IRVINE, Calif. — It’s a bit surprising to think that coach Mauricio Pochettino hasn’t yet decided who will be the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. men’s national team in Friday’s World Cup opener against Paraguay. Matt Freese mentioned that he hasn’t received any clarity on this from the coach.
“I’m focused on today,” Freese, the NYCFC keeper, said while sporting tape around his fingers. “With 5,000 fans energizing us at training today, we are really pumped.”
It would indeed be a shock if Freese doesn’t make the starting lineup, especially since he played the entire match in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against Germany, which was seen as a preview of Pochettino’s potential World Cup team.
Freese, 27, has seemed like a likely pick after having outperformed Matt Turner during last summer’s Gold Cup.
“As a competitor, you always want to be out there,” Freese stated. “I want to do whatever I can to help the team. This moment is no different. Whatever I’m asked to contribute, I’m ready.”
However, unlike previous World Cups where keepers like Tim Howard and Brad Guzan stood out as the team’s leading players, the current situation at that position seems more uncertain.
Turner, the starter during the 2022 World Cup, has returned to the MLS this season after facing challenges with game time at Nottingham Forest in England. Meanwhile, Freese is relatively new to the national team, making his debut before the Gold Cup last June and yet to play club football in Europe.
“I can’t hear you,” Freese remarked, hinting he focuses solely on his team and coaching staff. “I’m just concentrating on my daily responsibilities.” He added his admiration for the historically strong U.S. goaltending corps and how honored he is to be a part of it, hoping to carry on that great tradition.
In injury updates, Chris Richards (ankle) participated fully in training for the first time, marking progress after doing some ballwork on Friday. Pochettino commented, “We’ll see how it goes.”
Tyler Adams was the only player absent from training, which was lighter and didn’t involve tactical work. The starters against Germany had a reduced role while those who didn’t play focused on transitions.
