If the USA can’t win the Cup, who do you want to see take the crown of World Cup Champ?/Tim Howard cleared to play…

Will the USA win it all and claim the Cup? Not likely and after Saturday’s 1-1 tie with England, it looks like the US might even have their hands full with Slovenia later on this week….Slovenia topped Algeria 1-0 in their World Cup opener…..

Some of the teams have about a week between games and that doesn’t make much sense…..This is soccer and not American-style professional football….

If the USA does not become World Cup Champions, then I like Germany…..They always have a strong defensive side and they claimed a 4-0 victory in Round One….

I also have always respected the way the Brazilians play the game and Brazil would be a favorite if the US can’t claim or occupy the Cup….

Other favs would be Italy, Mexico, Spain, Argentina and France…..All of those nations have a strong and solid World Cup Soccer heritage……..

If the USA is to survive and advance, then the keeper Tim Howard will have to overcome injury, just as Sylvester Stallone did back in the movie “Victory” or “Escape to Victory”, as it was known in some parts of the world…..

I’m not sure if Howard is as tough as Stallone, but here is what happened when the movie “Victory” was taking place:

Association football plays an integral part of the film. The Allied prisoners of war (POWs), coached and represented by Englishman John Colby (Michael Caine), who was a professional footballer for West Ham United before the war, agree to play an exhibition match against a German team, only to find themselves involved in a German propaganda stunt. In the end, the POWs can leave the German camp only to play the match; they are to be imprisoned again following the match. Despite the match officials being heavily biased towards the Germans, and the German team causing several deliberate injuries to the Allied players, a draw is achieved after great performances from Luis Fernandez (portrayed by Pelé), Carlos Rey (portrayed by Osvaldo Ardiles) and Arthur Hayes (portrayed by John Wark). American POW Robert Hatch (Sylvester Stallone) plays goalkeeper, and makes excellent saves including one last save from a penalty kick as time expires to deny the Germans the win, drawing the game 4–4. Before the penalty kick the POWs had scored a goal which was disallowed by the referee, for a dubious offside decision, making the score 5–4 which prompted the crowd to shout “Victoire!”

The US keeper Tim Howard has been cleared to play in Friday’s match with Slovenia…..

from www.philly.com:

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Tim Howard has been cleared to play.
The U.S. team’s top goalkeeper will need no further testing on bruised ribs suffered in the first half of Saturday’s 1-1 tie with England.

U.S. Soccer, which had the day off from training and media availability, issued this statement: “After a physical examination this morning, the medical staff has determined there is no need to conduct additional testing on Tim Howard. He continues to make substantial improvement and is expected to be available for the match against Slovenia.”

The U.S. team continues World Cup play on Friday against Slovenia, which is atop the Group C standings: Slovenia secured three points with its win over Algeria on Sunday; the U.S. team and England each collected a point with Saturday’s tie.

On Sunday, there was concern that Howard would need an X-ray or MRI to determine if had broken any ribs, an injury that would likely have kept him from competing Friday.

Howard is considered crucial to the U.S. team’s success.

Howard was injured in a sliding collision with England forward Emile Heskey; despite staying on the grass for approximately three minutes, Howard remained in goal, received a cortisone shot at halftime and made a handful of difficult saves in preserving the tie.

After Saturday’s match, Howard called the collision “agony” and said recovery would take a few days.

“Having an excellent keeper in a tournament like this is essential,” U.S. defender Steve Cherundolo said during Sunday’s news conference.

“Anytime you’re in a big game like that and you get an injury, there is no chance anybody’s taking you off that field. It speaks for Tim’s character.”

Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20100615_Tim_Howard_cleared_to_play_in_U_S_-Slovenia_World_Cup_game.html#ixzz0qw7cepjk