I like the Dutch but I think they screwed Mexico with a dive in the very last minutes.

Holland had done well to get a late equalizer but the penalty kick to put them ahead was highly dubious.

Mexico goes out in the Round of 16 for the 6th (!) straight time.

Yet another unbelievable match.

Agreed. I was pulling hard for Mexico.

I like the Dutch but I think they screwed Mexico with a dive in the very last minutes.

Holland had done well to get a late equalizer but the penalty kick to put them ahead was highly dubious.

Mexico goes out in the Round of 16 for the 6th (!) straight time.

Yet another unbelievable match.

agree, Mexico got screwed.
Disappointing, I was rooting for them.

I almost felt sorry for Mexico.

I almost felt sorry for Mexico.

Felt sorry for that goalie. How many people slammed their Bohemias, Carta Blancas, y otro cervezas against the counters in unison after that penalty kick? I told my daughter that guy may need a personal bodyguard.

ANOTHER great match, this time 10-man Costa Rica beating Greece on PK's after yielding a very late equalizer.

What an incredible World Cup and so much more left!

Felt sorry for that goalie. How many people slammed their Bohemias, Carta Blancas, y otro cervezas against the counters in unison after that penalty kick? I told my daughter that guy may need a personal bodyguard.

No way, Ochoa is the reason they did as well as they did. Marquez, a know tool bag and the biggest POS on that team, needs protection.

Mexico had it in the bag but bunkered down and quit attacking.

Camino por recorrer Costa Rica!

Costa Rica 1 (wins on penalties)
Greece 1

I've really enjoyed both the booth and in-studio commentators as well.

At the games, Ian Darke is excellent and I've loved Steve McManaman's casual approach and candor. Macca can be a bit critical but he speaks from the heart and is always interesting, providing you can understand him.

Kasey Keller doing color is always awesome in his low-key way. He really knows his stuff and speaks very well.

In the studio, Bob Ley is fantastic and Alexi Lalas is a big stand-out.

I know they want to provide flavor from other countries (like Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gilberto) but most of them just aren't fluent enough in English to really come across well. The big exception is Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who has been great.

Yep Pete I was just commenting the other day that ESPN is absolutely killing the presentation.

I've really enjoyed both the booth and in-studio commentators as well.

At the games, Ian Darke is excellent and I've loved Steve McManaman's casual approach and candor. Macca can be a bit critical but he speaks from the heart and is always interesting, providing you can understand him.

Kasey Keller doing color is always awesome in his low-key way. He really knows his stuff and speaks very well.

In the studio, Bob Ley is fantastic and Alexi Lalas is a big stand-out.

I know they want to provide flavor from other countries (like Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gilberto) but most of them just aren't fluent enough in English to really come across well. The big exception is Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who has been great.

The Dutch guy is also fantastic in the studio, probably my favorite. I'm totally okay with not great English…spent nearly half the last 12 months dealing with, so most everyone is cool…but Silva (the Brazilian guy) probably needs to go. Unfortunately he's the host country's guy.

¿Y qué están haciendo Uds. a Español? :p

Really surprised Germany is having such a tough time with Algeria. Algeria are giving them much more trouble we did and are playing really hard. Exciting match so far.

The Dutch guy is also fantastic in the studio, probably my favorite. I'm totally okay with not great English…spent nearly half the last 12 months dealing with, so most everyone is cool…but Silva (the Brazilian guy) probably needs to go. Unfortunately he's the host country's guy.

¿Y qué están haciendo Uds. a Español? :p

Haven't been able to enjoy the commentary much since I've watched most of the matches on my work computer. Thank god for espn3. To steal a line from Roger Bennett: I am very nervo-mistic about today's game.

I refuse to pay for Cable. That's why I am sooooo happy I can watch the games on Channel 36.1. Even if I Español hablo muy poco, the sports announcer is a hoot!!!

Another gut-busting effort from the U.S. but Belgium is very good and clearly the better team today.

Still, we had that amazing late chance off the set piece... This team never, ever quits.


I said it before: With the interest shown in this competition in this country I think you'll see a pretty good improvement in 2018. We are sturdy and well-organized in defense but need some possession / ball-winning midfielders and some better attacking options. I am sure they will come.

Congrats to the 2014 USMNT for a great run and proving amazing entertainment to all of us. Much respect!

Well damn...

You know, if we could close the talent/player development gap with some of these other countries we would be SO good. There isn't a country in the world whose team plays with such heart and effort. Can't wait for 2018 to get here!

I'll be pulling for the Ticos for the rest of the tournament!

I refuse to pay for Cable. That's why I am sooooo happy I can watch the games on Channel 36.1. Even if I Español hablo muy poco, the sports announcer is a hoot!!!

I don't have cable either but have been watching all the matches on Watch ESPN either on my Apple TV or iPad (with a Cox internet account). If you have either of those, the streams are excellent quality. All matches play on ESPN 3 (on the web) as well.

Did anyone score yet?

