USA Loses to Belgium in Extra Time

The United States have been knocked out of the FIFA World Cup by Belgium in the first round. Both teams were scoreless by the end of regulation, but Belgium was able to score two and the U.S. only scored one and after the dust settled, the final score was 2-1. The loss was a heartbreaking one after expectations were set pretty high for the men’s national team. In the 93rd minute, Kevin De Bruyne scored for Belgium to take the lead and then substitute striker Romelu Lukaku kicked one in 12 minutes later. The U.S. fought back when their substitute striker, 19-year-old Julian Green, knocked in his first international goal on his first touch to give his team a spark of hope. However, time ran out for the United States and their World Cup journey has come to an abrupt end.

Superstar goalkeeper Tim Howard had one of the best performances of his career with 16 saves. That’s the most by any goalkeeper in the World Cup since 1966! However, he couldn’t do it all by himself and the United States’ offense couldn’t produce anything during regulation time after both Clint Dempsey and Chris Wondolowski had chances to score late in the game.

The U.S. team will have to wait another four years and hopefully Tim Howard will remain in good form by then. He is currently 35 years old and is getting near the end of his soccer career. Clint Dempsey should definitely return, but he will be 35 by the time the World Cup comes back around in 2018 at Russia.

One of the biggest struggles facing the men’s national team was Jozy Altidore’s hamstring injury in the first game against Ghana. Latest news says that he will be good to go for Sunderland’s next match. In 2018, Altidore will have to emerge as America’s top soccer player at the age of 28. For now, he is a 24-year-old looking to make his impact in the world of soccer. Other players like Graham Zusi, Michael Bradley and John Anthony Brooks will definitely return for the next World Cup and will be a big help for the United States in other international matches. Hopefully next time, the U.S. will have a good solid foundation to work with against other international clubs.

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Christian Athlete of the Week: Tim Howard

Tim Howard is one of the best goalies the U.S. Soccer team has ever had. The 34-year-old has been part of the American national team since 2002 and later established himself as first-choice and started all of the United States’ games at the 2010 World Cup as they reached the Round of 16. He has made 97 total appearances for the U.S. team in international play and plays for the English Premier League club Everton. Before coming to Everton, he was noticed by Manchester United, where he made 45 appearances from 2003-2007.

Although Howard is known to make saves on the soccer field, there was One who saved him. The goalkeeper’s Christian faith was first noted when he won the MLS Humanitarian of the Year in 2001 for his work with children who have Tourette’s. Howard himself was diagnosed with Tourette’s when he was in middle school and he does what he can to help others who were in his position. He has also been known to publicly profess his faith to those around him.

“I’m certainly just a vehicle for Christ,” Howard said, “and He moves me and the Spirit moves me in miraculous ways — that’s from dealing with Tourette’s syndrome to the pressures playing on a level like this and in England in the Premiere League. I just try to rely on faith.” (Credit: christianexaminer.com)

Howard knows that his talents and abilities would been for nothing if it wasn’t for Christ moving through him. The American goalkeeper has been very blessed throughout his long career, playing in big games and living in big moments. Through it all, he knows the One who is bigger than anything he has ever faced.

“The most important thing in my life is Christ,” Howard said. “He’s more important to me than winning or losing or whether I’m playing or not. Everything else is just a bonus.” (Credit: His book “Tim Howard: The Goalkeeper”)

Howard is also involved with Athletes in Action, a ministry arm of Campus Crusade for Christ. These organizations use sports as a platform to help people answer questions of faith and point them to Jesus. Howard has certainly been a big part of that and his walk with Christ is what inspires those around him.

“I’m not perfect. I’m far from it and that is the reason I do need Jesus. I try to live it,” Howard said. “I stumble, as many people do, but always in the belief that I’m loved and that I’m meaningful. Today, I am blessed to be living a dream. And yet, if it all went away tomorrow, I know I would still have peace. That probably sounds crazy to most people, but that’s the kind of peace Christ gives. It is rooted in His love, and it surpasses all understanding.”

(Credit: christianexaminer.com)