Tab_ramos_-_asn_top_-_isi_-_2018_u-20_camp_-_casey_brooke_lawson Casey Brooke Lawson/ISI
U-20 analysis

Ramos names roster for final U-20 camp before May's World Cup

Tab Ramos announced the roster for the final U-20 camp ahead of May's World Cup. With it, the World Cup roster is coming into focus. ASN's Brian Sciaretta tells you which players have the most on the line in the upcoming camp and looks at where the team stands. 
BY Brian Sciaretta Posted
March 14, 2019
7:00 AM
UNITED STATES U-20 national team head coach Tab Ramos today announced a strong 20 player roster for its final camp ahead of World Cup preparation in May. The camp will take place in Spain and the U.S team will face France on March 22 and Japan on March 25.

The roster gives strong indications as to the team’s final roster, although some key place will not take place in this camp due to club commitments

Here is the roster along with some thoughts.

U.S. U-20 MNT Roster by Position
(Club or College; Hometown; Caps/Goals)


GOALKEEPERS (2):C.J.Dos Santos (Benfica/POR; Philadelphia, Pa.; 1/0), Trey Muse (Seattle Sounders FC; Louisville, Ky.;0/0)

DEFENDERS (6):Sergino Dest (Ajax/NED; Almere-Stad, Netherlands; 6/1),Chris Gloster (Hannover 96/GER; South Orange, N.J.; 9/0), Aboubacar Keita (Columbus Crew SC; Columbus, Ohio; 0/0), Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting Kansas City; Charlotte, N.C.; 5/0),Matthew Real (Philadelphia Union; Drexel Hill, Pa.; 8/0), Chris Richards (Bayern Munich/GER; Hoover, Ala.; 6/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6):Frankie Amaya (FC Cincinnati; Santa Ana, Calif.; 11/1), Christian Cappis (Hobro/DEN; Katy, Texas; 2/0); Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United FC; Powder Springs, Ga.; 5/2), , Chris Durkin (D.C.United; Glen Allen, Va.; 0/0), Alex Mendez (Freiburg/GER; Los Angeles, Calif.; 13/8),Juan Pablo Torres (New York City FC; Lilburn, Ga.; 10/4)

FORWARDS (6):Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC/CAN; Detroit, Mich.; 10/9), Jonathan Amon (Nordsjaelland/DEN; Summerville, S.C.; 0/0), Konrad de la Fuente (Barcelona/ESP; Barcelona, Spain; 0/0), Ulysses Llanez (Unattached; Lynwood, Calif.; 9/7), Justin Rennicks (New England Revolution; Hamilton, Mass.; 12/6),Sebastian Soto (Hannover 96/GER; San Diego, Calif.; 3/2)

Which players have the most on the line?

Most of the key players for the team’s winning effort in November’s CONCACAF title are included. Players like Alex Mendez, Ulysses Llanez, Chris Richards, Sergino Dest, Justin Rennicks, and Chris Gloster represent the team’s core for the upcoming World Cup. While players like Chris Durkin were not there, he has been singled out for a strong January camp so should likely be headed to Poland as well.

Here are the players with the most on the line for this camp

Jonathan Amon: The highly talented winger for Nordsjaelland has not played much with the U-20 team due to club commitments. In October he also made his debut with the full national team. Since the Danish Superliga returned from winter break, however, the Charleston, S.C. native has seen his minutes decline at the club level. Can he reestablish himself for this team at this camp and become an impact player? This camp will be important for Ramos to determine where Amon fits.



Konrad de la Fuente: The uber-talented attacker at Barcelona is one of the youngest players on the team but is also one of the most talented. The Spanish dual national is also eligible for the 2021 U-20 team as well. But if Ramos is able to bring him into the team now, it will give him a boost in his career with U.S. Soccer. He has the ability to give Ramos attacking options on the wing as well as at forward.

Andrew Carleton: The Atlanta United attacker was one of the best players on the 2017 U.S. U-17 World Cup team but has found it hard to find a spot on the U-20 team this cycle. In January, Ramos expressed a disappointment in the lack of games Carleton had played in recent months. Carleton might be on the outside looking in but is still talented. He has a lot to prove and this camp will give him that opportunity.



Aboubacar Keita: Central defense is thin on this U.S. U-20 team. At the CONCACAF Championships, Mark McKenzie and Chris Richards were a great duo but the options beyond them are not clear. Aboubacar Keita was singled out for a strong January camp and this camp will give him the chance to book a ticket to Poland. Even more, Keita could be in line to potentially be a starter if Philadelphia follows through on threats to not release McKenzie for the U-20 World Cup.



Not many roster spots available

Competition remains exceptionally tight for a spot on the World Cup roster. If Ramos is somehow able to secure the release of Josh Sargent and Tim Weah, most of the pieces now are locks.

Right now the locks (and likely releases) are: Brady Scott, CJ Dos Santos, Sergino Dest, Jaylin Lindsey, Chris Richards, Mark McKenzie (I still believe he will go), Chris Gloster, Matthew Real, Chris Durkin, Brandon Servania, Ulysses Llanez, Paxton Pomykal, Richard Ledezma, Alex Mendez, Nick Taitague, Justin Rennicks, Sebastian Soto.



That is 17 players (although there are injury concerns on Taitague and Ledezma). There are a lot of players fighting for the remaining spaces and Ramos knows and is comfortable with players like Frankie Amaya, Juan Pablo Torres, Ayo Akinola. Along with that, there are potential late emerging players like James Sands (now a starter for New York City), Jesus Ferreira (if he can finalize citizenship), or Charlie Kelman at Southend United.

Post a comment