In Utah – the host site of the 2002 Winter Olympics – there is something special about the five rings of the Olympic logo. Olympic athletes spend the entire year training in the shadows of the Wasatch Mountains with dreams of gold medals.
The U.S. U-23 National Team feels those same dreams as it takes on Honduras on Saturday (1 p.m. MT) at Rio Tinto Stadium in the semifinal of the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament with a berth in the 2016 Olympics in Brazil on the line.
“I think it’s a huge deal. It’s a dream you have as a kid when you’re watching the Olympics on TV,” U.S. and Columbus Crew midfielder Wil Trapp said on Friday. “Any chance you get to be a part of it is a huge opportunity.”
Head Coach Andi Herzog agreed, but took that a step further, talking up the experience players gain at the U-23 level on their path to the full national team.
“It’s huge. It’s huge. Starting in MLS and in every league is very important too, but I think to get the international games at the highest level – qualification and Olympic Games and the World Cup – is even more important,” he explained. “You get a lot of confidence. You can compete with the other teams and see their quality. As a young player you can get the impression of how much work he has ahead of us and what he has to do for the future to be on the highest level and that’s the World Cup level.”
Thus far, the U.S. has had little trouble discarding the competition in the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament, outscoring the Canada, Cuba and Panama by a combined 13-2. With forwards Jordan Morris and Jerome Kiesewetter scoring three goals each and Real Salt Lake’s Luis Gil adding two goals and three assists, it’s an attack that is both potent and balanced in its danger.
Trapp is encouraged by those results not just in the barometer for the U.S. at the U-23 level, but also the future of U.S. Soccer.
“These are great measuring sticks for the future and I think as players you’re always trying to push yourself to see where you stack up with good players around the world your same age as well as making that jump, if it ever comes, with the Men’s National Team and performing well there as well,” he said.
Against Honduras, the U.S. will likely face its stiffest test of the tournament thus far. Honduras went 2-1-0 in the Group Stage, with the lone defeat coming to a strong Mexico team that faces Canada in the other semifinal round at 4 p.m. MT.
However, the U.S is focused on its own play and not necessarily that of its opponents.
“We have to do our job. We know what we have to do to beat Honduras and that’s our main goal. It’s a huge game. I hope my players feel a little pressure, but not too much,” Herzog said. “I hope everyone is really confident and not thinking too much. Overall, if we play with our qualities, we will win this game.”
The winner of the semifinal rounds advance to the final on Tuesday.
