USMNT Center Back Conundrum: Cameron or Gonzalez?

May 29, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; United States defender Geoff Cameron (center) celebrates his goal against Belgium with defender Clarence Goodson (right) and defender Omar Gonzalez (3) at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Now that most have come to terms with the fact that Landon Donovan will not be on the pitch for the United States when the World Cup gets underway, even if they don’t agree with it, it’s time to shift our focus to two guys that will be on the field at one point or another.

Much has been made of the center back position and what Jurgen Klinsmann will ultimately decide to do come June 16, when the Yanks look to start off their campaign in Brazil with a win over Ghana. Matt Besler has established himself as not only the best center back in MLS, but as a lock to be a starter for his first World Cup.

Previously, Omar Gonzalez was Klinsmann’s first choice as the other center back, but since suffering a knee injury, the Los Angeles Galaxy’s newest Designated Player has struggled to regain his fitness, let alone his form.

With no Clarence Goodson on the final roster, that essentially leaves one other alternative: Geoff Cameron. Klinsmann has expressed his desire to use Cameron as a center back, rather than the right back position he plays for Stoke City. “I’ve said it often over the last three years. I always saw Geoff as a center back first of all,” Klinsmann told reporters. “We knew that when we came into World Cup preparation, we had a month to work on those position issues, and it was clear to us before we went to camp that we thought of him as a center back.”

Labeling Cameron a center back does not mean he is being handed the starting spot. Gonzalez was at the top of the depth chart with Besler originally, and if he can regain his fitness and make Klinsmann believe in him the way he did before, the job could be his.

Experience is in Cameron’s corner, however, Klinsmann has already made it known that experience means little compared to the ability in his eyes by cutting Donovan from the 23-man roster just a few days ago. Despite the fact that Cameron has more experience with the national team, Gonzalez has spent far more time as a center back.

Gonzalez is two inches bigger and 20 pounds heavier than the 6-foot-3 inch, 185 pound Cameron, providing a stronger body and a bigger target in the box on set pieces. In addition, he has the ability to be extremely accurate when heading the ball on net and scoring timely goals for the Galaxy.

Do NOT underestimate Cameron’s chances though.

See? Cameron can score goals as well.

It’s still too early to tell who Klinsmann is leaning towards, but given the fact that Cameron and Besler play similar stylistically, my guess is that he is hoping that Gonzalez gets fit quickly and impresses in training. Regardless of who starts, neither have shown enough to have complete faith in from the beginning of the first match.

Gonzalez made two crucial mistakes that led to two goals in the Mexico match, and Cameron, while he hasn’t made any catastrophic mistakes that will forever be a memory, he hasn’t done anything to establish himself as the clear choice either.