Matt Freese faced heavy criticism after his mistake in the final group stage match against Haiti in the Gold Cup. Many suggested Mauricio Pochettino should replace him with veteran Matt Turner — but that didn’t happen in the quarter-final clash against Costa Rica.

The Concacaf Gold Cup may have brought a new hero to the United States men's national team in Matt Freese. The unlikely goalkeeping star saved three Costa Rica penalties in a sudden-death shootout, and was instrumental in the USMNT advancing to the Gold Cup semifinals.