The game should be a great one. Consider that Germany has scored the most goals this tournament (20), and the U.S. has allowed just a single goal. The U.S. and Germany have each won the World Cup twice.
The United States reached the semifinals primarily on the strength of its defense: The team hasn't given up a goal since the tournament opener five games ago against Australia. The U.S., led by goalkeeper Hope Solo, have held opponents scoreless for 423 consecutive minutes (the longest stretch for the U.S. in World Cup history). The U.S. also is the only country to reach the semifinals in all seven World Cup tournaments.and if you really want to get into strategy...read THIS.
This about as good a team goal as you will see, and should be a rival of the goal of the tournament. It’s so good in fact it almost looks faked, an uncanny valley of brilliant football from by the reigning world champions, Japan. Though Mizhuo Sakaguchi’s wonderful curled shot would be worthy of any highlight reel on its own, the build up—a back-heel, a perfectly timed feint, and then the one touch finish—transforms this into something else. (via)
Podolski x RiRi x Shweinsteiger pic.twitter.com/Sq0HDFDcaB
— Rihanna (@rihanna) July 14, 2014
The shooter aka My hitta #Gotze #Champions pic.twitter.com/bOxV5yIyj1
— Rihanna (@rihanna) July 14, 2014
the croatian soccer team may have lost their world cup match against Brazil, but then they took a long naked group soak int he hot tub, so we are all winners now. via
Excellent venn diagram of "#WorldCup2014 Hopes" from @TeleFootball. Poor England. pic.twitter.com/3PfXzR0KgA
— RealGM Soccer (@RealGMSoccer) June 9, 2014
Every World Cup has had a so-called "Group of Death," or the group that pits together several favored heavyweights to battle it out, often sending a top-ranked team home. This year's draw could put those to shame though. "World Cup 2014 promises to be a tournament so suffocatingly competitive that the traditional clichéd "Group of Death" will feel redundant," ESPN explained. Due to a draw quirk, one potential group could include the frightening powers of Brazil, Italy, the Netherlands and the United States together; "The Group of Death to end all Groups of Death," as SB Nation called it.
UPDATE: The U.S. has landed in Group G, with Ghana (a team that has beaten the U.S. in the last two World Cups), Germany (the team that U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann used to captain as a player), and Portugal (a perennial world power.) (via)i know what you're thinking: "what else can you tell me about that armadillo mascot?!?!"
