Spectacular USA win tonight in the Copa America!

Now, on to the semi-finals for the first time since 1995. Saturday the USA will find out their opponent (Buy share in Argentina) for Tuesday night's semi in Houston.

It's exciting, it's creating buzz and all the USA has to do to make the final is stop this, 5 time Balloon D'Or winner, 4 times Champions League champion, nine time La Liga champion and greatest player who ever played, Lionel Messi. Just watch the clips below because even if you don't normally watch soccer this is the match to watch. Johnny thinks the USA defense may have a long day.

World Cup Today -- Day 31

The last day. The finale. Finis. Somewhat bittersweet for Johnny as he has very much enjoyed talking World Cup with everyone. A lot of those posts brought this quaint little website some big numbers. We hope everyone has enjoyed the coverage.

The legend vs. the team that seems on it's way to becoming legendary. The Flea vs. Die Mannschaft. One vs. Many. Sure Germany scared the bejeesus out of anyone and everyone who might play them. They destroyed an entire nation's way of playing. A nation that holds five World Cup titles. They are imposing. They play smart. They play the entire field. They play set pieces extremely well. They dispatch their opponents with precision. They don't beat themselves.

But Messi.

In a game where analysts will bust out the old canard that the team that makes the fewest mistakes should win. Common thought being Germany doesn't make those mistakes. But which team is more likely to be the recipient of a shock and awe moment that comes out of nowhere and leaves a globe stunned and delirious? Oh that'd be Argentina. Messi can link up well enough with Kun Aguero or Gonzalo Higuain or (hopefully) Angel DiMaria if he can play, if just for a moment and BOOM, it's in the back of Germany's net. He needs but a few feet to unleash hell. Case and point the 2011 Champions League Final vs. Manchester United. Nobody knew what he was going to do until he did it:

So, are you someone who thinks the entire machine matters most or do you think sometimes a great players can overcome the great team? The organization or the star? David or Goliath? If you have been reading these posts you know that Barcelona fan Johnny is pulling for Messi to win a World Cup to shut up sportswriters who only see championships as greatness. Plus no German guys are on FC Barcelona.

Last prediction, who will win who will win...

2-1 Messi, a vote with the heart over the head.

Argentina vs Germany 3pm

World Cup Today -- Day 28

Many "experts" predicted a riot or riots in Brazil when they either won the tournament or lost it. Those experts were wrong. You can call it what you like, a mauling, a crushing, a disemboweling but it's Johnny's thought the very nature of the defeat kept people from acting out. When you know you've lost at the 40' mark of the match theres not a lot of energy left to do stupid things. There was no end of the game bad call that set people off, there was never any boiling over moment. Brazil fans went home sad but did nothing to move the embarrassment from the pitch to the streets. Johnny's not sure how the post-mortem will go for Brazil after their third place game Saturday but it's gonna be a doozy.

Speaking of Saturday, Brazil is going to need someone to play as is Germany on Sunday. So who will their play dates be? Let's take a look.

The Netherlands managed to get by against Costa Rica, barely. They were stymied in their attack and Costa Rica had no troubles going forward and creating some offense. One could say the masterstroke of that game didn't happen in the run of play but only when the Dutch coach put in a new goalie for the penalty kicks. It worked and here are the Netherlands looking for so much redemption, having lost three title games in their history. Everyone is available for the Dutch, Van Persie, Robben, and Sneijder form an imposing front. But for the game against Costa Rica they have had no issues scoring. They will however go up against a better back 4 (or 3 depending on how Argentina aligns) than they have thus far. Poor Javier Mascherano, he plays out of position in the back four for Barcelona and does well but gets grief, and he does the same thing for Argentina. He will have to play a mammoth game today. The Dutch defenders were no doubt not all that sad to see Argentinian playmaker Angel DiMaria go out with a thigh injury in their last game. DiMaria had stepped forward to make Lionel Messi even more dangerous. While La Celestina gets Manchester City top scorer Sergio Aguero back today, ask any Argentina fan and they'd want DiMaria on the field today.

So what is the X-factor in all this Johnny? You know. You know him, you love him, and soccer fans cannot live without him. His name is Lionel Messi and there are moments he does things nobody else can, or even think of doing. As a Barcelona fan Johnny has watched Messi time and time again simply will his team to a victory with one or two moments of sheer magic. There was the time in a Champions League semi-final, Real Madrid players surrounded Messi near midfield and he simply did this:

As Dutch fans today know all too well, Messi can be Messi and any given time on any given field. When the tournament started Johnny said he wanted the USA to win if at all possible. It's not. He then said he wanted an Argentina vs. Brazil final if at all possible. It's not. He then wanted Lionel Messi to win a World Cup because there should never ever be any doubt to his greatness and there are those petty sportswriters who say if a guy didn't win at the highest level he's not that good. Let's just shut their big self-important mouths now. Johnny predicts 2-1 Argentina with Messi leading the way. 

Argentina vs Netherlands 4pm

World Cup Today -- Day 24

After yesterday's 0-2 record in predictions Johnny's back for more! First off though, since this might be the only post of today, what a morning in Jersey City! There may have been some really nice mornings on July 5th in the history of this place but none better than this morning with the cool temps, the steady cooling breeze and a sun giving just enough warmth but not too much. Lovely.

