There will be a trio of Colorado Rapids players released to their countries following Saturday’s game against Minnesota United.
On Friday, Darren Yapi received a call-up to the United States Men’s National Team Under-20 roster for the team’s training camp in Marbella, Spain from March 18-28. It’s the team’s final camp before the roster is announced for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which is slated from late May into June and wil be held in Indonesia.
“That’s a group that I’ve always wanted to be with,” Yapi told the Rapids on Friday. “It’s a very, very talented group. You see a lot of great names and high-ceiling players and to be a part of that group made me very happy but I know what work needs to be done and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
The 18-year-old Green Valley Ranch native has started the first three games for Colorado this season and has created a slew of chances despite not finding the back of the net. Yapi is one of the few true center forwards within the U.S. age group pool, as he received a call-up to the Under-19s in January and the Under-17s in February 2020.
Also joining Yapi on international duty will be forward Diego Rubio, who was called up to Chile’s senior national team for the second time in the last two FIFA international windows. Rubio, who led the team last season with a career-high 16 goals, has yet to make an appearance this season for Colorado as he is still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. Chile will take on Paraguay March 27 in a friendly.
The third player within the organization who earned a national team call-in was Rapids 2 defender Daniel Chácon, who will represent Los Ticos of Costa Rica for a pair of CONCACAF Nations League games against Martinique (March 25) and at home against Panama (March 27).
Rosenberry readies for Loons
If there’s anyone on the Rapids who exemplifies calmness, it’s Keegan Rosenberry. The veteran right back who has started all three games for Colorado (0-2-1, 1 point) knows keeping a cool head and plenty of organization will be the key when his side kicks off against Minnesota United (1-0-1, 4 points) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at DSGP on Apple TV.
Along the back line, three new players are still trying to gel and get to know one another’s tendencies and it can take a few games to get used to it in action. Still, Rosenberry feels that with the quality of the group and if the Loons sit behind the ball, Colorado can get after them.
“They might look to defend a little more than usual and, when that is the case, our attacking shape when we’re in their half has to be very alert, guys behind the ball need to be organized and expect things to leak out and that’s where a lot of teams in the league, Minnesota included, that’s where their best players on the field are,” Rosenberry told The Post this week. “Guys that linger and pounce in transition. That’s caused us problems before and has been a focus of ours this week.”
On the other side of the ball, it will be a chance to finally break the season-long deadlock, as Colorado is one of two teams (Sporting Kansas City the other) to not score a goal so far in 2023. However, with Yapi earning national team status and key leaders and attackers in Jack Price and Jonathan Lewis getting closer to being fully fit, Rosenberry is eager to help his side to its first three points of the year.
“Coming back home is also a chance for us to take over more of the game and dictate the tempo. We look forward to that and it’ll be a good challenge for us,” Rosenberry said. “… I think we still know the potential and quality we have. More than anything, we’re eager to showcase that.”
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
