Cameron, Parkhurst Get Call for WCQs

Former University of Rhode Island star Geoff Cameron was among 24 players called into U.S. Men’s National Team camp on Monday (Photo: Chris Aduama/aduama.com)

New England natives Geoff Cameron (Attleboro, Mass.) and Michael Parkhust (Providence, R.I.) were among 24 players called up by U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann on Monday for an upcoming pair of World Cup Qualifiers.

The U.S. will play Antigua & Barbuda in North Sound, Antigua on Oct. 12 before heading back to the States for a match against Guatemala on Oct. 16 in Kansas City, MO.

“The mentality we are bringing into these two games is to get six points,” said Klinsmann in a statement. “It’s important that the players arriving into Miami prepare themselves for two ‘finals.’ We must have urgency within the group and a clear understanding that we need to deliver, which means each player has to bring a 100 percent effort. All our focus and energy for the next few days will be on getting the right preparation for the team so we can win the next two games.”

The U.S. team began reporting to Miami on Monday and will travel to Antigua on Thursday.

Cameron has started in each of the last three matches for the U.S., including their historic 1-0 win over Mexico at Azteca Stadium on Aug. 15. Prior to joining Stoke City in July, the central defender/midfielder played nearly five season with the Dynamo, who drafted him out of the University of Rhode Island in the third round of the MLS SuperDraft in 2008. Cameron also played for the Rhode Island Stingrays and East Providence Sports and was a product of Bayside FC (R.I.) youth club.

Parkhurst has been capped four times this year, and currently plays for Danish side Nordsjaelland. He was drafted in the first round of the 2005 SuperDraft by the New England Revolution and was named Rookie of the Year. The center back/right back earned Defender of the Year honors in 2007. Like Cameron, Parkhurst also played youth soccer for Bayside FC.

Another name among the 24 selected that’s familiar to New England soccer fans is Clint Dempsey, who was transferred from Fulham FC to Tottenham Hotspur for a reported $9.6 million in August. Dempsey was drafted by the New England Revolution in 2004, and helped the club reach the MLS Cup finals in 2005 and 2006.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION

GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8) : Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Maurice Edu (Stoke City), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)
MIDFIELDERS (8) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Roma), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (5): Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders)