This World Cup campaign could literally have not gone any better for the United States so far. Following wins over Paraguay and Australia, the Stars and Stripes have cemented top spot in Group D with a game to spare. Thus, Mauricio Pochettino can rest and rotate his team against Türkiye at SoFi for a complete dead-rubber on Thursday, very much planning for their round of 32 tie at Levi's Stadium on July 1, now knowing that their opponents in Santa Clara will be Bosnia & Herzegovina.
While Folarin Balogun, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest and Chris Richards and others have garnered the most praise, Matt Freese certainly deserves some commendation too. Prior to the tournament, it was far from certain that the New York City FC goalkeeper would be the number one, with Friday's win over Australia in Seattle only his 17th cap.
Matt Turner is the vastly more experienced of the two options, but Freese is Pochettino's man.
Matt Turner vs Matt Freese USMNT statistics
Statistics | Matt Turner | Matt Freese |
|---|---|---|
Caps | 54 | 17 |
Goals conceded | 49 | 19 |
Clean sheets | 27 | 4 |
Caps under Pochettino | 9 | 17 |
Note: Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt.
Freese's senior international debut came as recently as last June, starting a friendly defeat to Türkiye in Connecticut, before Turner was restored three days later against Switzerland. Nevertheless, the NYCFC man established himself as first-choice during the subsequent CONCACAF Gold Cup, starting all six matches as the U.S. reached the final. He was the hero of the quarter-final victory over Costa Rica, saving three spot-kicks as they prevailed on penalties in Minneapolis.
Since then, he has started eight of the ten friendlies, as well as both matches at this World Cup, very much the undisputed number one. Having said that, it would not be a surprise to see Turner given the nod on Thursday night considering that, as mentioned, the clash with Türkiye is a dead-rubber.
Those on yellow cards, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Chris Richards and Folarin Balogun should certainly not take to the pitch at any stage, with Pochettino expected to make wholesale changes regardless, wrapping all of his key players in bubble wrap, a rare luxury for the USA.
Nevertheless, once the knockouts begin, Freese will bed donning the gloves again. In truth, he has not had a lot to do at the tournament to date, making no saves against Paraguay and just two during the win over the Socceroos. Nevertheless, he has been very commanding and has been a key reason why the U.S. have let in only one goal thus far. Tougher tests await in Bosnia and, they hope at least, beyond, and Freese certainly looks up to the challenge.
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