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U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Matt Turner is at a crossroad in his career. He’s the consensus starter for his nation under coach Gregg Berhalter, but this past spring, he couldn’t get near the ball at the club level.Now? His future may depend on a standout showing at Copa America 2024 for the UWMNT, which open play Sunday against Bolivia in Arlington, Texas.In January, Turner’ was struggling at Nottingham Forest, which brought in Belgian shot-stopper Matz Sels during the transfer window to replace him in net. The result? Turner was benched for the remainder of the season. Despite some woeful goalkeeping performances over the final stretch of the campaign from Sels, he’s still seen as the future of the club - which means Turner must make a decision.<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>At 29-years-old, and with a plethora of goalkeeping talent coming up in the U.S. pool, Turner may be getting his last chance with the USMNT at Copa America. Can he prove his doubters wrong, and potentially revive his club career in Europe with a brilliant tournament?GOAL takes a look at what this summer means for the USMNT goalkeeper.

Career crossroads: Copa America 2024 could be make-or-break for USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner

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The USMNT has a well-documented history of goalkeepers leading the way. From Kasey Keller and Tony Meola to Brad Friedel and Tim Howard, the U.S. has rarely lacked star power in the goalkeeping department.Howard, in fact, was the shot-stopper who essentially handed the reins over to Turner.There was a bit of uncertainty between the two, but in 2021, two years after Howard retired, Turner emerged from the shadows to be the leader the USMNT needed ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He had edged out the likes of Ethan Horvath, Zack Steffen, Sean Johnson and an aging Brad Guzan for the starting role - and both he and Berhalter never looked back.His rise was fast, from making his international debut in January, 2021 to starting in Qatar less than two years later. In that same 2021 season, he was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year with the New England Revolution and in 2022, he was off to Europe with Premier League powerhouse Arsenal.Two years on, though, that journey now has a cloud of uncertainty hovering over it, and there is a pair of challengers on the rise, threatening his role with the USMNT in 2026.

Turner's rise

To understand why and how, you have to circle back to that World Cup in 2022, which stands as the peak of Turner’s career.He was coming off his first few months as a Gunner, and off a brilliant CONCACAF Gold Cup in the summer, too. Things were going well, despite his playing second fiddle in net for Mikel Arteta’s side, and not featuring in the league. He was issued a starting role for the Gunners in the UEFA Europa League, keeping four clean sheets in four appearances across September and October of that year in the buildup to Qatar.He was in fine form, and went into the World Cup replicating it, keeping clean sheets against Iran and England in the Group Stage to help the U.S. advance to the knockouts. However, the USMNT were eliminated in the Round of 16 by the Netherlands, and Turner was back to England within weeks.His debut season with Arsenal didn’t quite go according to plan. In total, he only made seven appearances across the campaign, despite the positive start in the UEL prior to the World Cup.As a result, he found himself on the move again in the summer transfer window, where he joined Nottingham Forest on a permanent deal. The start to life at Forest was sensational, but a little more than one month into the job, the downward spiral began.

Highs and lows

He started Forest's first 10 matches of the season, but the squad attained just two victories across that stretch. For the next five matches to follow - all of November into early December - Turner was benched by manager Steve Cooper.Cooper then found himself a victim of the poor performances, and was sacked on Dec. 20. He was replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo, and the Portuguese boss turned to the American.Turner was put back in net for seven matches until the end of January - and that's when the arrival of Sels. whom Nuno requested, all but doomed him.From the start of February onward, the U.S. goalkeeper found himself on the bench for 15-straight matches, watching his squad narrowly escape the relegation zone come the end of the campaign. During that stretch, Forest kept just one clean sheet, and there was nothing the USMNT goalkeeper could do.Fast-forward to the Copa America: heading into the most important tournament for the U.S. ahead of hosting the 2026 World Cup, Turner is out of form, hasn't been playing regularly and is seen as extra at the club level.And there's competition creeping up on the international stage, as well.

The European spiral

This summer, two direct competitors for the starting goalkeeper spot at the 2026 World Cup will arrive on the scene for the USMNT. Rather than featuring in Copa America, though, they will be representing the U.S. at the Paris Olympic Games with the U23 squad.Chelsea youngster Gaga Slonina and Columbus Crew breakout star Patrick Schulte - who has heavily been linked with both Arsenal and Manchester United - will vie for the starting spot in Paris. Llong-term, have their eyes set on the 2026 World Cup, along with Turner. Slonina, who is coming off a loan stint at now-relegated Eupen, is one of the highest-rated youth goalkeepers in the USMNT pool, while the Crew’s Schulte, is on the rise.He led the MLS side to a 2023 MLS Cup and into the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in 2024, with two outstanding penalty shootout performances along the way.Both have been touted as potential impact players come 2026, and represent meaningful competition for Turner.

Youthful competition

The Nottingham Forest goalkeeper knows all too well how fast things can change. Turner knows that he has both of the youngsters pushing him, and it's up to him to retain the starting role for the U.S.Turner himself went from an unknown goalkeeper playing in MLS to starting a World Cup for his country in less than two years. Now, that same timespan is what separates the U.S. and the 2026 World Cup on home soil.Despite the pressure, he remains confident. Turner is composed and understands the reality of his circumstances entering Copa.“I'm not not the type of person to ever feel satisfied where I'm at," he told GOAL ahead of the USMNT"s Copa America opener against Bolivia. "I always feel like I need, or can do better, and can do a little bit more - and I think it's a blessing and a curse," Copa America 2024 could be make-or-break for the shot-stopper, but having the mentality to push beyond the barrier is a positive approach. And Turner realizes he needs to perform at a high level to find himself back in a starting role at the club level."I think the danger in me is when I feel comfortable or if I'm like, 'whatever happens happens.' " he said. "I need to take training how I'm going to take the game, and I need to take each game how I'm going to take the next training, and I just need to keep that cycle ticking over."

Make-or-break for Turner

Career crossroads: Copa America 2024 could be make-or-break for USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner | Goal.com

Is Copa America 2024 Matt Turner&apos;s last tour of duty with the USMNT? GOAL examines