Geoff Cameron looking for consistency at Copa America

 

The U.S. defender tells Goal that while he's open to helping the team anywhere, he'd love to find a spot where he can hone in and build confidence in the Copa America.

The U.S. national team defender can play center back, right back or central midfield and filled all of those roles at various times for the Stars and Stripes.
It's not that he wasn't willing to do what his coach asked him to do to help the side, it's that moving from position to position wasn't the most conducive to his growth.
Now, after a season in which he started 16 matches at center back for Stoke City, Cameron hopes he also can carve out a niche for the national team in the Copa America Centenario.

"Obviously, as a team player, I want to do whatever I can to help the team to win and make it through to the next round and go as far as we can and hopefully win it," Cameron told Goal USA. "For me, it doesn’t matter what position. At the same time, I’m playing at a consistent [position] and get consistent reps in the same position, it’s always good. I’m going to feel more and more confident in my ability and you get more used to the guys you’re playing in front of and alongside."

With DeAndre Yedlin coming off a season of playing at right back in the Premier League, a spot where Cameron started six times for the Potters, conventional wisdom says those two Premier League regulars could make up the strongest right side the U.S. defense has had in recent memory. While U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann may opt for a different alignment, he's been impressed with how Cameron recovered from a bit of a valley in his career after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Klinsmann also talked about the consistency Cameron has found at Stoke — not just in the position he's playing but in quality of performances he's putting in. He also spoke about the leadership role Cameron has taken on. Now 30, the Massachusetts native is one of the national team's older hands. After missing the Gold Cup in 2015 at the request of his club, Cameron is hoping to be a big part of the United States' summer tournament this time around.