Fantastic Friedel repays Arena's faith

Updated: Sunday June 16, 2002 01:47 a.m. ET

TAEJON, South Korea (Reuters) -- Brad Friedel arrived at the World Cup not even as first choice for the U.S. team but after a stunning first three games he is being described by some as the best goalkeeper in the tournament.

A catalogue of great saves, not least two from penalties, helped the United States into the last 16, where they play old rivals Mexico on Monday.

Instead of winning his 80th cap, the Blackburn Rovers man could easily have been watching from the sidelines -- as he was in the last two World Cups -- if coach Bruce Arena had not made a late decision to hand him a starting slot ahead of Kasey Keller.

Friedel, back-up to Keller in 1998 and to Tony Meola in 1994, forced his way into the side with an outstanding performance in the 2-1 victory over Uruguay in a warm-up in May after an impressive season in the English premier league.

He repaid the coach's faith with a fine performance in the opening World Cup game against Portugal, not only with his goalkeeping but with his calming influence, as the United States grimly held on for a 3-2 win after leading 3-0.

DIVING SAVE

In the second game against South Korea, his save of Lee Eul-yong's first-half penalty helped the Americans to a 1-1 draw.

Ten previous penalties had hit the net in the current World Cup and U.S officials say Friedel's diving save was the first in the World Cup outside of a shoot-out since, coincidently, Meola stopped one against Czechoslovakia in 1990.

As if that wasn't impressive enough, Friedel repeated the dose in the final game against Poland, flinging himself full length to block Maciej Zurawski's spot-kick in the 3-1 defeat.

Friedel also made one fantastic double-save in the Poland game that left the crowd gasping and the Polish strikers shaking their heads in disbelief.

But his performances have come as no surprise to Graeme Souness, his coach at Blackburn.

"There's not another keeper in the premier league I'd trade Brad for," Souness said before the tournament started.

Arena agrees, though he is lucky to be blessed with three top quality, vastly experienced goalkeepers to choose from.

Meola and Keller have 160 caps between them but Arena said Friedel's excellent season with Blackburn, who he helped to the English League Cup, and his all-round game, tipped things his way.

OUTSTANDING FEET

"Obviously, Brad is coming off two great seasons with Blackburn but I think one of the things that separates him from most goalkeepers is that his feet are outstanding," said the coach.

"His ability to play balls out of the back under pressure, on goal kicks and on balls back to the keeper, all of those things that maybe the average fan doesn't notice are big in games like this."

They do notice penalty saves, however, and Friedel, who was selected as goalkeeper in the Reuters "team of the first round," says his chances of stopping them have improved with age.

"I don't think that was the sort of save I would have made when I was 20," the 31-year-old said of the penalty against South Korea.

"I think I won the mental battle with the guy taking it."

That mental strength and self-confidence is picked up by those around him -- another reason why Arena gave him the nod over Keller, who has struggled to get a game with his premier league club Tottenham Hotspur this season.

It will also serve well in what is sure to be a tense encounter with Mexico.

"He has already faced a number of pressure situations in this World Cup and I think Brad is well suited to play in a difficult game," said Arena.

"I don't have any concerns about that."

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