World Cup Today: Knockout round Day 1

Ok soccer fans, here we go. No more "We'll just beat Tunisia next match and get back on track." One loss, you go home in shame. Would you look at that. The two biggest stars on the planet both play today.

Argentina vs France
When this kicked off, Johnny picked France to win. He hasn't seen much short of Belgium to shy him off of this choice. Yes, Argentina has the best player in the world who makes those around him better (unless the team is Argentina and they are dunderheads) and is capable of moments of magic that should scare France. Horse around and Messi starts getting cards on Umtiti and crew and France are hampered in the back. Johnny thinks France with Pogba, the vastly underrated Griezmann, Dembele, and a few others should overrun the shaky Argentina defense which has shown itself to be shaky. Unless Messi plays one of the five best games of his life this is France's match to lose.

France 3
Messi 1

Uruguay vs Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo is dangerous in big games. He's deadly in big games. He gets calls for penalties in big games. In Johnny's thinking though, so does Luis Suarez. He's Europe's leading scorer the last three years not named Messi or Ronaldo. Suarez scored the winning goal in Barcelona's last Champion's League title match. He's every bit the diver Ronaldo is AND he has Edinson Cavani who is also a top flight striker. Uruguay has looked balanced in the group stage and looked like a team that can make at least the semi-finals. Will they rise to the occasion or allow Ronaldo another moment of glory?

Uruguay 2
Ronaldo 1

Let's enjoy some Lionel Messi magic shall we? It's just fun to do...

Cristiano Ronaldo coming to MLS, in NYC?

By his own words Cristiano, maybe the second best player in the world behind that Argentinian mop headed kid, has expressed after his next contract in Europe, whether it takes him from Real Madrid to Paris Saint-Germain or back to Manchester United, in three to four years MLS should be expecting at least one season from the global icon known as #CR7:

"I've always said living and playing there is a possibility."

Nobody close to his name has come over. Not Thierry Henry to the Red Bulls, not David Villa to NYCFC. Ronaldo will no doubt get to choose the team he plays for. Since MLS plays through Spring, Summer and Fall, he wouldn't have to put winter miles on his legs as in Europe. Johnny's guess is he could land in two places, LA or NYC. Which NYC franchise is the question. The Red Bulls sure look like a better bet right now, winning two Supporters Shield trophies as top regular season team in the last three years and are favorites to win the MLS title this year. Much more attractive and who wants to play in Los Angeles in July and August?

Can you imagine the PATH trains out to Harrison on Red Bull game nights?

All hail FC Barcelona!

Johnny's favorite Spanish dish, FC Barcelona clinched their 23rd La Liga title today beating Atletico Madrid 1-0 on a Lionel Messi goal. Before the season started Barca signed Thomas Vermaelen, a  central defender who was supposed to shore up Barcelona's poor central defense from the last couple years. Well right before the season started it was announced he had a severe groin injury requiring surgery which kept Vermaelen out the entire year. Real Madrid fans fell over themselves laughing at Barca's misfortune.

He who laughs last...

Cristiano Ronaldo
199 games
222 goals
64 assists
83746 step overs
1938 hair cuts
1 La Liga title

Thomas Vermaelen
0 games
1 La Liga title

Word Cup Today -- Day 15

Here we are, it has come to this. Back when the groups were drawn back in December, everyone looked at the USA draw in Group G, the "Group of Death" and said the ONLY way the USA gets out is with a win over Ghana (got that) a tie with Portugal (got that) and hold onto your ass vs. Germany. The ass holding begins at noon.

So, here's the long and the short of it. Johnny's not going into long winded tactical discussions because the Germans win most of those. The USA and Germany are tied on 4 points (Germany win any tie in the group currently on goal differential) while Ghana and Portugal each have 1. Best scenarios for the USA?

1) Beat Germany win group
2) Tie Germany come in second in group
3) Have Portugal and Ghana tie, move through
4) Have Portugal beat Ghana because the USA has a +2 goal differential on Ghana but a +7 vs. Portugal

Worst things? Ghana starts kicking the hell out of an uninterested Portugal. Germany starts crushing the USA. That's when our +2 goal difference might go astray. Still the USA has a 74.6% chance to advance according to number crunchers.

BREAKING NEWS!!! -- Ghana has sent home TWO top players from their team, from ESPN:

Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari have been suspended "indefinitely" and sent home from Ghana's World Cup camp following alleged rows with their coach and and an official.

As Syrio Forel said to Arya Stark, "There is only one Group G, and its name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: 'Not today'.”

There are two other matches today, at 4pm if you're either hiding under blankets in a huge funk or so excited and happy you just want to watch all the soccer today.

