Tim Howard

Somewhere, perhaps scribbled on a piece of paper and stuck to the refrigerator at his home-away-from-home in England, Tim Howard has to have written a memo to himself. How else is the U.S. national team's starting goalkeeper going to remember everything he has to do in the next few weeks? This is how it might read: "May 30: Play for Everton against Chelsea in the F.A. Cup final at Wembley. Watch out for Didier Drogba. Also Frank Lampard, John Terry and Michael Essien. "May 31: Fly to the U.S.

The underperforming U.S. national team's road to the World Cup got considerably more difficult Friday when doctors in England announced that keeper Tim Howard could miss several weeks after breaking two bones in his back. Howard, who captained the U.S. team in its World Cup qualifying loss to Honduras last month, was hurt playing for his English club team, Everton, in the FA Cup last week. The U.S., which must finish among the top three in its six-team qualifying pool to secure an invitation to Brazil 2014, plays host to Costa Rica, then travels to Mexico for its next two matches later this month.

Reporting from Rustenburg, South Africa -- The bad news for Tim Howard arrived four minutes into Saturday's World Cup match between the U.S. and England at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. That's when the American defense sprang a leak and England's Steven Gerrard slotted the ball past Howard in the U.S. goal. The bad news for Robert Green arrived five minutes before halftime. That's when Clint Dempsey double-faked Gerrard and hit a shot that Green somehow contrived to fumble into his own net. As far as goals go, that was it. The match ended in a 1-1 tie, which was a huge plus for the underdog U.S. and a huge blow to the ego of World Cup contender England and its fans.

The United States is giddy, grateful, gushing over soccer. The president of the U.S. Soccer Federation says, "I think this has got to be the greatest win in U.S. soccer history." The goalkeeper pitches a shutout and says, "This is big, big news…. People in America have to understand this is huge." Landon Donovan scores a goal and says, "It's like a dream." All of this after Wednesday's World Cup victory against Algeria? No, all of this eight years ago after a second-round World Cup victory against Mexico.

World Cup 2010: UNITED STATES FIFA ranking: 16 Overall World Cup record: 6-16-3 Coach: Bob Bradley Best performance: Third place, 1930 Overview: A stunning upset of European champion Spain and a gutsy performance in a one-goal loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup in South Africa last year might have raised American hopes too high. Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey and friends could have peaked a year too soon, especially in light of subsequent injuries to so many starters, not least of all speedy forward Charlie Davies.

Clint Mathis scored in the 87th minute and backup goalkeeper Tim Howard recorded his third shutout in four appearances as the New York-New Jersey MetroStars beat the Kansas City Wizards, 1-0, on Saturday before 5,810 at Kansas City, Mo. It was the first home loss of the season for Kansas City, which has a one point lead over the Galaxy in the Western Division. The MetroStars lead the East. Mathis' goal was set up by a long pass from Tab Ramos.

Reporting from Johannesburg, South Africa -- American goalkeeper Tim Howard , who suffered an unspecified rib or chest injury when he collided with forward Emile Heskey during Saturday night's 1-1 tie with England, is still being monitored. "He is currently receiving treatment and our trainers are closely evaluating his progress," a U.S. spokesman said Sunday evening. "He will be evaluated again in the morning to determine if any tests will be required." Howard was caught in the ribs by Heskey's boot in the game in Rustenburg and needed pain medication at halftime in order to continue.

The United States, coming off an impressive 4-0 soccer victory over Honduras in Seattle last weekend, plays fellow World Cup finalist Ecuador today in Birmingham, Ala. The 1 p.m. game--to be shown live on ABC and Telemundo and broadcast by the Futbol de Primera radio network--could see New York/New Jersey MetroStar goalkeeper Tim Howard make his national team debut.

Ricardo Clark scored on a header in the 76th minute as the MetroStars scored three goals in a seven-minute span to tie the New England Revolution, 3-3, on Saturday in front of 33,652 at Foxboro, Mass. MetroStar goalkeeper Tim Howard made 11 saves, and off the field received his English work permit, clearing the way for his transfer to Manchester United.

Perhaps Major League Soccer can take a perverse pride in losing 24-year-old Tim Howard. After all, the New York/New Jersey MetroStar goalkeeper is bolting the United States' domestic league for far greener pastures with Manchester United, and his seasoning in MLS is a big reason he was so highly sought after by the 15-time English Premier League champion. Howard, who is also a U.S.