I don't have cable either but have been watching all the matches on Watch ESPN either on my Apple TV or iPad (with a Cox internet account). If you have either of those, the streams are excellent quality. All matches play on ESPN 3 (on the web) as well.

Thanks! I'm still sticking with Costa Rica to win it all.

Did anyone score yet?

Trolling is the best.

Did anyone score yet?

Yes indeedy. The Thunder are whoopin the Heat midway through the 3rd quarter, 89-56.

I defended this guy, now he's apologizing:

DEFENDING LUIS “MANDIBLES” SUAREZ


Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has been banned for nine international matches. We think that’s a little harsh.

First off, when his teeth came in contact with Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder, did he chew anything? We didn’t see any chunks of shoulder on the soccer field. With Evander and Tyson, there was evidence. Visual evidence of something, once there, now no longer. When Kelyn Block’s teeth came in contact with Hollis Price’s elbow in the 2002 NCAA basketball tournament, fragments of Block’s teeth were embedded in Price’s tricep. That’s evidence.

Giorgio Chiellini didn’t show much evidence of a deliberate bite. All he did was run around with his shirt pulled off his shoulder like a runway model. No blood squirting, no deep impressions. If anything, Chiellini pushed his delicious Italian morsel of a shoulder tantalizingly close to Suarez’s chompers. And, sometimes you’ve got a taste for Italian, especially when you’re in the 79th minute of a match.

Some people are saying wait a moment, Stan, this guy has a rep. He was the top scorer and was voted Footballer of the Year in the Premier League but didn’t he get banned for seven games when he bit Otman Bakkal on the shoulder in 2010? Yes he did. It was during a heated argument and his mouth did contact Bakkal’s shoulder but again, more of a love bite, no deep teeth marks. Was that acceptable?Of course not, but remember, we’re discussing soccer with guys taught not to use their hands. Head moves, head butts (Marco vs. Zidane) and face moves are all they got.

Uruguay says it was a set up to oust their best player, some saying Suarez is among the five best in the world. They claim Italy targeted Suarez for aggression by insulting him and having staff members lining the field trying to hit him. Uruguay says every time Suarez went to the ground, Italians were goading him to retaliate. We’re wondering what kind of insults they could be throwing at him. “Bakkal says you’ve got little baby teeth!” “Where’s your teething ring? We hear you like to bite things.” “Why don’t you play Rugby? They bite each other all the time.”

There are posters at bus stops all around Sao Paulo showing Luis with his mouth open and fans taking pictures with their arms or shoulders right under the teeth. Memes featuring Suarez have gone overboard, like showing him in a Hannibal Lector mask as a child, in a Jaws poster in the water under the swimmer, in a Hungry, Hungry Hippo ad with all four of the hippos having Suarez heads, in a Snickers ad reading “Hey, Suarez, next time you’re hungry have a Snickers” or “You’re not you when you’re hungry” or portraying him as a vampire. However, if there were such things as vampires, we imagine when they go out at night, if they’re soccer fans, they’d be wearing the # 9 Suarez jersey.

Brazil’s Diego Maradona says the World Cup has seen a lot worse force foul play than the bite and all those incidents have gone unpunished. Maradona considers the Suarez bite “incidental contact.” We concur. Some want to ban him for life but we say if you can’t use your hands in a fight, the “no handsies” rule, what are you left with? Nose fight? Line up nose to nose? Argentina would always win, if Manu Ginobili were on their team. Chin fights? Beating the clef out of one another? We think not. We don’t excuse Suarez. We just think if there’s a skirmish, let them use their hands… then toss ‘em.

http://usatthebiglead.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/julian-green-goal-against-belgium-b.gif

I'm really excited about Julian Green's career and World Cup 2018.

OKC Leads Country In Increase in World Cup Viewership; Up 143% Over 2010

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/28/upshot/growth-and-breadth-in-us-interest-in-world-cup.html?_r=1

These are awesome:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BrhvSSHIQAAuum-.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BrhBCKaCMAAab59.jpg

#ThingsTimHowardCouldSave are vast and hysterical [PHOTOS] | FOX Sports on MSN (http://msn.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/tim-howard-thingstimhowardcouldsave-meme-twitter-trend-funny-photoshops-070214?cmpid=tsmfb:fscom:foxsoccer)

I wasted my lunch today on those. But it was worth it, just to relive Howard's incredible performance. I was incredibly proud -- no other way to put it.

Today's France vs Germany match was not very good soccer. Watching France eliminated in the quarter finals with little fanfare makes me proud that the US didn't go out that way.

The Brazil vs Colombia match has started with a similar early goal. Hopefully it doesn't bog down into insipid play as well.

No posts in four days? So I guess the World Cup is over?

No. There is a game today.

Looking forward to Brazil v. Germany this afternoon!

Should be an epic battle.

Looking forward to Brazil v. Germany this afternoon!

Should be an epic battle.

Which Teams are gonna be in the Final? Germany and Netherlands? Germany and Argentina? Brazil and Netherlands? Brazil and Argentina?

