World Cup 2010: USA’s Tim Howard offers Slovenia some trash talk
? Fifa mistranslation gets up Howard's nose ? USA goalkeeper says 'talk is cheap' It is not often you hear Tim Howard warn an opponent that "talk is cheap" or tell him to be prepared to "stand toe to toe" ? but two words, lost in translation, have spiced up tomorrow's encounter between the biggest and smallest countries in this year's World Cup. This week the Slovenia midfielder Andrej Komac, regarded as the most humble member of the squad, told reporters: "We will play to win" ? a gentle statement confirming his side's intentions to book their place in the last 16 before facing England. However, Fifa's interpreter turned his innocuous words into the more emphatic "We are going to win." ? Follow the Guardian's World Cup team on Twitter ? Sign up to play our great Fantasy Football game ? Stats centre: Get the lowdown on every player ? The latest team-by-team news, features and more That statement went on press wires and bulletin boards, and was put to Howard, who warned Komac: "Talk is cheap, he's got to stand toe to toe and they've got to stand toe to toe with us for 90 minutes. And if he's still standing, then I'll take my hat off to him. But a lot of boxers talk too and they're looking up at the lights. And the next thing they know, they're trying to figure out how they got there." Howard will have a painkilling injection on his ribs before kick-off but will be fit. Komac is set to be named on the bench. Perhaps it is just as well. Slovenia's coach, Matjaz Kek, who is expected to stick with the 11 who beat Algeria as he attempts to guide his country into the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time.