccernet. Based in Dakar, Senegal, he also covers West Africa for Voice of America radio and can be reached at brentlatham@ymail.com.