Brazil 2014: Goalies earn ‘respect’ with heroics between the posts

Rio De Janeiro. Lionel Messi, Neymar and Robin van Persie make the headlines, but the World Cup’s real heroes have been goalkeepers like Tim Howard, Guillermo Ochoa and Julio Cesar who throw themselves into the line of fire.

“Two words .. TIM HOWARD #respect,” was the simple Twitter comment made by Belgium’s captain Vincent Kompany within minutes of his country finally beating the United States in the last 16 on Tuesday. Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, who hit the winning goal, and Dries Mertens, both hugged Howard at the end of their 120-minute onslaught on the 35-year-old Everton goalkeeper.

Howard’s 16 saves, some at point blank range, two spectacularly flicked over the crossbar, were a record for a goalkeeper in a World Cup match since 1966.

The US defence seemed unable to resist the Belgian attack of Mertens, Divock Origi and Eden Hazard. US coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Howard kept the team in the game right to the end. The Americans had chances to equalise right until the final seconds.

“How Tim played tonight was just phenomenal,” Klinsmann said. “As the game went on, on the back of Tim’s performance we got back in the game.”

Similar compliments have been paid to Ochoa for giving Mexico an unlikely 0-0 draw with Brazil in Group A, and Cesar for his heroics in keeping Chile at bay in a game Brazil won to reach the quarter finals.

Costa Rica’s ‘keeper Keylor Navas was the hero as his side, down to 10 men, beat Greece in their last 16 game.

Germany’s Manuel Neuer has been hailed for rushing out of his penalty area to clear the ball as North African minnows Algeria poured forward on Monday.

“He reacted like a libero and protected us from many situations that smelled of danger,” said Germany coach Joachim Loew. (AFP)