Matt Freese has done enough that if the FIFA World Cup was being held this summer, the New York City FC goalkeeper would be starting for the United States national team. That’s the message from Tony Meola, as the former US No.1 has been impressed by Freese during the Gold Cup.
Freese and the USMNT are hoping to cap off the summer in style on July 6 in their Gold Cup final against Mexico. The red, white and blue have drawn some solid performances from Freese over the past three games to fight their way to the final.
The Gold Cup interrupted a strong MLS campaign for Freese, who in 18 starts kept seven clean sheets, and allowed just 1.06 goals per game for NYCFC this season. The 26-year old has taken his opportunity at the Gold Cup and firmly established himself as the top goalkeeper.
For Meola, an analyst who was capped 100 times by the United States and part of three World Cup teams, he’s seen enough from Freese and the current goalkeeping situation, to feel comfortable with where things stand.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Meola backs Freese for World Cup spot
”I think right now, if the World Cup started today, Matt Freese is the goalkeeper. He’s the sharpest guy right now,” he told The Sporting News.
”He’s done more than enough to give himself an opportunity. I don’t I say this all the time, as weird as it sounds, I’ve been talking about it all week, obviously from covering it – I didn’t look at the mistake from Freese once, because he’s actually pretty good with his feet.
“It’s not like a habitual thing. If it becomes one, then I get worried about it.”
The play Meola references came in the 2-1 group stage win over Haiti. as Freese awkwardly cleared a back pass, to set up Haiti’s lone goal in the game.
”That’s the most important thing, because after the play happens, there’s nothing you can do about it. What you don’t want to see is a guy that folds in that moment, and now all of a sudden, he can’t react, right?
”He doesn’t react in the right way, and now, all of a sudden, that affects whatever else he’s doing on the field. So he reacted in the right way. That’s the part that sticks out for me, not necessarily the mistake. Of course, you can’t make mistakes at crucial moments and give things away. He knows that, but I’m not concerned, because I watch him on a weekly basis, and actually that that’s a strength for him. Just on the night it didn’t go well. I liked his reaction.”
Goalkeeper has been the biggest question mark for the United States over the past three years. Matt Turner played sparingly last season for Crystal Palace and has not been in form.
A move to Lyon this summer, one that seems promising in terms of playing time, is complicated by the possible relegation of the French club to Ligue 2.
“It’s still so fluid. We’re just kind of seeing the start of Freese’s international career and we have this picture in our head of what Matt Turner looked like in 2022 and how well he played,” Meola added.
”I still think Turner is going to have a say in this discussion, before it’s all said and done, but that’s going to hinge on the move Matt makes at his next club. If it’s not Lyon, and I imagine the wheels are in motion after all of the conversation about Lyon possibly getting relegated, to maybe find another solution.
”But, it’s hard to say. I wouldn’t feel comfortable predicting anybody here as we sit a year out in the World Cup.”
