WORLD CUP: Tim Howard, the US hero

The American World Cup party is over, after
a dramatic and gallant defeat to Belgium.
But a new US hero was born.
Everton and US goalkeeper Tim Howard
needs no introduction to many football fans
but his 16 saves on Tuesday, the most since
World Cup records began, has suddenly
made him a national hero.
American fans (and others) were quick to
laud Howard's one-man defensive display.
Here's a selection of tweeted expressions of
admiration.
1. @_camwba tweets : "Someone changed
the US Secretary of Defence on Wikipedia to
Tim Howard. Fantastic. "
2. Belgium team captain @VincentKompany
tweets after the match : "Two words.. TIM
HOWARD #Respect #BelUSA"
3. @BryanDFischer tweets : "So are we
going to build Tim Howard's statue through
Kickstarter or do we have a booster lined up
and ready to go?"
4. @EdgeOfSports tweets : "Other than walk
on water, I'm not sure what else Tim Howard
can do."
5. @VP [Vice-President Joe Biden] tweets:
"Proud that our guys, just like our country,
never gave up. Tim Howard - most valuable
player in the World Cup. #USMNT"
6. ABC's morning programme @GMA tweets
a photo and adds: #Howard2016
#Howard2020 #Howard2024 #Howard2028
#Howard2032
ABC's morning programme Good Morning
America got in on the excitement
7. @PatrickOsgood tweets : "Difference
between Tim Howard and Jesus - Jesus had
11 guys he could trust"
8. @MichaelLHayes tweets : "I'll work every
Fourth of July if it means I get July 1 off
(now known as National Tim Howard Day)."
Who is Tim Howard?
born in New Jersey 35 years ago
began career playing for the New York/
New Jersey Metrostars
moved to Man Utd in 2003, and three
years later to Everton
has spoken about the muscle twitches
he suffers due to Tourette's Syndrome,
but says it never affects his
performance
Daily Mail said his Belgium
performance was "the best from an
American goalkeeper since Sylvester
Stallone's exploits in the 1981 film
Escape to Victory"
9. @Kati_Ver tweets: "OH [overheard] in the
metro: "I wish Tim Howard could advance
by himself."
10. @ElaheIzadi tweets : "TIM HOWARD
SOLVES OUR NATIONAL DEBT CRISIS"