I opened up my freedom doors this morning to let that righteous sunlight flood in.

America's greatest Freedom Patriot thanks the both of you.  GO USA!!!!!

 

Cleveland should have tried to have a large watch party. Would have been positive press and a good image boost to the city. ESPN and other news keep showing what other cities are doing. Would be nice if they kept throwing up live feeds and videos of Cleveland. Also makes the city seem like a fun place to be.

Cincinnati's Fountain Square was packed for the first two games because the timing was very good. I imagine today's game there will draw a big crowd of people leaving work early, even though it's very hot and humid and may storm. I'll be watching in a nice air conditioned bar nearby.

Here in Toledo, there's a watch party at Fifth Third Field.

Ian hit us with a 'mistake by the lake' joke

Crap.

Welp, see you in 2018.  We nearly stole it with that Wondo chance in the 93rd minute or so, but it wasn't to be.

While, disappointing, there are 3 or 4 major international tournaments (2015 Gold Cup, 2016 Copa America, 2017 Gold Cup, 2017 Confederations Cup) between now and the 2018 World Cup. Let's keep the support up! It'd be amazing to see this level of enthusiasm carry on to those events too.

 

#USMNT

Welp, see you in 2018.  We nearly stole it with that Wondo chance in the 93rd minute or so, but it wasn't to be.

 

And the free kick from Bradley late in extra time that Dempsey kicked into the goalie. The 3 quick touches was incredible to see. Dempsey just couldn't flick it over the goalie.

I thoroughly enjoyed the USMNT's run in this World Cup.  Soccer really is an 'edge of your seat' type sport when you get into it.

 

How about that kid, Julian Greene, coming in and scoring a goal on, literally, his first 'touch' in a World Cup match.  I wonder if that has ever happened before?...... wait a minute, wasn't the header against Ghana in our first game also Brooks' first touch?

Belgium...yeesh they're good.  I hope they win it all now.

I'm thinking of adopting the Netherlands as my team going forward in this World Cup.  Persie and Robben are really exciting to watch.  They are probably underdogs at this point of the World Cup, and I like rooting for the underdog.  Also, the Netherlands would probably be right at the top of my list if the USA sunk into the ocean.  I think they get past the Ivory Coast to face either Argentina or Belgium in the semifinals.  That will be one helluva game

^ bah - argentina all the way. americas first! plus boca is my team anyway.

 

 

what the usa needs to do:

 

http://nypost.com/2014/07/02/heres-what-the-us-needs-to-do-to-become-a-soccer-power/

 

 

I do like Mesi's taste in women ;)

Host country Brazil won and lost yesterday.  They advanced past Colombia and will face Germany in the semis.  However, they lost their star striker Neymar for the rest of the World Cup.  Neymar suffered a broken vertebra late in the 2-1 victory over Colombia.

 

More about this (with video of the collison that caused the injury) at http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/story/1932881/neymar-stretchered-off-in-brazil-win

 

I'm rooting for an all South American World Cup Final. I want Brazil to play Argentina. The energy would be incredible. Though I don't really dislike any of the teams so I'm just rooting for good games mostly.

I'm rooting for an all South American World Cup Final. I want Brazil to play Argentina. The energy would be incredible. Though I don't really dislike any of the teams so I'm just rooting for good games mostly.

 

^ agree that would be incredible.

Below are a couple of pictures that the Cincinnati Saints event page posted to Facebook of the attendance on Fountain Square during the USA matches.

 

 

 

 

It was a lot of fun watching the games there.

My newly adopted team is still alive :)

My newly adopted team is still alive :)

 

Barely, but they can play a bit better and they're going to need it against Argentina. Di Maria is out, though, so that will help them.

I'm rooting for an all South American World Cup Final. I want Brazil to play Argentina. The energy would be incredible. Though I don't really dislike any of the teams so I'm just rooting for good games mostly.

 

Today:  Brazil vs. Germany

Tomorrow:  Argentina vs. Netherlands

 

I'd like to see the two South American teams meet in the final.  That would be soccer nirvana.  However, with injuries to key players on Brazil and Argentina, we might get an all-European final.  Nothing against Germany and the Netherlands, but that could just sap the energy from the final game.  Gotta get at least one South American team in there.

 

P.S.:  Well, maybe something against the Netherlands.  I've never seen the Dutch as "the bad guys".  But I just don't want to see "Robben the flopper" and "that backup keeper who taunted the Costa Rican PK shooters" rewarded.

Say what you want about Robben, he has been the best player at this World Cup.

BEATemDOWN!!!

And there goes my all South American final!!!

F'in Brazilian food grounded the Flying Dutchman!  I have to think he would've popped one in before the extra time if he was 100%, especially with the pressure Robben was constantly putting on the Argentinians.  Oh well.  I am glad there is at least one team from the Americas in the final.

We might be happy that at least one South American team got to final game - but Argentina advancing only adds more misery to the Brazilian hosts.  First, their team gets blitzed by the Germans.  Then, their most hated rival makes the final in their country!  It's enough to make a Brazilian fan cry, or two:

 

 

Still more non-gif Brazilian anguish at http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/07/09/brazil-fans-emotionally-distressed_n_5569635.html

thats hilarious.  that bottom lady looks like someone in her family just got shot.  My gosh

I could careless about soccer, futbol.

 

My neighbor in LA is devistated.  One of my employees called in sick.

 

There are so many damn drama queens emerging over this loss.

 

 

 

Have you read the Cavs thread? If LeBron chooses the Heat half of those people are calling in sick tomorrow

The lesson from that game -- Germany's system works and other teams should be emulating it.  Brazil's ridiculous emotion made them especially vulnerable to that system. 

Imagine the browns making it to, and losing the Super Bowl hosted in Cleveland(never would happen). I think we would be reacting the same way, if not far worse!

Remeber Futbol (Soccer) means so, so much more to other countries than here.  Brazil is an exceptional case even by that standard.  Literally living, eating, and sleeping the sport.  Pretty sure just about the whole country shut down during the game. 

Watching the Brazilian team sing the national anthem before their games was crazy.  It was so over-the-top that it made them vulnerable to a team that could control their emotions and stick to a game plan.

It took 113 minutes to determine it - but in this 2014 World Cup it is . . .

 

Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,

Über alles in der Welt (Tasse)

 

Translation:

Germany, Germany above everything,

Above everything in the World (Cup)

Great game. Both teams had chances, I was rooting for ARG but very glad the game didn't go to a shootout. The German fans on W25 in Cleveland outnumbered ARG fans 10-1. There was much celebrating going on.

^Same here. I was rooting for Argentina, but happy with a good game. The German fans easily outnumbered the Argentina fans at the bar I was at, but the Argentina fans were much more vocal and excited. I imagine people with German heritage (3/4 of Cincinnati) were rooting for Germany

^Same here. I was rooting for Argentina, but happy with a good game. The German fans easily outnumbered the Argentina fans at the bar I was at, but the Argentina fans were much more vocal and excited. I imagine people with German heritage (3/4 of Cincinnati) were rooting for Germany

 

I'm half German, but heck I love an underdog. By the way, it was sure strange not seeing Argentina in stripes. To me, those jerseys are just so emblematic of world cup soccer.

And Germany didn't seem as intense with their white jerseys. Their black ones were intimidating.

And Germany didn't seem as intense with their white jerseys. Their black ones were intimidating.

 

Exactly! They looked like badasses in those dark jerseys.