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The USA is the favorite to win this match: because CONCACAF is regarded as providing a higher level of competition in qualifying, and the USA is the CONCACAF U-20 champion; because the American U-20 team has a solid - though not exceptional - record at this tournament, including quarterfinal appearances in three of its last six trips to the U-20 World Cup; because the US squad is deeper and has more professional experience in its ranks than is to be found on the New Zealand roster at this World Cup; because the USA won its group and New Zealand was merely a runner-up.
New Zealand, however, will perhaps point out that it has only been to four prior U-20 World Cups, and its modest record appears to be improving: it won its first game and made its first round of 16 in 2015, now it has qualified for another round of 16 and won a second game at this level. The team only lost once in the group stage, to France - the team expected to win every game it plays at this tournament. And New Zealand beat Honduras: the CONCACAF U-20 runner-up that the USA needed a penalty shoot-out to beat in the final of the regional championship.
The All Whites beat Honduras by scoring an exceptional goal in the first minute, taking a 2-0 lead into half-time, and getting a third just as Los Catrachos appeared to be finding a way back into the game. They were underdogs in that game, as they are against the USA, and they can be expected to come looking for the upset from the opening whistle.
The USA is not a team that lacks fight or determination, but it is also entering this match with a threadbare roster. The team will have to figure out its third-choice right back, because Aaron Herrera - who got the starting RB job because Marlon Fossey was injured pre-tournament - is suspended. And it will need to find a replacement for Derrick Jones - himself replacing the injured Gideon Zelalem in the starting lineup - as he too is suspended for this match. Also sitting this game out is starting center-back Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The US squad might be deep but it is also only 21 players, and four of them (including Zelalem) aren't available to play New Zealand. With three goalkeepers in the 21, head coach Tab Ramos has 14 outfield players to choose from for this match. If the game goes to extra-time, he might use them all: the rules of this tournament allow for a fourth substitution to be made if the match extends beyond the regulation 90 minutes.
Sportingly, the All Whites have weakened themselves by sending their captain - midfielder Clayton Lewis - and starting right-back, Dane Ingham, to join the senior men's national team for Confederations Cup.
So two less-than-full-strength sides will compete for the right to play Venezuela in the quarterfinals.
If scores are tied after 90 minutes, there will be two 15-minute periods of extra-time played. if the scores are still level after extra-time, the winner will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Per livesoccertv.com, here's where to find the game if watching from the USA:
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