Legendary US goalkeeper and the current USMNT No 1 discuss World Cup dreams
Ahead of the United States’ Nations League game against Jamaica tonight, TIM HOWARD speaks to current USMNT No 1 MATT TURNER about his journey and a huge few years for soccer on these shores. Daniel Matthews listened in…
It turns out that both Matt Turner and Tim Howard had the same Plan B. One that would have altered the bloodline between the sticks of the United States men’s national team. One that would have led them towards their roots but away from home.
Turner's heritage had always been hazy until he stumbled upon some papers that detailed his great grandmother’ journey from Lithuania to New York. She was fleeing religious persecution during World War II.
So, long before establishing himself as America's No 1, Turner applied for a Lithuanian passport and then wrote to the country’s FA offering his services.
‘I don't regret it,’ he insists. ‘If they had called me back I definitely would have gone. It wasn't that my heart wasn't into playing for the US… I just didn't feel like it was really a possibility for me. I never played for any of the youth teams. It wasn't like I was - at the time - a budding star in MLS.’
As late as 2019, Turner was the No 3 goalkeeper at New England Revolution. Between 2017 and 2019, meanwhile, Lithuania faced both England and Portugal in qualifying for major tournaments.
‘My big plan was: “Bring me in, I'll play against Portugal, I'll play against England, I'll ball out, and then I'll get to the Premier League that way.' Foolproof, he thought. 'But obviously I forgot about the fact that they could potentially just never call me back!’
Turner laughs at the idea now. But Howard, who won 121 caps for the USMNT, plotted a similar path when he fell out of favor under former coach Bruce Arena.
‘Always
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