World Cup

The final match for the United States in the group stage comes against Germany, considered one of the pre-tournament favorites. This match will be played at the same time as the Ghana-Portugal match, so no team in the group will get the advantage of knowing how the other match played out before it takes the pitch. The stakes of the match for the United States are fairly straight forward: if they can defeat or draw the Germans, their World Cup will continue. While they could still theoretically advance even if they lose, it will then depend on what happens in the Ghana-Portugal match.

There's a book written for teething toddlers called "Teeth Are Not For Biting." Someone should give a copy to Luis Suarez.

What do you do when your defense is lacking the resolve, concentration and fortitude to repel foreign attackers? According to one British souvenir manufacturer, you draft the man in charge of the world’s second largest standing army. 

At this point, there is no question that Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez bit Italian midfielder Giorgio Chiellini. This is his third instance biting an opposing player, and he has already served a 10-game suspension for his indiscretions in the English Premier League. 

Now it is almost certain that Suarez will receive a suspension that will leave him out of the rest of the tournament. Here is the incident that occurred today against Italy.

Matchday 3 proved to be a decisive one for Group B as the Netherlands' victory against Chile sealed them the top spot and allowed them to avoid Brazil in the knockout stage, while Spain and Australia played for pride only.

Netherlands-Chile

Match Day 2 of World Cup 2014 ended in extremes, with Belgium barely squeaking through into the knockout stage with a 1-0 victory, while at the other end of the spectrum Algeria laid down a decisive 4-2 win over South Korea to put themselves in a commanding position to advance.

Belgium-Russia

Some of you may still be feeling the effects of the blown opportunity by the USMNT yesterday, but it’s time to move on and look at what needs to be done versus Germany on June 26th at 12 P.M. ET. 

Here is the easy part. 

If the US beats, or ties Germany they will advance to the Round of 16. 

It’s hard to put a finger on the pulse of this country. It’s not clear if it’s due to an ingrained love of fútbol, fútbol apathy, issues with the government, hatred and/or misunderstanding of FIFA, expectations for the national team…winter coming on? There is simply no consistent answer from people on the street, and that makes it hard to gauge the nation as a whole. It is such a divergence, a complication of opinions – it is impossible to make generalizations…the moment you think you have it figured out, you're met with evidence completely to the contrary.

One thing has been certain during this World Cup. Turning off the television early is the last thing you want to do. 

This is especially true for matches involving the "Group of Death." The United States and Portugal fit this chaotic script to a tee as they battled to a 2-2 tie in sweltering Manaus.  

Portugal received a gift of a goal in the 5th minute, when U.S. defender Geoff Cameron botched a routine clearance that fell at the feet of Nani, who had no trouble scoring the match's opening goal.

These freestyle videos never get old. In the latest, Indi Cowie, a world champion freestyler, decided to put her own twist on the World Cup and continuously juggled while changing into (or, more accurately, out of) all 32 World Cup Jerseys. The freestyle champion shows creativity throughout the video, rarely doing the same thing as show goes from standing up, to sitting down to getting right back on her feet.