Edgar Castillo: Is He The Answer At Left Back For USMNT?
by Sean Heffernan
A large percentage of US soccer fans have heralded 23 year old Edgar Castillo as the next left back for the national team without the Mexican-American ever making a appearance for the Stars & Stripes. FIFA recently approved Castillo's request to play for the United States instead of Mexico (for who he appeared four times in international friendlies) making him available to play in next summer's World Cup for the USA.
The left footed speedster plays for Mexican club Tigres alternating between fullback and midfielder. Currently, the left back job for the USMNT is in the hands of Chivas USA's Jonathan Borenstein who scored the game tying header in the Americans' final World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica last month. However, a month prior to being the hero Borenstein had played the goat making a embarrassing mistake against El Salvador that resulted in a goal and put the US in a tough spot 1-0 before their came back to win 2-1. To say the least if the US invite Castillo into the team the fight for the left back spot is far from over.
Castillo was unable to be called for the US's Saturday friendly against Slovakia (10 ET, FSC) because of club commitments, but it is suspected that he may receive a call up for the US's match against Denmark the following Wednesday. I had watched Castillo play on Telemundo with Tigres on a number occasions, but I decided to check out last weekend's match against Atlante to gauge his current form and analyze what the New Mexico born footballer could bring to the US National Team.
I was disappointed in the first half as Castillo played mostly in a left midfield position, but it was apparent right from the first whistle that one thing this kid has is speed. Early on you could tell Castillo had an itch to get involved in the attack floating forward to the left of Tigres' Brazilian striker Itamar almost playing as attacking winger. Time and time again in the first half the 23 year old would explode down the left with the ball and go fearlessly at the Atlante defenders.
On a number of occasions Castillo got the ball taken from him or took a wild shot when he should have laid off a pass to a teammate, but as a US fan you have to love his confidence. There wasn't another player on the field with his pace. Eventually in the first half the USMNT hopeful calmed down and began making more intelligent passes. In the 36th minute his cross was batted down by the hand of an Atlante defender in the box setting up a penalty kick that put Tigres ahead 2-0.
In the second half with a two goal lead, Castillo played more in a left back role. I was pleased to see on a number of plays when Atlante attackers challenged Castillo down the left, he used his pure speed to run them down and clear the ball out of danger. As the game progressed Atlante went down two men from red cards and the game shifted heavily in Tigres favor. In the 71st minute Castillo hoped on a loose ball and dribbled through three layers of Atlante defenders before kicking the ball past the helpless keeper. The Atlante defenders just ran out of gas after being attacked all night by Castillo and playing down two men. Tigres finished the game 4-0 large in part to the young American's unbridled attack.
I can't think of anyone in the US's player pool that goes at defenders like Castillo. In both good and bad ways he attacks like a Brazilian. One of his biggest attributes and biggest flaws is that he's unafraid to be greedy with the ball. There were four or five plays where Castillo should have made a more unselfish play, but he never would have scored a goal like the one he scored if he didn't have that aggressive mentality.
I'd like to see a game where he plays the full 90 at left back and see how he does. Bradley also could use him on the left as a midfielder if he wanted some speed out wide, but the US have had success starting Landon Donovan in that position and don't see his role changing any time soon.
For Castillo to thrive in a left back role he would have to learn more restraint of bombing forward all the time, but it's hard deny the kind of potential the kid has. This Saturday Castillo's Tigres face off against fellow American Jose Francisco Torres's Pachuva at 6 PM ET on Telefutura.
Hopefully, Bradley will call in Castillo in for the Denmark friendly as time is precious before next summer's World Cup and if in fact Castillo is good enough to compete for a spot on the national team then he needs to incorporated into the team as quickly as possible. Only time will tell if Edgar Castillo can become a pivotal figure for US Soccer, but from what I saw last Saturday fans have good reason to be excited.
Do you think Edgar Castillo can win the left back job? Leave your comments below.
[ad#Google Adsense-1]