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They did it! Andi Herzog's USA U-23 Men's National Team will contest the third-place playoff in the 2015 Toulon Tournament! There will be one more opportunity in this competition (if selected) for Dan Metzger, the New York Red Bulls II midfielder, to further his claim on a roster spot for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament.
But first, USMNT must learn who it will be playing - and there is a strong possibility it will be one of the teams involved in this game between Mexico and Morocco, effectively a playoff to decide the winner of the tournament's Group B.
Like the USA, Mexico has sent its U-23 squad to France, treating Toulon 2015 as a chance to prep for Olympic Qualifying. It isn't necessarily the case that El Tri and USMNT will play each other in CONCACAF's October tournament: they are in different groups, meaning they can only meet in the semi-finals or final. That's not unlikely -they will effectively be co-favorites to represent the region at the Brazil Olympics - but upsets happen.
Still, a meeting between Mexico and USA in Toulon could foreshadow a more meaningful contest in October. And any soccer showdown between these two regional rivals is surely to be encouraged.
The good news for any US fans watching this game and hoping for a result that will send Mexico to play USMNT in the third-place playoff: you're rooting for El Tri to lose. A win or draw wins Group B for Mexico, and means there will be no match against USA on June 7.
So if you want to see USMNT's Toulon 2015 crowned by a run at Mexico, root for the Moroccans to win. Morocco has also sent over the U-23 team to France. The squad includes Achraf Bencharki, a contender for the tournament's Golden Boot (he's one goal shy of the current front-runner, France's Enzo Crivelli)
For Mexico, keep an eye out for Carlos Cisneros (a Chivas prospect who leads his team's scoring in Toulon) and Martin Zuniga, who was named the best young player in the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League after tallying five goals for Club America in the competition.
And remember: if Mexico is to play USA on June 7, Mexico must lose to Morocco on June 5.