Twelve seconds is all it took. From the time the ball left U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard's hand to the time it hit the back of the Algerian net on a cool evening in Pretoria, only a dozen ticks of the clock elapsed. Within that brief span, strange and memorable things occurred. Landon Donovan sprinted down the right flank before slipping the ball to teammate Jozy Altidore. Altidore crossed it sharply into the penalty area. Clint Dempsey raced in and Algeria goalkeeper Rais M'Bolhi raced out. M'Bolhi got there in the nick of time to block Dempsey's half-shot.

Reporting from Johannesburg, South Africa -- American goalkeeper Tim Howard , who suffered an unspecified rib or chest injury when he collided with forward Emile Heskey during Saturday night's 1-1 tie with England, is still being monitored. "He is currently receiving treatment and our trainers are closely evaluating his progress," a U.S. spokesman said Sunday evening. "He will be evaluated again in the morning to determine if any tests will be required." Howard was caught in the ribs by Heskey's boot in the game in Rustenburg and needed pain medication at halftime in order to continue.

Reporting from Rustenburg, South Africa -- The bad news for Tim Howard arrived four minutes into Saturday's World Cup match between the U.S. and England at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. That's when the American defense sprang a leak and England's Steven Gerrard slotted the ball past Howard in the U.S. goal. The bad news for Robert Green arrived five minutes before halftime. That's when Clint Dempsey double-faked Gerrard and hit a shot that Green somehow contrived to fumble into his own net. As far as goals go, that was it. The match ended in a 1-1 tie, which was a huge plus for the underdog U.S. and a huge blow to the ego of World Cup contender England and its fans.

World Cup 2010: UNITED STATES FIFA ranking: 16 Overall World Cup record: 6-16-3 Coach: Bob Bradley Best performance: Third place, 1930 Overview: A stunning upset of European champion Spain and a gutsy performance in a one-goal loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup in South Africa last year might have raised American hopes too high. Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey and friends could have peaked a year too soon, especially in light of subsequent injuries to so many starters, not least of all speedy forward Charlie Davies.

When the respective World Cup coaches of England, Slovenia and Algeria get around to watching the videotape of Wednesday night's 2-1 soccer loss by the U.S. to the Netherlands in Amsterdam, one conclusion will be inescapable. Unless someone pokes a sharp stick in them, the Americans remain a team that can be taken, a team that all too often sleepwalks its way through games. This is especially true when it plays in Europe, where the U.S. has won only four of 26 games in the last dozen years.

Why all this fuss over Landon Donovan? Major League Soccer's highest-paid and most-prized American asset supposedly is contemplating a winter loan move to Everton of the English Premier League, where he would join U.S. teammate and goalkeeper Tim Howard. Everton Coach David Moyes' club apparently wants Donovan in the hope that the Galaxy forward can either score or set up enough goals to steer the team out of relegation danger and back toward respectability. Everton, which climbed to 15th place in the 20-team Premier League by managing an improbable 3-3 tie with league leader Chelsea in London on Saturday, hopes to land Donovan during the January transfer window.

The busiest man in Pasadena today is likely to be a fellow named Tim Howard. Howard plays goalkeeper for the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. It's his job to keep the ball out of the net, something he accomplishes by throwing himself around like a rag doll in a hurricane. Trying to make Howard's job impossible this afternoon will be the Galaxy, which will be seeking to put the ball into the net as often and from as many angles as possible. The Los Angeles players have no other option.

Tim Howard made six saves in regulation and stopped three shots on penalty kicks to lead Everton over the Major League Soccer team, 4-3, on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie in the MLS All-Star game on Wednesday night. Howard, the U.S. national team goalkeeper, was voted the most valuable player after stopping Seattle Sounders midfielder Freddie Ljungberg on the final penalty kick.

Somewhere, perhaps scribbled on a piece of paper and stuck to the refrigerator at his home-away-from-home in England, Tim Howard has to have written a memo to himself. How else is the U.S. national team's starting goalkeeper going to remember everything he has to do in the next few weeks? This is how it might read: "May 30: Play for Everton against Chelsea in the F.A. Cup final at Wembley. Watch out for Didier Drogba. Also Frank Lampard, John Terry and Michael Essien. "May 31: Fly to the U.S.