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SANDY — Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando and midfielder Kyle Beckerman are both currently with the U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team in preparation for its World Cup qualifier against Honduras on Tuesday at Rio Tinto Stadium, and although they likely may not see minutes, they aren’t forgotten on the roster.
Fellow goalkeeper Tim Howard, who plays professionally for Everton in England, had nothing but good words about the RSL pair prior to the USMNT training on Saturday.
“I’ve known Nick since I was 16, and we were roommates for a long time on the youth national teams. We’ve been battling back and forth for years and years,” said Howard. “He’s a dear friend of mine now. We went from kids to having our own kids, and you grow and you mature and he’s not changed. He’s an incredible human being, he’s a guy who I love to train with, who I love to be around, and he’s been great for this team.”
Rimando, who met up with the USMNT following the Salt Lake club’s U.S. Open Cup match last Wednesday, has been a backup to Howard many times, but has also earned six senior team caps for the USMNT.
Beckerman was a last-minute addition to the USMNT roster for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier but has been a regular call-up by U.S. Soccer coach Jurgen Klinsmann since 2011, earning 25 caps with the senior team and netting one goal.
When asked about Beckerman, Howard praised the unique presence the RSL captain brings to the USMNT camps on and off the field.
“Kyle’s one of those guys that I talk about who is a warrior,” said Howard. “When you line up 11 versus 11 and you’re walking down the tunnel, when you have a guy like Kyle next to you, you just know everything is going to be okay. He’s a leader, he’s a leader of men, he’s a guy who doesn’t take himself too seriously, always comes to work and you’re just going to get a seven, eight out of 10 every game.”
Both RSL veterans have spent much of their soccer careers with U.S. Soccer in both youth and senior team situations. Neither will miss any Salt Lake club matches and will return to the major league club following Tuesday’s match. Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
