Catching up with GK Tim Howard

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Tim Howard has been the No. 1 goalkeeper for the U.S. national team since taking over for Kasey Keller after the 2006 World Cup. David E. Klutho/SI Grant Wahl's Mailbag Grant Wahl will periodically answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

The U.S. has produced some world-class goalkeepers over the years, none more accomplished than Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller, two ageless lions who are still prowling the pipes at, respectively, Aston Villa and Seattle. But if there's one American who reminds me the most of Hatch, the fearless Allied keeper played by Sylvester Stallone in Victory, it's Tim Howard.

Chosen as the top goalkeeper at the Confederations Cup in June, Howard kept the Americans in the game against Brazil in the final, making save after acrobatic save before the Brazilians finally pushed through for a 3-2 come-from-behind victory. As the U.S. closes in on a World Cup berth, needing only two points from two qualifiers next month (or just a tie in the finale against Costa Rica), this much has become clear: If Howard is playing well, then the Allies -- whoops, the Americans -- always have a chance.

For me, at least, it's hard to believe that Howard is now 30 years old, or that six years have passed since he burst onto the global soccer scene as an unknown 24-year-old Jersey guy with Tourette's syndrome who somehow leaped from MLS to the starting gig at Manchester United. (For more gratuitous Victory references, check out my 2003 story on Howard.)

Howard didn't stay with Manchester United, but since joining Everton in '06, he has been one of the Premiership's steadiest goalkeepers, helping the Toffees finish fifth last season while also reaching the FA Cup final (thanks to a couple big penalty saves by Howard against Man. United in the semifinals).

Howard should be in the goal when Everton plays its first game in the Europa League group stage against AEK Athens on Thursday. Last week I sat down with the U.S.' first-choice keeper in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where we discussed the U.S. World Cup qualifying effort, the three most dangerous forwards he has faced and Howard's contention that U.S. goalkeeping isn't what it used to be. Here's an edited version of our interview:

SI.com: How do you feel about how World Cup qualifying has gone?

Howard: I think it's gone pretty much according to plan if I look back over the years, particularly as a spectator. I remember a lot of times watching the team do pretty much exactly what we're doing, being really good in certain areas and then having tough stretches. I can remember a game in D.C. when we got beat, when Brad Friedel was in goal and Tyson Núñez scored two goals and we were supposed to win the game [a 3-2 loss to Honduras in '01]. All that crazy stuff happens in qualifying. It's so hard for the people on the outside to understand, whether it's friends of mine back in England or people in America, that World Cup qualifying is so difficult. The goal, at the end of the day, is to qualify. It's not a one-game deal, it's an 18-game deal, and right now it's a 10-game issue.

SI.com: You've never played in a World Cup. Have you imagined what it would be like?

Howard: Yeah, because I've been there. I was alongside Kasey [in '06] and worked really closely with him in preparation for the games. If you take the label away, the World Cup is just another massive set of games, games that are unbelievably high-level, with a lot of hype surrounding it with the media, a lot of attention from the world. I feel like, at 30, I have played in a lot of those games. Now, if we get to the World Cup and hopefully I'm fortunate to be on the field, yeah, it'll be the World Cup, so it'll be a different stage. But the fans are going to be the same, the media attention is going to be the same as I've experienced along the way in my career. I'm hoping all that experience helps me. I think it will. I think it has over the last few years, particularly the past three years since Bob Bradley has taken over the team. Those experiences have helped me grow.

SI.com: Sometimes it's hard to remember that you're 30 years old now. As you get older, in what ways have you evolved as a goalkeeper?

Howard: It's funny, because when you're a young goalkeeper you don't want to hear any of it: Just pay your dues, you'll get your turn, you'll get more experience. But here I am -- 28, 29, now 30 -- and I always say, I am who I am right now. If you want something different, you're going to have to get another goalkeeper. It's going to be very hard to teach me new tricks. I mean that in a really positive way. I'm very happy with the goalkeeper I've become. It's such a weird thing, because you don't realize it. Here I was, 22, and people are saying, "You'll get better, you'll get more experience. Look at Brad and Kasey." And all of the sudden, eight or nine years go by and then you're that experienced guy. And you're thinking, "What has actually changed?"

I just think you become more comfortable with your surroundings. For me as a goalkeeper, I stopped going to look for things. You see a lot of young goalkeepers trying to run out and make plays. I did that a lot when I was younger. I've learned to just be more patient and sit back and let the game come to me. That has basically been my confidence saying when the play does come to me I'm going to be ready, willing and able, and capable to deal with it. Whereas when you're younger you're thinking, "Oh, the closer they get to the goal, the more chance they're going to score, so I'm just going to go and make things happen."

Another thing that may sound silly, but when you talk about goalkeeping, your angle plays get so much better. You look at Friedel and some of the best goalkeepers in the world, when a striker comes into the box and they take up an angle, it's almost like there's no chance of beating them because their angles are so good. That's based on experience, on seeing shooters at the highest levels coming in at certain positions and knowing where they're going to go.