At 15, Craig Capano is the youngest member of the U.S. U-17 team that can clinch a spot in the Under-17 World Cup Friday with a win against Canada and a Jamaica win or tie over El Salvador. The 5-foot-4 Capano, a product of Hyde Park, N.Y., is the U-17 playmaker in the middle. “We got up Wednesday morning and we all had a little nervousness in us, but you expect to be a little nervous going into your first big international with a lot of meaning to it. We had brunch, and then we had the walk-and-stretch that we have each game day. Our trainer Goodie [Brian Goodstein] told us to keep focused, because normally we like to really fool around and have a good time at these walk and stretches. That was the first shot to us that told us that this game was different and we had to get into it and get ready hours before the game. We stay focused and after the walk-and-stretch we got into a huddle and did a cheer for the USA. Then we went back to the hotel and we all talked about what we were going to do at the game. “We had our pregame meal and everyone seemed focused. Then it came down to gametime and no one knew what to expect. We got to the locker rooms, and Paul (Johnson) got up and sang a slow song for us. It was odd because normally you want to hear something that will get you psyched up, and he sings a slow song. He tried to keep everyone happy and keep everyone from not thinking too much and not getting too nervous. After Paul sang, we just chilled, watched some TV and listened to some music to get us pumped. “Then when we went out to the field and I was real nervous, but I couldn’t wait to get out there to see the crowd and all the people who came out there to hopefully cheer for us. We got out there and did our warm up and there was a bunch of kids making up cheers for us as we warmed up. It was great, and I got chills that got me pumped up. “We went to our classroom, and coach (John Ellinger) talked to us. He told us that for a year-and-a-half this is what it has been all about and this is what we have to do to get the job done. It all comes down to this because this is what we have been training for, and we can’t let it pass us up. This is our destiny — as he called it — this is what we have to do. “So we went out and lined up and walked out onto the field. It was great to get out there and see all my family and friends in the crowd and to see all the people there just for us. The game started, and I was real nervous — I didn’t know what to expect. “We got out on the field and strung some passes together and got comfortable early. We just took it to them. At the end of the first half, they were up, 1-0, and we missed a ton of chances and should have finished a bunch of them. It was confusing and frustrating at half to know they were up, 1-0, and we had created all those chances and hadn’t finished. “After coach left us at halftime, we just sat there in the locker room and said that we have to get this done. In the second half we showed them what the US is about, and we played well. We got the PK from Santino [Quaranta], and then I took a corner and Chad [Marshall] headed it in. It was a terrible corner from me, but Chad managed to put it in and that calmed everyone down. “The end of the game was great, the parents came down on the field and everyone was happy and hugging everyone else. To see the men’s team there cheering for us was great, and it added to the whole experience. The first game was hopefully the toughest one, and it is good to get it out of the way. Now we just have to focus on Canada and get ready. “We woke up this morning and everyone was happy. Now we just hope we can keep our focus for tomorrow’s game and play just as well as we did last night — but hopefully finish better. It’s going to be great, I just hope we get it done. I’m ready to get it done. I’m ready to get back out there and play, I think I’ll be a little nervous, but I think everyone will be. Hopefully, we will get it done.”