Wallace tears meniscus, out of World Cup

United States defender Anthony Wallace has been ruled out for the Under-20 World Cup, and the rest of the season with FC Dallas, after suffering a torn meniscus in his knee in training last week.

“It’s very disappointing,” Wallace said. “I was really looking forward to being a part of this event, going with my teammates, having that great experience that you’ll always look back on.”

Wallace’s rehab is expected to take four-to-six weeks, and his MLS club side FC Dallas has placed him on the disabled list, ruling him out of any further action this season. Wallace said he knew what had happened the moment he heard his knee pop as he landed awkwardly, but is positive he will return a stronger player next season.

“I think I’ll learn about having a setback in my career,” Wallace said. “It’s definitely not going to end it, but it’s just another bump in the road, and something that will make me stronger from a mind-set standpoint.”

Wallace, who hails from St. Petersburg and played for the Brandon Flames and Hillsborough County United before attending the University of South Florida, was to have made his second appearance for the U.S. at the Under-20 World Cup which begins in Egypt on September 26.

The injury is expected to take four-to-six weeks of recovery time, but Dallas has placed him on the MLS disabled list, rendering him unable to return to club action this season.

Wallace's former coach at South Florida George Kiefer spoke with him on Thursday last week after he had suffered the injury, and Kiefer was as disappointed as his former player that he wasn't going to be able to make the trip.

"I was hoping to see him on the roster for sure," Kiefer said. "We were excited about him going. He went to the last one, played in the last one, so he would have been a guy who played here that was in two under-20 World Cups. It saddens you a little bit to have that taken away from him."

International: Wallace named to U.S. Under-20 World Cup squad

St. Petersburg’s Anthony Wallace has been named to the United States squad that will compete in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt in September.

Wallace attended Lakewood High and played locally for the Brandon Flames and Hillsborough County United before joining the U.S. Under-17 Academy in Bradenton. He also played for a season at the University of South Florida before being drafted by FC Dallas in 2007. He is one of two returning members of the squad, UCLA goalkeeper Brian Perk was also on the 2007 squad that reached the quarterfinals of the competition two years ago.

The U.S. has been drawn in a group with Germany, Cameroon and South Korea. The opening game against Germany can be seen on ESPN Classic on September 26 at 9:55 a.m. EST, while both the Cameroon (September 29) and South Korea (October 2) games will be aired on ESPN2 at 12:45 p.m.

Clearwater’s Zac MacMath, currently with the University of Maryland and a former Clearwater Charger, was originally named to the 30-player roster Coach Thomas Rongen was to make his final decision on, but did not make the cut.

For more on this year’s squad, which will try to go one better than the Kasey Keller-led squad that reached the semifinals in 1989, click here.