Ex-Boise National makes U.S. national soccer team debut

Former Valley View Elementary student Ander Egiluz made his debut for the U.S. national soccer team Tuesday in a 2-1 win over Ukraine in the U-19 Slovakia Cup.

The member of Spanish soccer power Athletic Bilbao’s youth academy started as a defensive midfielder before coming off for a substitute at halftime. He then started as a central midfielder and played all 80 minutes Thursday in a 3-1 loss to Slovakia after the U.S. had already wrapped up its appearance in the finals Friday against Russia.

The Slovakia Cup serves as a proving ground U.S. players trying to make the roster for the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship and the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Egiluz planned to return to Boise and attend Capital High in 2014-15 before getting called up to Bilbao’s youth academy. He played for the Boise Nationals Soccer Club in the fifth grade.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Ex-Boise National makes U.S. national soccer team debut."