U.S. soccer coaches and fans have often wondered who was going to win the ball and who was going to score, but one part of the field they never worried about was the man between the posts.

Until now.

The long line of often unbeatable U.S. goalkeepers may be at an end.

The two veterans expected to lead the way to the 2018 World Cup in Russia are struggling mightily, some unfortunate timing as World Cup qualifying resumes with two games versus Guatemala later this month.

What is perhaps more alarming is that no great U.S. keeper of tomorrow is on the horizon.

Since returning to the World Cup in 1990, after a 40-year absence, the U.S. has always been strong in goal. A sure-handed keeper was a given, from Tony Meola to Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller to Tim Howard (whose 16-save performance in the extra-time loss to Belgium at Brazil 2014 will not be soon forgotten by U.S. fans).

It was such a certainty that many stories were written about why the U.S. was so good in goal. Explanations put forward included the familiarity U.S. athletes have with handling a ball … and the lack of a stigma attached to the position in the states — as opposed to many parts of the world, where the goalkeeper is a failed field player.

In the 25 years since 1990, the Yanks usually had at least two elite guys ready to go. Friedel and Keller gave the U.S. a long period of superiority in goal and often were pitted in fights to win the starting job.

Depth at the position was such that the U.S. had Marcus Hahnemann playing in England for a full decade … and he got only nine starts over a span of 17 years with the national team.

The current top two goalkeepers are Howard and Brad Guzan, who got nearly all the time in goal in 2015, as Howard took a year off from the international game.

Both play in the English Premier League, which is good. Both have lost their jobs, which is not.

Last month, Everton coach Roberto Martinez said he would be depending on the Spaniard Joel Robles, going forward, leaving Howard only occasional time on the pitch, including a 2-1 Premier League loss to Swansea City over the weekend. Everton is in the FA Cup semifinals, but Howard will be a spectator to that game, barring injury to Robles.

Guzan, meanwhile, has been sucked into the train wreck that is Aston Villa, where losing has become a way of life and demotion from the Premier League is certain. He has been in and out of the lineup.

Neither man looks like someone you want as the last line of defense on your national team. Not now.

Some suggest age is catching up to Howard, who is 37. That is possible, but lots of keepers have played well at that age and more. Guzan is 31, still in what is considered a goalkeeper’s prime. His defenders seems to suggest he would be OK if he were not stuck with Aston Villa.

The problem for Jurgen Klinsmann, the U.S. coach, is that he does not have appetizing options.

Nick Rimando has been the “third guy” since 2009, and has played a few significant games for the national team, but he is 36.

Klinsmann may be tempted to look at a younger candidate, but for the first time in decades, no one is beating down the door to the nets.

Luis Robles got some time last year, but he is 31.

The top younger guys, who like Rimando and Robles are in Major League Soccer, are generally considered to be Sean Johnson and Bill Hamid, but neither has been sharp enough to warrant attention from a top European league.

Which leaves Klinsmann … where?

It will be interesting to see whom he calls in for the Guatemala games. Let’s guess and say Howard and Guzan will still be tabbed, despite Klinsmann (like most coaches) being reluctant to call in a man who is not starting for his club.

But who is the third guy? Robles? Someone else?

Coaches hate an unsettled situation in goal, but that is the novel situation U.S. Soccer finds itself in –  at least until one of the veterans comes around or one of the younger guys steps forward.