Ahead of the World Cup round of 16 meeting between the United States and Belgium, the football public is looking back at unforgettable historical records. The name of Tim Howard, the legendary goalkeeper who was once dubbed the 'Secretary of Defense', is back in the spotlight along with his achievement in holding off Belgium's onslaught at the 2014 edition of the tournament.
In the match that took place in Salvador, Howard recorded a phenomenal feat by making 16 saves in a single game. Although the United States eventually had to concede defeat to Belgium with a score of 2-1 after extra time, Howard's performance at the time is still regarded as one of the most iconic goalkeeper performances in the history of the quadrennial tournament.
Now, 12 years later, the two teams meet again in a similar phase at Seattle Stadium. A tough challenge awaits Mauricio Pochettino's squad, who must play without main striker Folarin Balogun due to a red card suspension. The absence of this key player raises concerns about the team's attacking power, especially after seeing how Lukaku and De Bruyne became nightmares for the US defense in their previous meeting.
Howard himself, who is now 47 years old, had a brilliant international career, earning 121 caps. Aside from his national team service, he is widely known for his dedication over 13 seasons in the English Premier League with Manchester United and Everton. The legacy left by the 'Secretary of Defense' serves as a benchmark for the young players currently fighting under the United States flag to make new history.
