Steffen’s Stellar Return: A Boost for USMNT
In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has once again highlighted the importance of competition within the squad. This time, his focus was on the impressive performance of goalkeeper Zack Steffen during the recent match against Costa Rica. Steffen’s return to the field was nothing short of spectacular, as he made three crucial saves to secure a clean sheet in the 3-0 victory at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
For Steffen, this match marked his first appearance with the USMNT since March 2022. The Colorado Rapids goalkeeper was a key player on the road to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but he was left off the roster by former head coach Gregg Berhalter. Despite this setback, Steffen has continued to prove his worth, having appeared in six qualifying matches with a 4W-1D-1L record and earning two clean sheets.
Overall, Steffen has achieved 10 shutouts in 29 appearances since his senior team debut on January 28, 2018, against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Reflecting on his journey, Steffen shared, “It’s been a couple of years, a hard road man. A hard road, mentality. I am happy to get out on the field, first and foremost…my teammates and coaching staff gave me great confidence and I am glad I could do my part and keep the team in it when I was called upon and finish the camp well with a shutout.”
Steffen’s performance was not only a personal triumph but also a boost for the team. “It’s great, it gives me confidence and hopefully gives my teammates a lot of confidence that they can rely on me. It’s great to end the camp with a three-goal win and a shutout, it’s been a while since I had a shutout so very good night,” he added.
Meanwhile, Matt Turner has been the starting goalkeeper for several tournaments, including the recent 2024 Copa America. Turner also played in the friendly against Mexico in one of Pochettino’s first matches as manager. The Argentine coach expressed satisfaction with Turner’s performances but emphasized that competition for the position is beneficial for the team.
Pochettino stated, “I think Matt was great. We played with Matt in our previous game. He played a few weeks ago in the Carabao Cup in England with his team, Crystal Palace. I think he’s working really hard. We had the opportunity to visit the training ground of Palace and see how they work. Yes, I think it’s a thing that we are going to evaluate every single camp and then make the best decision. I think today Matt deserved the credit because in the last two games against Jamaica he was fantastic.”
He continued, “Today was Zack, and that is good to increase the competition. We are very honest and transparent and we always go with the truth and in the way that we don’t hide anything and that is why they know that through the performance they can, you know, be fighting for the position in different places in the same way.”
The USMNT concluded the January window with two victories, a 2-0 win over Venezuela and a victory against Costa Rica. The team will now shift focus to prepare to face Panama in the Concacaf Nations League semifinal during the upcoming FIFA window in March.
- Steffen’s return marks a significant moment for the USMNT.
- Competition between Steffen and Turner is seen as beneficial.
- The team is gearing up for the Concacaf Nations League semifinal.
Originally Written by: Lizzy Becherano
