Stress Management

It's the 89th minutes. The score is 0-0. The whistle blows! A foul was committed just five yards outside and slightly to the right of the 18 yard box. You have about 30 seconds to prepare. First, you run to the right goal post and begin yelling furiously at four of your teammates to line up in a wall. Second, you are exact about where you want them set up. So exact that you will tell them to move half an inch in the direction you want. "Hold there!" 15 seconds gone. Quickly you must move to where you want to set up in the goal mouth. Favoring slightly more to the left of the goal, leaving the right side wide open, you hope and pray the wall stands their ground, protecting the right side. Six players from the other team plus the same amount of your team line up just inside the 18 yard box jostling for position, anticipating the shot, and ready to crash the goal. You're blind due to the all the traffic in the box.

You must be ready, bouncing on your toes, knees slightly bent primed to pounce in any direction. The ref blows his whistle signaling the player to shoot or pass. The players run up to the ball, he's going to shoot! A split second before he shoots you notice twelve players running hard in your direction, ready to capitalize on any mistake you make. But you can't pay attention to them. Right now you have less than a second to react to a ball flying in your direction at over 70 MPH. For this split second all eyes are focused on you. 60,000 fans in the stadium staring at you, millions watching television are fixated on you and what you do now. The ball clears the wall it looks like it will be coming right at you, but there is so much spin it curve and dips 4 feet to the right. You spring to the right diving four feet off the ground lying almost perfectly horizontal in the air and stretching your arms as far as you can. Two of your fingers get under the ball just enough to tip it away from the net.

You crash into the ground and get up, you heart is pounding and you're in the middle of an incredible adrenaline high. That split second just felt like running a 50 yard sprint. You did it! You stopped them from scoring! The game is still tied. But wait! No time for a breather or a silly celebration. Instead, there's another 30 seconds of stress as you set up your defense for a corner kick. Oh yeah, and that amazing save you just made? The save that required almost every muscle in your body? The save that may have won the game for your team and your nation? That save will be forgotten shortly, because someone will score. Whether you get scored on or one of your teammates scores someone will and that is what will be remembered. Only goals and goal scorers are remembered. Goalies don't do it for the fame and fortune. Goalies are slight masochists in my personal opinion. But they have to be for the constant blame and stress that is put on them. The best goalies in the world will feed off the stress and anxiety that comes from being the last line of defense.

I believe the words of Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger sum it up best. "Goalkeeper is a position that is guided by fear more than any other. You have only negative stress. A striker has a positive stress. He thinks, 'I can be a hero,' but the goalkeeper thinks, 'I don't want to be a villain today.'"

So who will handle the stress of protecting the goal for the largest sporting event in the world? There are some amazing keepers in this World cup. My top 5 to keep an eye out for are...in no particular order:

Iker Casillas-Spain

In 2008-2009, FIFA named Casillas Goalkeeper of the Year. He holds the record for most appearances for a goalie with Real Madrid at 454. He was captain of the 2008 Spanish team that won the 2008 European Championship. I think he is the best goalie in the 2010 World Cup. If you want to see quick acrobatic saves watch Spain.

Tim Howard-USA

The United States has a knack for producing world class keepers. Tim Howard is no exception. In 2003, Howard signed a contract with top English Premier League team Manchester United, an amazing feat for any U.S. born player. In 2004, Howard made a stunning save against Arsenal to help Man U win the Community Shield. Howard also collected a Winner's Medal making him the only American player to do so. He currently plays with Everton. Howard has been the USA's top goalie since Casey Keller's retirement from international play in 2006. Howard will be tested a lot this World Cup. Not only is he capable of making acrobatic saves, but he is one of the smartest goalies out there. He knows where to be and has a commanding presence inside the 18 yard box.

Gianluigi Buffon-Italy

Buffon has been playing for the Italian national team since the age of 19. Now 32, he is an experience keeper who is looking to repeat as the world champion. In the 2006 World Cup only 2 goals were scored on him. He posted a 453 minute scoreless streak. One of the goals scored was an own goal while playing the USA in group stage play and the second came from France on a penalty kick in the final match.

Julio Cesar-Brazil

Fresh off winning the UEFA Champions League with his club team Internazionale (Inter Milan). Cesar is now ready to take the reins as Brazil's number one goalie. Like Casillas, Cesar is known for making breathtaking acrobatic saves and has some of the fastest reactions among goalies. Brazil is known for their flamboyant style of play; however, that is not the case for Cesar. He is a mature goalie who has played in many big games and will be ready to help Brazil compete for their 6th world title.

Oswaldo Sanchez-Mexico

This was a tough decision. I wasn't sure who to add for my final position as top 5 goalies to watch. While I definitely believe the first four goalie mentioned are the four best in the 2010 World Cup, I can't say that about this one. That being said, if you want to see some amazing Superman diving saves and quick reaction saves then watch Mexican goaltender Sanchez. He has a style of goalkeeping I personally am not too fond of. He is very flashy. He will dive for balls he doesn't need to. One reason a goalie is forced to make an amazing save is because he is in the wrong position and Sanchez is known to be in the wrong position a lot. But if you want to be entertained then he is the goalie for you, just look at the picture. That guy can fly!