MIAMI, Florida – For all of the talk about attacking and goal-scoring threats in next week’s Concacaf Nations League Finals, things may just boil down to the play of the men in net.
Goalkeepers often have a decisive role in Concacaf tournaments and each semifinalist, Mexico, United States, Costa Rica and Honduras, boast large and steady presences in goal.
Guillermo Ochoa, Mexico
Ochoa actually only played in one match during the CNL group stage in League A, as Mexico Head Coach Gerardo Martino opted to use four different GKs in the four matches. However, it should be noted that the 2019 Concacaf Golden Glove winner was the only El Tricolor GK to secure a clean sheet in that period, in Mexico’s 3-0 win at Panama.
Ochoa’s pedigree is beyond reproach. A four-time Gold Cup champion and FIFA World Cup hero for his country among many other individual accomplishments, Ochoa provides a steady presence in goal for Martino’s Mexico and will fancy their chances should they find themselves in a penalty shootout in the CNLF.
Zack Steffen, United States
Brad Guzan handled most of the GK duties for the U.S. in their four matches in League A, but Steffen did get the nod in the 2-0 defeat to Canada. However, in the time since, Steffen has established himself as the starting GK for Head Coach Gregg Berhalter.
The experience gained by Steffen this past season at Premier League winners Manchester City has proven invaluable. The 26-year-old was in goal as Manchester City claimed the Carabao Cup and is part of the team that will be playing in this Saturday’s UEFA Champions League Final in Porto, Portugal.
Esteban Alvarado Brown, Costa Rica
The first name that comes to mind with Costa Rican goalkeeping is Keylor Navas, winner of three UEFA Champions League titles with European giants Real Madrid, but Alvarado has emerged as a good option for the Ticos as well. With Navas unavailable for the CNLF, Costa Rica boss Ronald Gonzalez knows that in Brown he has a capable netminder.
Alvarado, featured in two CNL group stage matches for Costa Rica, helping his side to a big 2-1 win at Curacao, followed by a 1-1 home draw versus Haiti. The 32-year-old has experience in goal in both Gold Cup and Concacaf World Cup Qualifying, so he is likely to be unfazed by the high stakes of the CNLF.
Luis Lopez, Honduras
One would be hard-pressed to find another GK who performed better than Lopez during the CNL. The 27-year-old started three matches for the Catrachos and the end result was a trio of clean sheets, with 2-0 and 4-0 wins over Trinidad and Tobago and a 1-0 final against Martinique.
A player with Gold Cup, Concacaf WCQ, Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying and Olympic Games experience, Lopez like to shine under the bright lights of big tournaments.
