Tim Howard: The United States Will Stop To Watch USMNT-England
PRETORIA, South Africa – U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard is a really good fellow. Always has been, going way back to his days in New York as an up-and-coming ‘keeper. But he’s not always the best at producing dynamic quotes. So when he’s cranking out something like this, you know it’s a big occasion. This is what the U.S. No. 1 said during Thursday’s press availability about the massive scale of Saturday’s match:
“It’s going to be pretty incredible. I don’t know what’s going to be better, back home at the bar watching it with my friends or actually playing in it,” Howard said. “I think it’s going to be special. They’re going to be kicking at every ball, I’ve heard from so many of my friends and family back home. I really think our country is going to stop, I really do. I think our country is going to stop and watch and see if we get a result. It’s a lot of pressure, but it’s also pretty cool to see how far we’ve come.”
If that doesn’t get your little soccer shorts a shakin’, well, you’re dead to us all.
There wasn’t much in the way of hard news during Thursday’s press conference at the Irene Farm, the last one here before the team travels up to Rustenburg. They trained here at their usual site on Thursday morning and then made the two-and-a-half hour bus ride up to Rustenburg. The U.S. will practice there on Friday.
Jozy Altidore was also at the table Thursday, taking questions from a press core that shrunk just a little from Wednesday, mostly due to the absence of English press.
He seemed to be walking with a little bit of a limp, but pronounced himself ready to play.
“I’m hopeful, that’s the most important thing,” the young U.S. striker said. “Mentally I’m ready to go.”
Howard also addressed the allegedly flaky ball. As a goalkeeper he’s the one who must be most acutely aware of any special dips and dances. If Landon Donovan skies a shot, it’s not going to matter much other than one opportunity lost. But if Howard loses track, momentarily loses focus or doesn’t handle something cleanly, consequences could be calamitous.
So how’s he adjusting? “It slowly gets better,” he said. “But it is what it is. I think you’re going to see crazy goals in the tournament. The onus is on us as goalkeepers, as I’ve said before, to make the right decisions and put balls in areas where it’s not going to hurt you. It might not be pretty, but from a goalkeeper standpoint you just have to do your best with what you’re given.”
Howard also talked about England’s deadeye danger on restarts. Mexico was clobbering the Three Lions in a recent friendly, about to run the Brits out of their own fabled Wembley grounds. Then, just like that, England scored on two corner kicks and eventually won the game.
Howard said the U.S. simply has to be cognizant and smart about not giving away cheap corner kicks and free kicks. Some of it is down to team shape he said, because fouls often happen when defenders get isolated in one-on-one situations.
“To be honest, it’s how we should approach every game,” Howard said. “You give away a certain amount of free kicks you’re going to give up a goal at some point. Rest assured, if we give away up too many free kicks around the box, too many corner kicks, we’re going to be punished for it.”
Steve Davis is reporting from South Africa throughout the 2010 World Cup. You can read more of his thoughts at SB Nation’s Daily Soccer Fix.
