The United States are hoping to make history at this tournament.
Beyond co-hosting its first World Cup since 1994, the United States national team are potentially 90 minutes away from a fourth round-of-16 appearance in 20 years.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese has been key as Mauricio Pochettino’s side prepare to face Belgium but his route to the tournament was a slightly unconventional one.
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Matt Freese’s incredible World Cup journey
Freese is currently first-choice stopper at MLS franchise New York City, who are part of the City Football Group’s network of clubs which also includes Manchester City.
In another universe, however, the 27-year-old could have been in direct opposition to Enzo Maresca’s side after being offered an apprenticeship at Manchester United.
Instead he rejected most players’ dream of a Premier League move in favour of studying economics at Harvard while playing for the university’s Crimson team.
Turning down Carrington for Cambridge, Massachusetts paid off for Freese as he led the Ivy League’s saves per game statistics for 2018, averaging six per game.
He also managed to combine both passions in an academic paper on penalty kick analytics which he has refused to publicly disclose the details of when asked about it.
The reason for closely guarding that thesis is obvious after Freese’s spot kick heroics against the likes of Wayne Rooney, Luis Suarez and Christian Benteke.
But his crowning moment from 12 yards came in last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final against Costa Rica when he saved three efforts in the shootout.
USA’s last-16 showdown with Belgium invariably evokes memories of their previous knockout game back in 2014 which set a new World Cup goalkeeping record.
Tim Howard produced 16 saves- a feat which still stands to this day – but was still powerless to prevent the Stars and Stripes’ extra-time exit to the Red Devils.
The ‘Secretary of Defense’ title lauded on the ex-United and Everton man could soon be passed on to Freese – with the incumbent’s blessing – if the moment arises.
