U.S. Soccer - Brad Friedel announces international retirement

Damn, he was always one of my favorites. I always found it amazing that we had THE two best keepers in the world. I always felt very comfortable with either Friedel or Keller in goal. I wish we didn't have to platoon them like we did and one of them could play full time but you can't justify keeping either one of them on the bench.

I haven't followed the national team in about a year or so. Is Keller still the main keeper? I saw they were using Howard for some of the qualifying last year, but I hope Keller will be in there for the big games.

 

THE two best goalkeepers in the world?!

 

my thought exactly

 

yes, friedel was simply amazing to watch..

 

A loss for sure, but with Keller and Howard we should be ok.

DD

 

LOL

 

SJC,

How is Landon Donavan doing over there this year?

Isn't he with Bayern Levehnkusan?

DD

 

I think he is, but to be honest, I haven't really heard of him playing. Maybe he is on the roster, but hasn't played or something like that. Haven't really followed Bayer Leverkusen much recently.

 

We did have two of the top ten or fifteen for sure!
The U.S. has been able to produce some very good goalkeeping talent. Looking at some other countries(England,Germany) and their problems just shows how stable our position is between the sticks.
And to say Friedel wasn't one of the best, puhhleeze!
All he did was help his country to the WC quarterfinals and save two penalties in that same tournament.

 

He's played in all three games Leverkusen have played since he joined, including last week's game against your own Bayern Munich, he's only been a second half sub however.

 

Thanks for the info...I had tickets to the game, but didn't go. From what I have seen in the past, he is a pretty good player.

 

Is it just me, or does he not get this recognition anywhere? I might be wrong, I'm not an expert on his game. How does Germany have BIG problems? Before Kahn's dip, he was one of the best in the world and had the no.1 for quite a few years. Are you talking about before him? And now they have Hildebrand as well. I've never heard of Friedl being in the top for the Premiership or Europe or anything and he has been here for many many years. All I've known of him is that he is decent. No way would I consider him for TOP spot.

 

Ace, arno_ed, and Jackie Chiles, I don' t see what you guys don't understand or what you think is funny about my statement.

I am not alone in my opinion. Over the years I have heard several soccer commentators express exactly the same view about Keller and Friedel.

The fact is, after Peter Schmeichel retired. Keller and Friedel clearly stood as the two best goalkeepers in international soccer.

 

I never said friedel was THE best, I said he was up there with some of today's best.
And I never said germany had BIG problems, but problems none the less. Kahn and Lehmann will probably be too old for 2006 and they both feel like they deserve the spot and Hildebrand is unproven in international games.
Friedel was chosen best goalkeeper in the EPL for 2002 by the players.

 

I would say that Keller and Friedel are two of the best keepers in the world. If you look to overall goalkeeping talent, you come to the US. There will be more and more leaving for Europe. Keller probably isn't far behind Friedel in retiring from the MNT. I don't think he will be the starter next year. I think it will be between Howard and Johnny Walker.

Either way, Friedel should be considered one the the greatest soccer players to come out of the US. He was simply unbelievable in the 2002 WC (he was better than Kahn, IMO, and should have been in the top 11. Kahn is and has always been overrated, IMO). He will be inducted to the US Soccer Hall of Fame when it is all said and done. I wish for him great success at Blackburn and whatever he does after his club career is over.

 

I had heard that they were going to work him in slowly. Unless something unforseen happens, he will be starting by the end of this season.

 

I am no trying to say he is rubbish. I'm simply saying that he is definitely not as good as you make him out to be. Actually, let me rephrase. What I found funny was the statement that Friedel and Keller make up the two best goalkeepers in the world.

You say that Kahn and Lehmann will be too old, but how will Keller and Friedel not be?! I mean they are basically in the same age range as both Kahn and Lehmann (the latter a bit older maybe?). And don't tell me Howard is so much more proven relative to Hildebrand. He does have more, but not significantly. Plus he's on the bench.

But anyway.... again, the statement that Keller and Friedel were "clearly" the top two international keepers is so out of place. I mean, there are quite a few decent goalkeepers. If one were to say that they were in the top 10 (both of them not just one - maybe Friedel does deserve it), I might argue against it but I would not rule it out as crazy talk. To say that these two guys are "clearly" (or were) the top two is just a bit much. Imo anyway.

Don't want this to turn into a major argument I'm just happy we are talking about football!

 

I'm wondering what would an internet soccer riot look or sound like?

 

Hahahahahahaha .

Keller plays for one of the worse teams in Germany now (Moenchengladbach), he is actually pretty good. I am not saying your goalkeepers are bad at all, I just think saying these two "are clearly the two best goalkeepers in international soccer" is kind of like saying Tony Parker and Carlos Arroyo are clearly the two best guards in basketball.