Legendary USA goalkeeper Tim Howard has dismissed any chance of Mauricio Pochettino’s team winning the World Cup this summer.
Two dominant victories over Paraguay and Australia have seen expectations sky rocket across America in recent days.
The USMNT first blew Paraguay away 4-1 in their opening game before they clinched Group D and a spot in the last-32 with a routine 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle on Friday.
Legendary striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic urged American fans to believe their team has a chance of lifting the trophy during Fox’s coverage after the win over Australia.
But Howard, who played 121 times for the USMNT during his career, has dismissed any prospect of that happening.
‘The U.S. cannot, unequivocally, win the World Cup,’ he said on his ‘Unfiltered Soccer’ podcast alongside former USMNT teammate Landon Donovan.
Tim Howard has dismissed any chance of the USA winning the World Cup this summer
The Americans have already won Group D thanks to their 2-0 victory over Australia on Friday
‘The U.S. will have to play the greatest game they’ve ever played…four games in a row. Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, finals.
‘It’s literally impossible for the U.S. to win the World Cup. That’s just the reality.’
Donovan appeared to agree with Howard, although did sound a little more optimistic.
‘I’ve said this over and over. Can you do it four times in a row? Can you do it in the round of 16, the quarter, the semi, the final. That is where it gets really hard,’ he added. ‘But momentum gets going, you never know.’
Ibrahimovic said after the win over Australia that millions of Americans supporting the USA team can power Pochettino’s men to World Cup glory.
‘If you didn’t believe before, I will repeat; start believing,’ Ibrahimovic said on Fox shortly after the USA victory.
‘They have the country behind them, and when you have this support, it’s difficult to beat you. They had a good performance today. To be honest, Australia was not a threat today.
‘I said it before, that whatever happened before the World Cup (doesn’t matter). It is important what happens now. Now, the momentum they have, that is what they need.
Optimism has flooded America after watching their team pick up two dominant victories
‘They just need to continue bringing confidence from game to game. The third game, let’s see what happens now, they can rest some players now that they have qualified. It is looking good.’
Asked by Rebecca Lowe to give a one-word answer on if the United States could win the World Cup, the legendary striker said: ‘Yes.’
Pochettino’s team still has one more group game to go, against Turkey on Thursday, but they could rest players having secured their spot at the top of Group D.
As group winners, they have booked their last-32 game against one of the third place teams from another group. That game will take place in Santa Clara on July 1 at 8pm ET.