Johnny loves Lionel Messi. He's a Barcelona fan and Messi is admiral of that ship. His game is just plain fun to watch. Barry Sanders with a soccer ball. Johnny would very much like to see Messi win a World Cup title in his era. That's why today's game against Belgium and their incredibly talented midfield led by one of the Weasley boys from the Harry Potter books is such a danger to Argentinian hopes. Johnny fears the defensive prowess of Belgium may deny a lot of link-ups between Argentina's midfield and their front line strikers. This game could be a slog for Messi & Company. Hazard and Mertens can plug things up in Argentina's odd formation and then Belgium has the advantage of bringing in two playmakers as needed in Miralles and or Lukaku, the very guys that did the USA in. If Argentina can make the link up to Messi he may well start yellowing the Belgian backline as they are all big centerbacks, and lack speed. As badly as Johnny wants Messi to win he sees a Belgian win today.

The later match has a David vs. Goliath look to it with the Netherlands, three times runners-up in the World Cup vs. Los Ticos (The Minnows) of Costa Rica and last member of CONCACAF still playing. The Netherlands likes playing offense and Costa Rica sure likes playing offense so this could well be an attractive game. No doubt Arjen Robben will dive and get another penalty call for his team because nobody seems to have the nards to card him. In the end class normally wills out in these last few games and every indicator is that the Dutch are onto the semi-final but that's why they play the game on the field (but pick Holland).

Argentina vs Belgium noon
Costa Rica vs Netherlands 4pm

World Cup Today -- Day 20

So we arrive at the BIG moment. The USA will take the field against the "Red Devils" of Belgium at 4pm today. As more than one analyst has said though, has this World Cup come one year too late for Belgium?

First off though we have the Argentina vs. Switzerland match at noon. Both France and Germany got by yesterday but not by much, especially in Germany's case. Could Switzerland, who upset champs-to-be Spain in their first 2010 World Cup game. The Swiss know the routine, they know how to lock teams down. It is one of their stronger aspects to their game. Can Argentina score without have to wait for Messi to save them? Will someone other than Messi score for the Argentines? If the South Americans get a goal from Higuain or DiMaria or anyone else to take the pressure off of Messi they sand a good chance. If they get a lead and force Switzerland to open up a bit they should be fine. If Switzerland should score first, look out. Johnny sees this as a 2-1 Argentine victory. 

Which brings us to the biggest US soccer game probably not in 1950. Belgium, tactically excellent, and even more devastating on set pieces, ire free kicks and corner kicks. However the Belgians were playing at a much higher level at this time last year, in fact beating team USA 2-0. If the USA can keep Belgium off the scoreboard on set pieces their chances improve markedly. Jozy Altidore who stretched his hamstring 20 minutes in the USA's first game against Ghana has been declared "available" today. Johnny doesn't see Altidore starting but he could come on with his great speed and size and power late in the match when Belgian legs are tired and go all out for 15-20 minutes and maybe make a difference. The USA will most likely have to attack from the wide spaces as Belgium may pack it in tightly on defense with the many injuries their central defense have. Manchester City's Vincent Kompany has a groin pull, Anthony Vanden Borre with a broken fibula and an abductor strain for Laurent Ciman. Americans may also thank whatever god you pray to that the best ball header on earth, Christian Benteke who plays for Aston Villa, is not playing for Belgium today either. The USA will want more possession in this match to slow down the Red Devils attack so players like Graham Zusi and or Justin Bedoya must be sharp in service in the middle of the park. Cheap giveaways and poor possession will send wave after wave of Belgians forward. Slow and steady wins the race today. So, again, if the Belgians don't score on set pieces good things can happen. The USA cannot keep a clean sheet to save their lives (ie get a shutout) so we're going to say moxie and conditioning win the day. Nobody better at that than the USA. Belgium wins their games late. Today the USA will turn that trick back on them. 2-1 USA with a goal by Michael Bradley late in extra time.

Argentina vs Switzerland noon

USA vs Belgium 4pm

World Cup Today -- Day 10

Now we're really getting into the meat of this tournament. Some teams are booking passage into the knockout rounds while some teams are gonna play a pretty meaningless game next week. We are just giddy watching the #CONCACAFFED hashtag come out during the afternoon on the Twitter. But for Honduras it's been a great ride for our local soccer orbit. Costa Rica has absolutely captured the fancy of many.

Today brings the Great Illusionist Messini and his Argentine Band of Merry Men in one of those matchups that yeah, let's just say can get out of hand and make for some bad feelings. Argentina vs. Iran, which is sure to be an all-star type game of score-o for La Albiceleste. The meat of our soccer sammich today is of great interest to USA fans. Germany is playing Ghana and if you're a casual fan and might not know about  group stage scoring USA fans want Germany to beat Ghana into next week. Every time Germany scores drink a stein of beer. If Ghana loses they'd have zero points which means the USA would clinch a spot in the knockout rounds with a win OR tie tomorrow vs. Portugal. The trouble with this is that Ghana will not go down quietly. The makings of a great match. The dinner selection is a bit weaker, we'll be honest here. An early dinner out or a movie are not out of the question if you've been a good soccer fan and watched your fill. Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Nigeria is by no means a classic matchup but both sides will be desperate and that can make for a great couple of hours.

Know what else is great about he World Cup games and soccer in general? There's no, "This corner kick brought to you by Chevrolet because America loves a recall." This goal kick sponsored by Tampax, "We're not number one but we're up there." Just good announcing or sounds from the pitch. Surely within ten years this will change if soccer catches on even more in the USA.

Argentina vs Iran noon
Germany vs Ghana 3pm
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Nigeria 6pm