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Geoff Cameron ruled out of USMNT friendly against Ecuador

Photo by Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today Sports
Photo by Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today Sports

The U.S. Men’s National Team will be without one of its most important players for Wednesday’s pre-Copa America friendly against Ecuador.

Jurgen Klinsmann revealed on Tuesday that Geoff Cameron will miss Wednesday’s match due to an injury. The Stoke City defender entered USMNT camp with a hamstring issue suffered during the Potters’ season-ending win over West Ham last week.

Cameron is one of several USMNT defenders nursing injuries, as both Fabian Johnson and Timmy Chandler enter USMNT camp with issues of their own. Johnson was held out of Sunday’s friendly win over Puerto Rico after spending the past few weeks nursing a groin issue, while Chandler suffered an injury of his own while helping Frankfurt survive relegation in Monday’s Bundesliga playoff.

Without Cameron, the USMNT still features several capable centerbacks on the roster. John Brooks and Michael Orozco each earned time against Puerto Rico over the weekend, while MLS stars Matt Besler and Steve Birnbaum have since joined the USMNT ahead of Wednesday’s friendly in Frisco, TX.

What do you make of the latest Cameron news? Any concerns leading up to the Copa America? Who do you expect to start in defense for the U.S. on Wednesday?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

    • I support this opinion.

      I liked what I saw from Steve Birnbaum, too. Nothing flashy, but very reliable. He’s the antithesis of Omar Gonzalez.

      Reply
      • These type of comments make me laugh. Prisoners of the moment much? Birnbaum has what 4 caps? How many of those were starts? He plays a couple of good games and suddenly he is “very reliable” and better than someone like Omar Gonzalez who has 31 caps and has played in the biggest of games and tournaments for the USMNT. Omar has had great games and some bad games, just like any other player with a lot of caps. Talk about Birnbaum when he’s done more than stick his toe into the water for a few seconds.

      • These type of comments make me laugh. Prisoners of the moment much?

        Your response insinuates or appears to conclude my statement was hyperbolic or overreaching. A bit weird a very moderate and opinion makes you laugh but children are often easily amused, I suppose.

        More power to you praising Gonzalez for those “great games” no one remembers, values or cares about when it comes to discussions about who should start on our back line. Frankly, Gonzalez is a liability on the back line at the international level. His positioning can be extremely poor, he’s got two left feet, can not distribute the ball and routinely makes an horrific error that nearly/or concedes a goal.

        In regards to Birnbaum either you’re unfamiliar with the term antithesis, believe there’s some magical process in which players accrue caps without actually playing, or that Birnbaum is new to soccer and lacks any footage to validate the assessment. All of which are quite puzzling, but wouldn’t be surprising.

        In the meantime, I’ll talk about what I’ve seen from Birnbaum with the Nats as I see fit.

      • +1 On Birnbaum. Omar has proven without a doubt he isn’t the guy. Why not give a guy like Steve, who has show promise early on that he could be the guy… or at least a solid piece? Makes plenty of sense in this situation.

      • Ucla, you pick an odd time to perceive (nonexistent) hyperbole. Birnbaum was selected over Omar for a reason perhaps… Also with Brooks and besler used on the left side it seemed GC and SB were brought in for that RCB spot. If GC is hurt how would SB not be the logical replacement. Of course orozco can play CB but we all know how many people like orozco…….

        Birnbaum to me looks the closest to a cherry solo, no-nonsense type CB

      • DLOA, yes Klinsmann picked Birnbaum over Gonzalez this time, but that’s not the point. Anyways you should know better than to use a Jurgen Klinsmann selection as evidence that player A is better than player B. I wasn’t even arguing Birnbaum vs Gonzalez in itself, I was making fun of how fans overreact to one game and have such short term memories. Gonzalez has 31 caps, how did that happen if he sucks so much and is so prone to that supposed huge mistake every game? How many times has Gonzalez played a great game and then people came on SBI the next day and said something like “man Gonzalez is awesome, he’s our centerback of the future!”? Quite a few times. My point was clear, talk about Birnbaum when he has more caps to judge him on. By the logic used here Arriola is better than all of Bedoya, Zusi, Zardes, etc because we’ve seen those other players suck before but that Arriola guy is always great in a USMNT jersey (nevermind he’s only played in one game)!

        Old School: “or that Birnbaum is new to soccer and lacks any footage to validate the assessment. All of which are quite puzzling”-

        Not surprisingly you are finally able to reach the correct conclusion but are then puzzled by it. There isn’t a lack OF ANY FOOTAGE, but there is a lack of ENOUGH FOOTAGE. I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you understand the importance of sample size. Remember we are talking USMNT footage. If you want to go into club team performance than that just makes my position stronger because Gonzalez’ club resume is far superior to Birnbaum’s, not even close. There is a reason Pachuca is all of a sudden in the Mexican league finals right now.

    • Yeah Birnbaum is the first one I thought of to fill in for Cameron. Based on his past performances, he should do fine and deserves the shot. I certainly feel more comfortable with him as the backup at CB than the backups at the majority of other positions.

      Reply
  1. That blows… GC is probably our most reliable defender and offers cover st RB and DM. He’s definitely in my starting lineup. Hope is able to return to fitness in time.

    Reply

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