Goalkeepers are the real heroes

RIO DE JANEIRO: Lionel Messi Neymar and Robin van Persie make the headlines but the World Cups 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 Belgiums captain Vincent Kompany within minutes of his country finally beating the United States in the last 16 on Tuesday. Belgiums 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. Howards 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 Tims 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 Ricas keeper Keylor Navas was the hero as his side down to 10 men beat Greece in their last 16 game. - Goalkeeper as libero - Germanys 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. Neuer has a good job with Bayern Munich but for some of the other goalkeepers the brilliant performances could be a career saver. Mexicos Ochoa who held Brazil at bay for 90 minutes was without a club after his French side Ajaccio were relegated to the second division and his contract ran out last month. One sprawling one-handed save from a powerful header by Brazil striker Neymar has been compared to the legendary stop by Englands Gordon Banks against Brazils Pele at the 1970 World Cup. I feel really flattered Ochoa 29 said of the comparison. Of course Id rather have less work he added.