Howard expects his back line to be busy against France

PARIS — US national team netminder Tim Howard is expecting his defense to be on its toes during Friday's friendly with France (3 pm ET, ESPN2, Univisión, live chat on MLSsoccer.com). The Everton custodian says he will do his best to direct the back-liners in the most efficient manner for limiting chances to the French side, knowing he'll need plenty of help against their attack-minded hosts. "The biggest challenge tomorrow is to stay organized and tight at the back and press the ball," Howard told MLSsoccer.com on Thursday. "Obviously, if we can cut them out before they get shots off or make runs, the better off we'll be. After that, you've got to start making that money, making some saves." Despite the prospect of facing a highly skilled