Keller-Incredible!?!?! I submit that he is! What about you?

Question

I think those saves by Keller in the U.S. vs. Italy were incredible! No wonder he's the best in the league! But dang, McBride took a tough beating. I was amazed he stayed in the game.

Answer 1

Wow... His one-handed save was a beauty! Could you believe that ref? Red carded USA twice and should have been at most a yellow card. Man I am bummed. I'm glad for the tie...but those red cards were not deserved.

Answer 2

I am a big US fan, and McBride has amazed me for years, how he is able to take a beating and keep playing. He may be a little bit of a bleeder though as I have seen as much of his blood as I have in any war movie over the years. As for Keller when he is on he has kept the US in games that they should not have been able to stay in. He once beat Brazil, with the help of a US goal, he pretty much held Brazil off by himself. There were several point blank shots and a couple of break aways. As for the Italy game I think Italy is lucky that the ref took the US advantage away or the US could have come away with a win instead of just a tie. But for the group, I say go Italy so that the US can have a chance, and I pray Keller can stop Ghana like he did Brazil and Italy. US need a win from Italy and a win from US to advance.

Answer 3

Hi from Italy.
US done well in this match, but Italy hasn't really played soccer in the first half. The first 20' were boring for all italian supporter, the team moves slowly, without ideas and schemes. Totti wasn't ready to afford a full match, we never saw him so static. He was tired after the first match vs. Ghana, coach Lippi attempt to mantain the normal team profile 4-3-1-2 but was wrong, Totti should go out before the first half.
Sorry for De Rossi's hit. In Italy defenders and midfielders (and forward in attacking, especially when corners are shooted) are often searching contact to disturb the opponent, but accident as McBride's are absolutely unusual. McBride teach us a lesson of flair & fair-play. De Rossi was wrong, but hasn't try to hurt, only to diturb. Now we all are waiting for a heavy penalty. We think he'll be suspended for 5 or more matches.
After the red card Italy freezes. At that time the team had not played well, after the red they really disappear. And they'll never take the control of the match, too when US play in 9. Too shaken: bad start, red card... On the other side, US play cautiously and carefully, Keller hasn't got a super-job (who saw England-Sweden yesterday understand what i mean: the second half by Sweden was great).
Let's have a good match tomorrow... Czech and Italy are disappointed, US and Ghana will try everything to catch the round of 16... good luck

Answer 4

The sad thing about it all is the aside from Keller and McBride, the rest of the US National isn't playing up to form.

The players need to each go to Keller and kiss his feet for keeping them in this tournament.

It's embarrassing to have all the talent on this team that we do, and our only points in the tournament come from an own goal. Come on guys, the US has loads of talent, they need to start showing the world that they know how to play this game.

The fact that Italy couldn't score after they were up a man proves the US can play, now why don't they do that with a full 11 ?

The Ghana game will be interesting. Come on US and win this.

Answer 5

Without a doubt, America's Keller is No.1 keeper in the game today. The score by the Czechs in the first game was an aberration. Along with kudos for Keller, I applaud the US defense. In front of every good goalie is a solid defense. As I told Bruce Arena, All the US men need to remember is that Nigeria beat Bulgaria 3-0 in 1994. Bulgaria recovered and made it to the 3rd place game. The US are not yet out of it. There is still hope until the fat goals are scored in game 3..

Answer 6

Keller is an excellent keeper; definately top 10 in the world. He isn't the best in the league and he arguably isn't even our best keeper. Friedel and Howard play at much higher levels. Howard I agree is a 3rd string keeper for us, but had Friedel not chosen to back out of the U.S. picture, he would at very least be a tought decision for Arena. As for McBride, he may have taken a knock, which isn't a bad one for Premiership, Serie A, or any top level league really... but I'm not suprised he came back. He has done it time and time again at Fulham and he had a superb season there (actually voted M.V.P.). All in all, Keller may have made saves, but not enough! The U.S., as expected, under achieved there self imposed hype... unfortunately.

Answer 7

Kasey is a fine player, with great experience. Having spent a while playing in England's Premier League will have helped, as he would have played against some of the finest players in European football. Given the USAs previous keepers- Meola and Friedel spring straight to mind- I personally am glad to see Kasey finally getting his rewards for years of service to the team. Hahnemann is rightly knocking on his door after a genuine breakthrough season, which will spur Keller on to great things.

However, to be fair, Kasey shouldn't be having to cope with the sort of saves that he is. Maybe Arena has missed an opportunity by not including one of the best central defenders in the English league, Jay DeMerit. With a quality defense there is seldom time to notice the performance of the goalkeeper.

Answer 8

The Italians were playing the refereee from the start. All the diving and the rolling around in pain when they barely get touched is just theater. The Europeans like it that way, they believe it 'adds' to the game. Fortunately the USA doesn't play that way. Witness McBride who got really hurt and came back on calm and composed. No wonder Americans don't get into soccer that much, it's all theater. We can match up with any team physically and with skill, but when theatrics take over then its just not a decent game.

Answer 9

Keller's experience definitely helped him tonight. I don't think Howard could have put out as well....you need to be kept fresh in play and if he's going to be ManU's 2nd string, he's going to be the US 2nd as well. McBride's experience helped him out tooo...as a forward, you're used to the pummeling by defenders. Look at France's Zidane's last game! Brian represented his hometown well (I live there and went to one of his camps). Definitely thought that although Italy had some great offensive effort that they looked like more of an acting troupe tonight. Hope the ref is suspended.

Answer 10

Well, the most of players and goalkeepers are the best in the their leagues. He was good but not the best. How McBride stayed in game? It is all part of game. You must be really bad hurt not to be able to continue. I played soccer and even if you see very light fault it can be very painful. Usually after the game you feel all the pain. But the stupidest thing is why Italian player committed that fault and why Americans did it 2 times and got 2 red cards!

Answer 11

Keller is a University of Portland grad under the late great Clive Charles. He has always been buried under the US's usually strong group of keepers, such as Tim Howard and Brad Friedel, and he was hurt doing the 2002 WC. Before this year, he had only played 2 matches in the WC, both in 98.