I'm picking Brazil and Netherlands.

Hard to bet against Brazil and Argentina but I'm pulling for the Dutch.

Hard to bet against Brazil and Argentina but I'm pulling for the Dutch.

"There's only two things I hate in this world: people who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch..."

Netherlands!

"There's only two things I hate in this world: people who are intolerant of other people's cultures and the Dutch..."

Just had to...

"Double Dutch Bus" was written by Franklyn Leon Smith (aka Frankie Smith), William Bloom (aka Bill Bloom).

Give me a ho, if you've got your funky bus fare, ho

There's a Double Dutch Bus comin' down the street
Movin' pretty fast, so kinda shuffle your feet
Get on the bus and pay your fare
And tell the driver that
You're goina get a Double Dutch Affair
Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum
Well, I'll be darn here it comes
The Double Dutch Bus is on the street
You'd better get off the curb move your feet

Bus fare trans-pass, that's the way my money lasts
Ain't got no car to get around, when I go to work
I've gotta go downtown, now, I've missed my train
That's a darn shame, when I'm running late
No sleep's to blame, if you've gotta wife, you know
I'm right, gotta special man, well, I can understand
Uptown, downtown, everybody's getting down
Say uptown, say downtown

Well, I've missed my bus I know I'm late
I've gotta do something I knit, ow, I hate
I'm gonna walk to work fifteen blocks
I already got a hole in my socks
Go ahead and laugh that's okay
'Cause, what I really wanna say
I got bad feet my corns hurt
To top it off I'm lost for work

Let me tell you what I say
When I'm dealing with the funky sidewalk
Let me show you how to walk
When I gotta do my funky walk
Let me tell you what I say
When I'm dealing with the funky sidewalk
I say, sugar

Bip, bomp, bam alakazam
But only when you're grooving
With the Double Dutch Man
Put on your skates don't forget your rope
'Cause I know I'm gonna see you
At my Double Dutch Show

Rebecca, Lolita, Veshawn and Dawn
Every time you do the Double Dutch you really turn it on
Bilzarbra, Mitzery, Milzetty, Kilsan
Titzommy, Kitzerrance, Kilzommy that's my man
Come on get on my Double Dutch Bus
(The Double Dutch Bus)

Let me hear you say do that
(Do that)
Let me hear you say, do that again
(Do that again)
Let me hear you say, do the, do
(Do the, do)
Let me hear you say, do the, do the, do
(Do the, do the, do)
Do the, do da, do da, do, do, do
(Do the, do da, do da, do, do, do)

1. Argentina
2. Germany
3. Netherlands
4. Brazil

That's my order of preference, with a HUGE preference toward Argentina.

Uh-oh!!!!! Wow!!!!! I had no sooner finished writing "Uh-oh" and Germany scored AGAIN!!!!!!! 3-0. Nooooooooooooooooooooo friggin way....4-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I gotta get out of here!!!!!!!!!!

Logged on to post that it was 3-0 Germany. By the time it finished, it was 4-0. Took a few moments to do other stuff. Finally completed post. 5-0.

http://www.wrestlingrumors.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Jim-Ross.jpg

GOOD GOD, GOOD GOD! WILL SOMEBODY STOP THE DAMN MATCH?!? (Or not. I want Germany to keep piling it on.) :cool:

Holy blitzkrieg


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I couldn't watch due to meetings and then when I turned it on... 7-1!!!!

Holy Blitzkrieg is right. Wowee.

I couldn't watch due to meetings and then when I turned it on... 7-1!!!!

Holy Blitzkrieg is right. Wowee.

Pete...It WAS a close game, for the first 23 minutes.

VVVVAAAAAAAMMMMMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Ganamos!!! The fighting Messis live to see the final game. He didn't have a very good game, IMO, nice to see the team move forward anyway.

Really really really hope Di Maria and Agüero can be ready to start the Final.

Vamos Vamos Argentina!
Vamos Vamos a ganar!
Que esta barra quilombera
No te deja, no te deja de alentar!!!

Germany 4 Argentina 2

Only if it were a seven game series and that was the total scoring for all seven games.

And yes, I know that's fewer than seven total points. There would be at least a couple of 0-0 ties thrown in there to make it SUPER bor...err...exciting.

This bore fest of a final will really do wonders for soccer popularity in the US

I found myself pulling for Germany, although I'm a big Messi fan. Messi is not only great, he is truly a quiet and humble guy.

But Germany had been better all tournament and proved to be again today. They deserved the win and trophy.


I enjoyed this entire competition as much as any sporting event I can remember.

I watched almost all the matches and loved all of them.

Sad that it's over, especially since it only comes every 4 years.


Congrats to Germany!

:(

This feels so much like the 2008 OU BCS NCG: 2 great teams, both missing some key players, delivering solid performances. One team doesn't take advantage of early opportunities, the other team takes advantage of a late opportunity, other team is going to be left thinking "we let this one slip away".