The upcoming 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off training camp on June 26, and two Vancouver Whitecaps were named to the 32-man roster on June 25.
Russell Teibert, a midfielder from Niagara Falls, Ontario, has been on a hot streak for the Whitecaps recently, forming a solid forward trio with Kenny Miller and Camilo Sanvezzo. Teibert, 20, leads the Whitecaps with six assists and scored his first two professional goals earlier this season in a 3-1 win against reigning MLS Champs, the L.A. Galaxy.
Simon Thomas, 23, now fourth in the Whitecaps depth rankings (after the signing of David Ousted) will be joining Teibert at training camp. Thomas, from Victoria, B.C., earned a clean sheet on January 26 in his first ever senior squad game, a 4-0 win against Denmark. He has not appeared with the Whitecaps first team this season, but has played exceptionally well in the reserves matches.
Following training camp, Canada will announce it’s final 23-player roster on June 28 and Teibert and Thomas are expected to make the team.
The tournament kicks off July 7 and runs until July 28. While Thomas is expected to be released immediately to join Canada, Teibert will play this Saturday against D.C. United before joining the senior team and will miss a minimum of three Whitecaps’ games over the course of the tournament.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup is a tournament played every two years to determine the regional champion of North America, Central America and the Caribbean. The winner then moves on to play in the Confederations Cup. Canada last won the Gold Cup in 2000.
Written by Lindsay Barker, Contributor to Vancity Buzz. Stay in touch with Lindsay on Twitter at @lemon_buzz
Image: Frederick Breedon / Getty Images
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