Howard responds to Slovenian boast

[USA-SLOVENIA] Andrej Komac boasted that Slovenia will beat the USA Friday in Johannesburg, but U.S. goalie Tim Howard, who returned to full training on Wednesday, says talk is cheap.

“He’s got to stand toe to toe,” Howard said. “And they’ve got to stand toe totoe with us for 90 minutes. And if he’s still standing, then I’ll take my hat off to him. But a lot of boxers talk, too, and they’re looking up at the lights. And the next thing they know, they’retrying to figure out how they got there.”

A win would put Slovenia, the smallest country at the World Cup, through to the second round for the first time

Howard said thebruised ribs he suffered against England were getting better.

“It’s just going to be sensitive,” he said, “but as you know, if you play at the highest level, I think you have to playthrough injuries. It’s sore. I believe in, as I said before, in adrenaline being the great equalizer. You can’t account for that. You get on the field and your mind is focused on the game. It takesaway from the pain and listen, we’ve got plenty of pain meds and injections and all that type of stuff, which will help keep my mind of it, as well.”