For the last three decades, the United States men's national team manager hasn't needed to concern himself with one aspect of the lineup card: the man in the net. From Tony Meola to Brad Friedel to Kasey Keller, the Stars and Stripes have had a world-class goalkeeper to rely on whenever the 10 outfield players failed. The strength of the U.S. netminders is such an institution that even Tim Howard's stunning performance against Belgium at the 2014 World Cup wasn't a complete surprise; making the sublime look routine is an American tradition.
But the times, they are a-changin' -- maybe.