U.S. Soccer says Steven Beitashour and Edson Buddle have left the ongoing national team camp due to injury and will not be available for next week’s friendly against Canada in Houston.
That’s certainly bad news for the Earthquakes outside back, who was in his first extended national team camp, and for Buddle, who needed a little confidence boost after a series of professional stumbles.
On the other hand, it opens some opportunities:
I know Twitter was popping with Tony Beltran implication, the theory that Real Salt Lake’s right back was a shoe-in to start against Canada. But a few people have apparently forgotten that while A.J. DeLaGarza has been a center back for some time now in Los Angeles, he has been a right back previously for the Jurgen Klinsmann’s national team.
Looking at four other center backs in camp, DeLaGarza is far more likely to appear on the outside.
Buddle’s absence increases the chances that uncapped Will Bruin (pictured), easily the least internationally experienced striker in camp, will get some minutes next week in Houston – especially as it’s his hometown club.