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The U.S. Boys’ Youth National Team will have to defeat the world’s top-ranked team if it wants to remain in contention for a World Championship medal.
No. 9 United States will play a must-win match against No. 1 Argentina in its pool-play finale on Sunday in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The winner of this match will finish Pool A in second place and advance to the second round of the World Championship, while the loser will move to the consolation bracket. The two top teams in each pool at the end of the three-match pool-play round advance to the second round.
Check out what to know about this pool-play match between the United States and Argentina.
No. 9 United States (1-1, 1-1 Pool A, 2 pts.) vs. No. 1 Argentina (1-1, 1-1 Pool A, 4 pts.)
Match vitals: 6 p.m. (5 p.m. EST) in Buenos Aires
Follow live: Live stats
Last medal finish at World Championship: United States (never); Argentina (2009 bronze)
Incoming or current NCAA players on roster: United States (nine); Argentina (one)
What to know: The United States will play Argentina in a defacto elimination match to close out its first-round pool-play. The United States trails second-place Argentina by two points for the final Pool A berth to the second round and will have to defeat Argentina in three or four games to clinch a spot in the next round. After winning its pool-play opener against Egypt, the United States lost to first-place No. 15 Bulgaria on Saturday to fall into third place. Argentina recovered from being upset by Bulgaria in its opener to sweep Egypt on Saturday. This match will also feature two of the top outside attackers during the first round of the tournament. Cody Caldwell, a Loyola incoming freshman recruit, leads the United States and is third at the tournament with 36 kills, while Argentina’s Gonzalo Lapera leads all players at the World Championship with 43 kills. In addition, Argentina captain and UCLA outside attacker Gonzalo Quiroga is in the tournament’s top 20 with 28 kills through the first two matches.