U-23s Notebook: U.S. U-20s wrap up Toulon Tournament

Portland Timbers U-23s midfielder/defender Eric Miller spent some quality time with the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team this past week, playing in three of four games for the United States during the 2013 Toulon Tournament in France.

Miller started and played all 90 minutes at right back in the team’s opening match of the tournament against France on May 28, and also featured in a 2-1 loss to tournament finalist Colombia on May 30. He was a second-half substitute against South Korea in the United States’ final group match on Wednesday.

The Toulon Tournament, which featured 10 different countries, served as a tune-up for the U.S. U-20 National Team for the upcoming 2013 FIFA U -20 World Cup in Turkey later this month. Colombia was the surprise of the Toulon Tournament, winning all four group matches and earning berth in the tournament final against Brazil on June 8. The United States finished the tournament with a 1-3-0 record.

The U.S. U-20 National Team opens group play in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup on Friday, June 21, against Spain; the United States will also face France and Ghana in group play. Head coach Tab Ramos will announce his 21-player World Cup roster on Friday.

In his second season with the Timbers U-23s in 2013, Miller helped the team open the Premier Development League with four straight wins before departing for national team duty. He has recorded two goals and an assist in league play and has twice been named to the PDL Team of the Week (Weeks 3, 4). Miller also notched a goal in U.S. Open Cup play aganist the Sacramento Gold on May 14.