USA Defender Geoff Cameron Blames Bruce Arena for Team USA Missing World Cup

by Matt George – Sports 1140 KHTK

Every four years the entire world gives their attention to the greatest tournament in all of professional sports. The World Cup is just months away. 32 different countries will compete to decide which nation is the greatest in professional soccer.

For many, soccer is more than just a competitive sport. The World Cup represents the highest honor and pride that a country can receive. Every four years we are promised tears, drama, passion, heartbreak, incredible goals, and the game of soccer at the highest possible level. But this year, like their fans, Team USA will have to enjoy the festivities from their couches.

After an embarrassing 2-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago in the 5th round of World Cup Qualifiers in October (a game that Team USA only had to tie in order to advance), USA finds themselves not only out of the cup, but also out of the good graces of the country’s vastly growing soccer fan base. Because of their lack of effort, and clear underestimation of their opponent, professional soccer in the United States has taken a massive step back from the promise shown in the 2014 World Cup.

Quickly following the defeat, then-head coach Bruce Arena resigned from his position, and posted a statement on the official US Soccer website. His words included, “When I took the job last November, I knew there was a great challenge ahead, probably more than most people could appreciate. Everyone involved in the program gave everything they had for the last 11 months and, in the end, we came up short. No excuses. We didn’t get the job done, and I accept responsibility.”

You can read his whole statement here.

Now, after months of silence, USA defender Geoff Cameron opened up on why his team has missed out on competing in The World Cup, putting all the blame on Arena.

“Bruce Arena made decisions that cost us going to the World Cup. And I don’t have a problem saying it, because we had the right group of guys.”

No, Arena is certainly not blameless. And yes, he absolutely deserved to lose his job after USA failed to qualify. But not only should Cameron be ashamed of these comments, he ought to look in the mirror and decide if he truly believes them.

Say what you want about Arena’s game plan, it shouldn’t be up to him for the players to realize the magnitude of that game against Trinidad and Tobago. No matter what team they were playing, those grown men should know that the difference between a win, tie, or loss is the honor and privilege to represent your country on the biggest stage in soccer.

Cameron’s comments are nearly as shameful and pathetic as his team’s performance was back in October. With the exception of the young star Christian Pulisic, nobody on the USA roster decided to give a damn until it was too late.

It’s fitting that it was a small country like Trinidad and Tobago to knock the USA men off their undeserved pedestal. It’s sad that some of these players hang their hats on their ability to compete with some of the world’s best in 2014, not concerned with the fact that they had almost no chance to actually win. International professional soccer is on a whole different level that USA simply cannot contend with. Especially when its players are content with just being a top talent on their MLS team.

Back in September, former Team USA player Alexi Lalas went on an epic rant, criticizing the current USA roster for being soft and arrogant. Lo and behold, they proved him right.

Hey #USMNT, @AlexiLalas has a message for you. pic.twitter.com/xzXfOywU22

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 11, 2017

Nothing is going to change or improve until some ownership is taken. Clearly Cameron, who was upset that Arena chose not to start him against Trinidad and Tobago for fitness purposes, is not willing to admit that he and his teammates let themselves and their country down. He did say one thing that was correct however, that Team USA had the right players to get the job done.

The right players to make it to the World Cup? Sure. To win? Not a chance. Especially when you have to question their effort in a game that decides weather or not you will be one of 32 teams to compete in The World Cup. It’s going to be a long summer, and an even longer four years, before Team USA will have a chance to prove they belong in the same conversation with teams like Germany, Brazil, and Argentina.

Until then, their built up pride, and a large portion of their pay, should go to the US Women’s team, who actually won the World Cup for the 3rd time in 2015.

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