SEOUL, South Korea – Brad Friedel has been one of the stars of the World
Cup, saving a pair of penalty kicks and getting the first shutout for
the United States in 52 years.
Yes, U.S. coach Bruce Arena almost decided to alternate him with Kasey
Keller.
Arena admitted for the first time Tuesday he considered alternating the
two in the tournament. He has used 19 of his 23 players, all but
defenders David Regis and Steve Cherundolo (who is injured), and Keller
and No. 3 goalkeeper Tony Meola.
"I really think our team is best suited to play that way, because we
have a lot of people who are comparable in many ways and have some
interesting qualities that help our team against certain opponents,"
Arena said. "I was even considering a goalkeeping change at one point,
because I really feel the one player who has been shortchanged a little
here is Kasey Keller. He could easily be in the goal for us and do well."
Keller was the backup to Meola in 1990 and was the No. 1 goalkeeper at
the 1998 World Cup, starting the first two games for the United States.
After the Americans were eliminated, Friedel started the final game. He
had been the backup in 1994 to Meola.
Since Arena elected to go with Friedel, Keller has kept a low profile.
Unlike U.S. players who didn't get to start in 1998, he hasn't
complained.
"Kasey, I think, has been a great professional," Arena said. "Certainly
I can't say he has been elated and jumping for joy, but he is very happy
for the team.
"I think he also knows that he could do as well, and I think he also
realizes that when I made the decision to go the other way, he has been
in the same situation at both the club level and the international
level. I think he is a great goalkeeper and I have a hard time believing
that he won't be the first choice keeper for Tottenham next year."
Keller was the No. 1 U.S. goalkeeper last year, and Friedel even skipped
the July 1 qualifier at Mexico after Keller got consecutive starts
against Costa Rica, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Friedel improved his position in the past year with a standout season at
Blackburn of England's Premier League. Before reporting to the U.S.
training camp on May 1, he started Blackburn's first 36 Premier League
games, allowing just 47 goals. He helped Rovers win the English League
Cup, their first since 1928, and, including cups, allowed just 53 goals
in 45 games.
Keller returned to England with Tottenham Hotspur after two seasons with
Spain's Rayo Vallecano, and spent most of the season on the bench. But
he overtook Neil Sullivan late in the season when the club's No. 1
goalkeeper had a hamstring injury, and Keller started Spurs' last seven
games.
Before the World Cup, Friedel agreed to a four-year contract extension
with Blackburn, where in two seasons he has become a fan favorite.
"It could have gone either way," Arena said. "But the one thing about
Brad that we thought is that he has a great kicking game. It is often
reported the wrong way, and by that I mean goal kicks, punts, balls
played back to goalkeepers under pressure."
He alluded to the 1992 decision by the International Football
Association Board, soccer's rulemaking body, which said goalkeepers no
longer could use their hands when teammates kicked the ball back to them.
"Years ago the goalkeeper used to be able to pick the ball up, and that
has changed and goalkeepers are under pressure, and Brad is outstanding
at it," Arena said. "In those games where there is a lot of pressure and
we can play in the other half of the field easily, it is a big plus for
our team. And Brad is able to deliver that. In the goal, he is
outstanding, and so is Kasey.
"But we thought Brad had a little bit of an edge in the kicking game and
that is what swayed me in the opening game."
