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Five Players That Caught My Eye in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup

By Josh Tonti

FLORENCE, ITALY - APRIL 29: Alessandro Plizzari of Italy looks on during a Italy training session at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on April 29, 2019 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
FLORENCE, ITALY - APRIL 29: Alessandro Plizzari of Italy looks on during a Italy training session at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on April 29, 2019 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) /
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FRISCO, TEXAS – APRIL 13: Cristhian Paredes #22 of Portland Timbers dribbles the ball against Paxton Pomykal #19 of FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on April 13, 2019 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
FRISCO, TEXAS – APRIL 13: Cristhian Paredes #22 of Portland Timbers dribbles the ball against Paxton Pomykal #19 of FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on April 13, 2019 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

2. CM – Paxton Pomykal, United States, 19.5, FC Dallas (MLS)

Take the qualities that make John McGinn great: the endurance, the low center of gravity, the decent left-foot. Now add them to many of Jack Grealish’s qualities: the near 360-degree vision, the ability to weave in and out of cuts and draw contact.

That’s Paxton Pomykal, captain of the United States Under-20 team.

He consistently flashed throughout the tournament, running miles, and creating, as the U.S. bowed out in the quarter-finals. Pomykal is already excellent and it’s a matter of when, not if, he makes a senior debut + earns a move to Europe. He was already drawing interest from several clubs.

Positionally, he’s a ‘tweener as a No. 8/10 hybrid, but he can also play on either wing in a pinch.

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