SouthernWorldwide.com – For former United States Men’s National Team goalkeeper Tim Howard, this year’s World Cup holds a significant full-circle meaning.
Howard, who grew up in central New Jersey and began his professional career in his home state, is witnessing the World Cup final being held approximately 35 miles from his childhood home.
He expressed his certainty about the ideal location for the final when the bidding process took place.
“I’ve never been to a World Cup final. I have never been around a World Cup final. I’m 47 years old, I’ve only ever seen the World Cup final on TV. So, you know, to be in New York during it, it’s sort of crazy to think about. It’s pinch myself sort of territory.”
Howard’s personal experience has meant he’s never attended a World Cup final because his USMNT squads never advanced that far. In fact, no US team has ever reached the final. Howard isn’t particularly optimistic about this year’s team achieving that milestone either.
However, he believes there’s a specific benchmark this year’s team must meet for the World Cup not to be considered a disappointment for the Stars and Stripes.
“I think we win the group, and we should win the group. So, start there,” Howard stated. The USMNT is the highest-ranked team within its group, which also includes Australia, Paraguay, and Turkey.
“I think if you win the group and you finish first, in the Round of 32 you’re going to get a third-place team, which, hopefully, as we start to peel back the layers, shouldn’t be any better than any team you had just beaten in the knockout phase, right?”
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From that point onwards, Howard suggested, it becomes bonus territory.
“And then I think, if my calculations are correct, in the Round of 16 they’re going to have to roll their sleeves up and sort of beat a bully, a top-10 team in the world, right? But that’s sort of how it should be. And if they can do that, a top-10, top-20 team, then they get themselves to the quarterfinal,” he explained.
“Now, that’s easy on paper. A lot of things have to happen. I think this is a really talented team. Can they come together, all play their best soccer at the same time? We’ll see. But I do think they have the potential to do that.”
Howard, naturally, hopes for the team to go all the way, which might necessitate some extra laundry duty. Howard is well-acquainted with this aspect, as a lifelong athlete who maintains a healthy lifestyle and has partnered with Lysol in anticipation of this year’s World Cup.
“I’m not on the field anymore, but I know that after a long match, practice, workout, whatever it is, my clothes stink. I also know that Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is my absolute go-to,” he shared. “It kills 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria in laundry. So, it’s a natural fit as you can imagine with all of the sweating and working out that I did.”
Even if the United States’ tournament doesn’t unfold as planned, Howard sees a silver lining.
“If the United States Men’s National Team has a tragic summary and they fail and they don’t get out of the group, soccer’s not going to go backwards in this country. It’s not,” he asserted. “People will be disappointed, but the money and the infrastructure and the support are still going to be there.
“They’re just going to be hungrier for success.”
