World Cup ‘keepers shine, win accolades
Print Edition
LIONEL Messi, Neymar and Robin van Persie make the headlines, but the World Cup’s real heroes have been goalkeepers like Tim Howard, Guillermo Ochoa and Julio Cesar who throw themselves into the line of fire.
“Two words .. TIM HOWARD #respect,” was the simple Twitter comment made by Belgium captain Vincent Kompany within minutes of his country finally beating the United States in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, who hit the winning goal, and Dries Mertens, both hugged Howard at the end of their 120-minute onslaught on the 35-year-old goalkeeper.
Howard’s 16 saves, some at point blank range, two spectacularly flicked over the crossbar, were a record for a goalkeeper in a World Cup match since 1966.
The US defense seemed unable to resist the Belgian attack of Mertens, Divock Origi and Eden Hazard. US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Howard kept the team in the game right to the end. The Americans had chances to equalize right until the final seconds.
Just phenomenal
“How Tim played tonight was just phenomenal,” he said. “As the game went on, on the back of Tim’s performance we got back in it.”
Similar compliments have been paid to Ochoa for giving Mexico an unlikely 0-0 draw with Brazil in Group A, and Cesar for his heroics in keeping Chile at bay in a game Brazil won to reach the quarterfinals.
Costa Rica ‘keeper Keylor Navas was the hero as his side, down to 10 men, beat Greece in their last 16 game.
Mexico’s Ochoa, who held Brazil at bay for 90 minutes, was without a club after his French side Ajaccio was relegated to the second division and his contract ran out last month.
One sprawling one-handed save from a powerful header by Brazil striker Neymar has been compared to the legendary stop by England’s Gordon Banks against Brazil’s Pele at the 1970 World Cup.
“I feel really flattered,” Ochoa, 29, said of the comparison. “Of course I’d rather have less work,” he added.
His shift in Fortaleza has earned interest from English sides, including Liverpool, according to media reports.
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