He Still Lost

Tim Howard let's in another goal in

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't the United States lose in the World Cup and the goalie, who guides the defense, is one of those to blame?
From Fox News:
“I don’t want to be the hero,” U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard told the London Times a decade ago when he was playing for Manchester United. “I don’t want to be the goat. Somewhere in the middle’s all right by me.”
But at the World Cup in Brazil over the past two weeks, the unassuming 35-year-old who would rather spend a quite night at home than go out partying, put himself so far over into the “hero” column. The middle may never be an option for him again.
After solid performances against Ghana and Portugal, Howard turned in arguably the finest work of his career in back-to-back matches against Germany—a 1-0 loss for the U.S.—and Tuesday’s 2-1 Round of 16 overtime loss to Belgium that sent the Yanks home.
Against Belgium, Howard kept the ball out of the net with slides, with dives and with leaps.
He just couldn't do it forever. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2014/07/02/goalie-tim-howard-turns-in-world-cup-performance-for-ages-but-cant-save-us/
Why is Howard getting all this praise for doing his job?  He trains day after day to be a goalie and that is his only job.  He did what he is trained and trains to do.
Is he the only goat on the U.S. team?  No, but he certainly is not a hero.  He lost 2 games and let in a goal with seconds left in the Portugal game that allowed Portugal to tie- a goal that should not have been given up.  Howard just stood there as the pass came within a foot or so of him and he didn't block the guy who headed it in.  In the tournament, Howard won only 1 game- against Ghana.  Not exactly praise worthy.
Right now, the U.S. soccer team isn't exactly turning heads, even with a bunch of rejects from the Germany team.
They choked or they had their butt kicked and they need a lot of help.
Hopefully, they will get it.
Thus ends my last blog about soccer for the next 4 years.