While their peers are preparing for the upcoming Development Academy season back in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Union Academy teammates Kris Shakes and Axel Picazo are in the Czech Republic for a tournament through August 26th.
Shakes, a goalkeeper from Florida, and Picazo, a winger from Texas, are among 21 players called into the United States Under-18 team by head coach Tab Ramos.
They begin play today against the United Arab Emirates, play Bulgaria on Wednesday and finish group play against the hosts on Friday. The U.S. won the Vaclav Jezek Youth Tournament in 2014 (with Union Academy alums Sebastian Elney and Sean Wilson) and 2016 (with current first team defender Matt Real).