Algeria and Russia will play to see who follows Belgium out of their group. This is the group by the way that the USA's Group G will start against in elimination rounds.  The second place team in Group G will play Belgium while the winner in Group G will get either Algeria or Russia. The Desert Foxes of Algeria impressed last time out with a massive three goal surge. Fabio Capella was paid a LOT of do-re-mi by the Russian Soccer Federation to get into the knockout stages. Let's go Algeria!

USA vs Germany noon
Ghana vs Portugal noon

Belgium vs South Korea 4pm
Russia vs Algeria 4pm

World Cup Today -- Day 11

Thanks but no thanks Germany. If Germany hadn't gone to sleep after they scored first yesterday and let Ghana escape with a 2-2 tie the USA could have advanced with said tie today. But alas, they'll have to do it themselves. More on this epic USA match later.

The day starts out with Belgium and Russia at noon. A great mix of styles in this one as Belgium looks to rebound from a dicey start (albeit a win) and prove they are indeed a pre-tourney favorite. The second game today is the Desert Foxes of Algeria against South Korea. S. Korea had a rather dull 0-0 tie with Russia starting their tournament and need a win vs Algeria, who play everyone tough yet usually end up losing late. Tonight's dinnertime matchup is the "Big One" if you're an American. Here's the story as of press time. If the USA beats the depleted Portugal side (and Portugal is ranked #3 in the FIFA world rankings) they go through to the knockout rounds, an amazing feat for the lightly considered USA in this "Group of Death." If they tie and have 4 points they would be tied with Germany while Ghana and Portugal would have 1 point each with a game against each other left this upcoming week. The USA plays Germany (#2 in FIFA world rankings) this week in their final group game. Germany cannot advance from any USA vs. Portugal result today so that means against the USA, Germany will be forced to play their best players and perhaps get some points off the USA to advance themselves. That's a SCARY thought. The USA can end all speculation and all hand-wringing with one win. One game, 90 minutes of hell in the Amazon to become heroes. Ronaldo, Portugal's elite as elite comes striker is hobbled. Their top defensive payer, Pepe is supended. One of their top midfielders who plays for Real Madrid (as Ronaldo and Pepe do) Fabio Coentrau will not play. Other Portugal midfielders Hugo Almeida and Bruno Alves are not expected to play. So here's the thing, if the USA does not seize the opportunity before them today they may well regret it forever. Getting points off of Germany is certainly so sure thing. Win today and this World Cup will have been a HUGE success and the knockout rounds merely frosting on a red white and blue cake.

The USA seem confident going in. They are far more used to playing in the tremendous heat and humidity of the Rainforest site in Manaus. All the USA's MLS players play in that weather as they play through the summer, not the winter like European sides. While Ronaldo vacations the American players play in 110º heat at places like Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City.

So here we go America, this is OUR day and OUR time. The United States Men's National Team WILL win tonight and they WILL make us proud.

USA 2 Ronaldo 1

Russia vs Belgium noon
Algeria vs South Korea 3pm
USA vs Portugal 6pm

You can never have too much America on days like this!

World Cup Today -- Day 5

Finally it's here, the USA plays today! First off though we have a real barn shaker of a matchup in the USA's own "Group of Death." Germany's might vs the great Ronaldo and Portugal. The Ironbound area of Newark has to just be uncorked today. Next up it's a game on teevee while Johnny does actual business things and makes actual real money as Nigeria and Iran drones on in the background. We hope the people of Iran and Nigeria really enjoy this match. Then, 6pm the time of reckoning is here. Ghana has dumped the USA out of the last two World Cups, that's eight years to stew over just one country. The USA could be a better side today on sheer willpower. When challenged by head man Jurgen Klinsmann they have stepped up over the last 18 months. Klinsmann said this game is everything and they are putting everything into getting the tree possible points from it. The USA's hopes for this World Cup will rise or fall between 6 and 8pm EDT today.

How about an early goal from Jozy Altidore and a late one from Mix Diskerud get the USA a 2-1 victory. You got a problem with that?

Germany vs Portugal noon
Iran vs Nigeria 3pm
USA vs Ghana 6pm

Here's a mid-summer treat, AC Milan vs Real Madrid at Yankee Stadium

And by treat Johnny means AC Milan, he detests the Madridistas. But if you are a soccer fan and want to see top flight soccer the game is August 8th. There will be stars-a-plenty on the pitch for you to enjoy. You can also watch to see if Real Madrid's manager Jose Mourinho will stick his finger in the opposing coach's eye as he has done against Barcelona.

Go Rossonari!