One of the USA’s World Cup heroes joined NBC’s Today Show on Friday, watch the video here, as veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard was interviewed live from the team hotel in Sao Paulo following their qualification to the knockout stages.
Howard, 35, put in yet another stunning display for the Star and Stripes as they lost to Germany 1-0 on Thursday, but advanced to the Round of 16 thanks to Portugal’s 2-1 defeat of Ghana.
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Speaking about the monumental achievement of making it out of the “Group of Death” and on to play Belgium in the last 16 on Tuesday, Howard tried to sum up the emotions in the U.S. locker room directly after the match.
Howard was then asked about the awful weather conditions in Recife and how that impacted the USA’s approach vs. Germany.
“I live in Manchester... so to be impressed by rain it must have been heavy!” Howard laughed. “It makes you concentrate more, when the elements are against you. You focus in and I think that helps, really.”
Asked if the U.S. players on the pitch knew what the score was in the Ghana vs. Portugal game that was going on simultaneously, Howard revealed how it all went down.
“I knew, some of the other players know,” Howard said. “It varies. Some of our guys didn’t want to know, the coach didn’t really want to tell us but we needed to find out because the result was so important and made a difference in our match.”
Howard made five stops in the 1-0 defeat to Germany, as the U.S. defended for their lives knowing that a heavy defeat for them could spell disaster if Ghana or Portugal went goal-crazy in the other match. Howard was called into action time and time again in the box as Germany’s relentless attacking machine clicked through the gears, especially early on.
“I just tried to be ultra-focused,” Howard said. “Often, it comes down to a teams goalkeeper. Germany is a top team and probably the best team in the world. If not, they are first or second, so we knew we would be tested as a defense and I come into that role and try to play my part. It was a good feeling when the game was over!”
Asked about the incredible TV audiences and support shown across the country for the U.S. national team and their heroics in Brazil, Howard admitted the team has been taken back by the levels of interest in their World Cup exploits.