When the USA take to the field this evening against Wales, it’ll be their first World Cup match in over eight years. Much has changed in that time - especially for Matt Turner.
Back in 2014, when the States were knocked out in Brazil by Belgium, Tim Howard was the star of the show as he made a competition record 15 saves in one game. Watching on in admiration was a student at Fairfield University, with a pipedream of patrolling the posts at the pinnacle of international football.
Now the student is the master. Matt looks set to follow in Howard’s footsteps and walk out at the Al Rayyan Stadium to face Gareth Bale and co, having started 19 of his country’s previous 27 matches which included winning the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.