Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel and Tony Meola provide outstanding options at goalkeeper for U.S. coach Bruce Arena, who sees no reason to confine himself to using just one.
Kasey Keller says he’ll miss Madrid, where he’s lived the past two seasons while playing for Rayo Vallecano against some of the greatest players in the world.
He’s out of contract in June and thus can pick the best of whatever offers he receives. But he, like U.S. counterpart Brad Friedel, has a lot less control over playing for his country.
Coach Bruce Arena has used three goalkeepers in the nine qualifiers played so far (six last year and
the first three in the Hexagonal), and he’s not specifying who will play in the next three Hexagonal games.
The United States plays Jamaica in Kingston June 16, Trinidad & Tobago at Foxboro Stadium four days later, and Mexico in Mexico City July 1.
“I haven’t made a decision,” Arena said prior to a June 7 friendly against Ecuador, for which Friedel will be available but Keller will not. “I’ll wait until I get the guys together in camp.
“There’s a lot of things that could happen. Kasey could get hurt, and when we get together [to play Ecuador], Brad won’t have played for a while. We’ll just have to see.”
Arena seems to be leaning more toward Keller as his No. 1 than he was last year, when he maintained the Americans had two No. 1s. But that’s no guarantee Keller will automatically get the starts.
“You wonder what more you can do,” said Keller, who shut out Costa Rica April 25 in Kansas City in his first U.S. appearance of 2001. “Am I the No. 1, am I not the No. 1, am I going to be the No. 1?
“Right now, I’m just doing what FIFA says and doing what Bruce says and doing what my club says according to FIFA. If I’m there, I’m there, and if I’m playing, I’m playing. If I’m not playing, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
None of the keepers enjoys the situation. Friedel groused last year about the games he didn’t start, and Keller wasn’t happy about being called up for the match in Honduras March 28 and having to sit on the bench.
Tony Meola wasn’t too pleased with not being called in for the Honduras game. He’s clearly the third choice, and although a couple of notches behind the top two, he’s not incapable.
“It really is rare,” said U.S. defender Jeff Agoos of the American dilemma. “Countries struggle to find one good goalkeeper, and we’ve got three top-notch goalkeepers in this country. That’s been a real asset to American soccer.”
The only downside is keeping the keepers, if not happy, at least mollified. Uncertainty and competition have seemed to hone each of them.
“I’ve never been a big fan of rotating goalkeepers,” said former MLS and U.S. goalkeeper Mark Dodd.
“The U.S. is in a unique situation where we have two that are so darn close in talent and ability that you almost have to say who’s healthiest, who happens to be hot, who’s better on home soil, who’s better on away soil.”
Keller and Friedel have looked especially sharp so far in 2001, and the only goal the U.S. conceded in three games came off the lethal, long-distance foot of Julio Cesar De Leon in San Pedro Sula.
Meola was beaten, 1-0, by Colombia and 2-1 by Brazil in friendlies and early in the MLS season hasn’t looked as dominant as he did while setting a league mark with 16 shutouts in 2000.
Arena, Meola’s coach at the University of Virginia, isn’t concerned. “Tony’s always been a little bit of a slow starter,” he said. “By June or July, he’ll be back at his peak.”
Analyzing the top keepers reveals subtle differences in strong and weak points as well as personality. Arena also considers the caliber and style of the opposition.
In San Pedro Sula, Friedel had to contend with several back passes bouncing crazily on the bumpy field, and every time he slammed the ball out of trouble. Keller is not so neat with the ball at his feet.
Friedel can also sling the ball out accurately to start counters. Keller tends to punt the ball.
The primary objective is to keep the thing out of the net, not balance or juggle it like a trained seal, and in that category Keller is superior. He’s also been playing against much better foes in La Liga than Friedel faces in the English First Division.
“I don’t think there’s any question Kasey is our best shot-blocker,” Arena said. “Both he and Brad are very good, and since Brad has been playing regularly at Blackburn, he’s improved in that area.
“But Brad doesn’t see as open a game as Kasey does and doesn’t see the variety of crosses and corner kicks and free kicks that Kasey has to deal with.
“[Keller] sees more of little balls played over the top and players playing one-twos into the penalty area and people running at players with the ball.”
Keller’s been seeing far too many shots and players running at him and balls whistling toward the corners. So weak has been the Rayo Vallecano defense this year that Keller has conceded 48 goals in 22 league matches. His counterpart, former Spanish international Juan Lopetegui, has allowed just 18 goals in 14 games.
“I’ve been getting pummeled,” said Keller with a rueful laugh the day after Rayo suffered a 4-0 thrashing to Mallorca. He’s been beaten by 5-1, 6-1 and 4-1 scores this season.
Friedel’s days at the office have been more sedate. Upon joining Blackburn on a free transfer from Liverpool in early November, he stepped right into the starter’s jersey.
With Friedel in the nets, Blackburn conceded only 19 goals in 28 games while winning 17, tying eight and losing just three. Rovers outscored their opponents, 47-19, in those 28 matches while clinching a spot in the Premier League next season.
“Blackburn has been dominating teams this season, and Brad doesn’t get nearly as much action as Kasey does,” said Arena. “And Kasey’s team tends to get guys red-carded and play with nine in front of him, so that adds to it.”
Another slight advantage for Keller is his ability to handle low balls. A bouncing shot Friedel could only parry against Honduras triggered a brief panic in the U.S. penalty area.
“It’s a powerful, low parallel dive, and that’s a hard thing to do,” said Dodd of a Keller strong point. “He shoots himself down low with both hands particularly well. It’s not a case of parrying it with one hand and giving away a corner.”
In most categories, there’s little to choose between the two.
“I don’t think either one of them shows any weaknesses on crosses,” said Dodd. “Brad’s a little bit taller and maybe plays taller, but I’ve never seen Kasey exhibit any weaknesses on crosses.”
Keller will miss the final game of the Spanish League season June 17 to train with the United States. Friedel finished his season in May.
Neither knows what comes next.
“I’m sure they accept the situation,” said Dodd. “That doesn’t mean you have to like it. You’re obviously going to work harder with your club as well as the national team.”
And perhaps that’s what Arena wants.
by Soccer America senior editor Ridge Mahoney