USMNT face final group stage test but Mauricio Pochettino must resolve World Cup ‘question mark’

USMNT dreams have never been higher following their blistering start to the World Cup.

A history-making 4-1 win over Paraguay, and a 2-0 victory over Australia mean they have already secured their place in the Round of 32.

USMNT have already won Group D, securing their place in the knockout roundsGetty

Mauricio Pochettino’s men have one final Group D game to face, against Turkey, before an anxious wait to find out their opponent.

The former Tottenham Hotspur manager has got the US flying, a +5 goal difference is their second highest through two games of a World Cup in history.

Their ‘cash money’ midfield, Folarin Balogun‘s two goals and a rock-solid defense led by veteran Tim Ream have fans believing this could be their year.

The fact their goalkeeper has hardly been tested through 180 minutes is a testament to how well they have played, but, there is one question mark looming over their heads, according to a USMNT legend.

Kasey Keller says USMNT still have goalkeeping question mark

For decades, the US were spoiled when it came to the goalkeeper position, producing multiple world-class stoppers.

Tony Meola in the early to mid-1990s, Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel battling it out in the late 90s and mid 2000s, and then Tim Howard.

Keller, Friedel and Howard enjoyed long careers at a variety of clubs in the creme-de-la-creme of European leagues.

Heading into the World Cup, a position that once inspired confidence raised questions when New York City FC‘s Matt Freese has been handed the nod over Matt Turner.

Keller, who made 102 appearances for the national team, thinks this is the biggest question mark heading into latter-stages of the biggest tournament in the world.

“The difficulty of this is that it hasn’t been a question for so many years,” Keller exclusively told talkSPORT.

Keller was part of the US’ golden generation of goalkeepers but has questions about the current groupGetty Keller holds the U.S. record for most international caps and clean sheets as a goalkeeperGetty

“In this cycle there has been a big question about who will play in goal and what it was going to look like.

“I don’t think we saw much, as comprehensive as that match was against Paraguay, we didn’t need to see Freese do anything.

“We’re still waiting to see how the situation is going to play out. I had a pretty good feeling it was going to be Matt Freese, he played the majority under Pochettino.

“But Freese is still pretty untested at this level, and I think that will be a question mark that we are all waiting to see be ticked off.

“So fingers crossed he continues to grow and gain confidence under the position.”

Under FIFA‘s new 48 team structure, the USA will face one of the best third-place finishers from Group B, E, F, I or J.

Keller has said the ‘untested’ Matt Freese is the biggest question mark facing USMNTGetty

The final opponent will not be determined until all group games conclude.

While the defense has kept Freese out of harm’s way so far, the pressure of moving on may demand a world-class moment from the unproven No.1.

Whether the NYCFC stopper can replicate legendary tournament heroics that his predecessors did will ultimately dictate where Pochettino’s historic start continues past the Round of 32.

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