Geoff Cameron

20. Geoff Cameron Defender | Club: Stoke City (England) Despite being the U.S.’s best defender, Cameron seems to fly under the radar at times. Perhaps its a

Liviu Bird | Jun 2, 2014

Geoff Cameron /

20. Geoff Cameron

Defender | Club: Stoke City (England)

Age	Hometown	Height	Weight	Goals	Caps
28	Attleboro, Mass.	6-3	185	26	1

Despite being the U.S.’s best defender, Cameron seems to fly under the radar at times. Perhaps its a sign of respect for his ability that he is hardly questioned. Cameron, fresh off a strong season playing right back for Stoke City in England’s Premier League, compiled the largest number of caps among U.S. defenders in qualifying, and he seems to have displaced Omar González as Matt Besler’s partner in central defense leading up to the World Cup.

OUTLOOK: Whether he plays in the middle or on the right on the back line, Cameron’s main job will be to defend. He has the size and smarts to deal with any sort of attack, as Stoke City often does in the English league, and he has the composure to distribute to an outlet after winning possession. Striking that balance between defending and kick-starting counterattacks will be vital in Cameron’s role.

Meet the 23: Complete roster breakdown

Published Jun 2, 2014

LIVIU BIRD

Liviu Bird is a soccer analyst with more than 20 years of experience in the game. He learned how to play in the streets of Romania before moving to the soccer wilderness of Fairbanks, Alaska, escaping to play collegiately as a goalkeeper at Highline Community College and Seattle Pacific University, where he also earned his B.A. in journalism. Bird played semiprofessionally and had tryouts at professional clubs but hung up his gloves in 2012 to focus on writing and coaching at the youth and collegiate levels. He joined Sports Illustrated in March 2013 as a freelance contributor and has also written for NBC Sports, Soccer Wire, The New York Times, American Soccer Now and the Telegraph (UK).