WORD CUP: USA 1 England 0

I'll try to shake and zip up on my penalty jag:

Here's a great headline from Metro UK.  Over the weekend American goalkeeper Tim Howard saved Tottenham and England striker Jermaine Defoe's penalty to preserve a draw for Everton.  Early psychological advantage?  I'd like to think so.  As previously highlighted, English players have been profligate from the spot this season.  Our Tim also stonewalled Rio Ferdinand in the FA Cup semifinals last April.  Unfortunately, we can't just have a shootout for the three points, but do you think  Bob Bradley's going to tell his players they have a foul to give if they need.  The way these guys are shooting, it's like putting Shaq on the line.  There might be situations where it simply makes sense.   

In fairness to Defoe, it was sort of a spooky weekend in the Premier league.  Four penalties attempted.  Four saves.  (Given saved from Lampard, Sorensen from Fabregas, Jensen from Dindane, Howard from Defoe).  How often will you ever see that in the same league on the same weekend?  Once a decade, if ever again?  This might require some serious Googling.

I wonder if Bayern Munich were fearful of catching the pen flu entering their decisive Champions League encounter with Juventus.  They were awarded a spot kick after Juve defender Cacares clearly brought down Olic.  With their campaign on the line, up stepped... Hans-Jorg Butt, the goalkeeper.  With recognized penalty takers on the pitch in Schweinsteiger, van Bommel and even van Buyten, Bayern manager Louis van Gaal must have sensed something in the air.  Kudos to him.  Butt, who used to be the preferred penalty taker for Bayer Leverkusen, calmly slotted it past Gigi Buffon and Bayern went on to secure passage to the knockout rounds with an emphatic 4-1 win.  I'd find the video for you, but I fear the things that might happen to my computer if I Google "Butt penalty."  I don't want the keyboard to catch fire.

Is it June 11th yet?