https://vine.co/v/Mtpqpt7Uuet

6/25/2014 1:36:07 PM

Best world cup in a decade.

6/25/2014 1:39:44 PM

China still might be able to pull it off!

6/25/2014 1:42:24 PM

The president of China likes soccer!





[Edited on June 25, 2014 at 2:21 PM. Reason : Tho he's as fat as a pig!]

6/25/2014 1:54:17 PM

Another (helpful maybe?) chart explaining scenarios for us

6/25/2014 2:10:29 PM

wish first tiebreaker was always head to head... but its not so oh well

6/25/2014 2:41:09 PM

yep but oh well.

6/25/2014 2:43:16 PM

I know the UEFA Euro uses head to head result as the first tiebreaker, but again it's up to FIFA here. To me, head to head should matter more than goal differential in a smaller tourney, but goal difference matters more over an entire season like the EPL.

6/25/2014 3:16:09 PM

Messi is the first player in history ever to be named MOTM for all 3 matches of the group stage.

[Edited on June 25, 2014 at 3:41 PM. Reason : .]

6/25/2014 3:41:34 PM

I wish I could be him.

6/25/2014 4:05:28 PM

Goal difference keeps more teams in it longer and forces teams to play a more attacking style.

6/25/2014 4:05:50 PM

damn Shaqiri, I hear ya

6/25/2014 4:09:27 PM

Griezmann will be making a lot of money very shortly

http://gfycat.com/DampSaneHornet

[Edited on June 25, 2014 at 5:12 PM. Reason : ouch]

That gif reminds me of an argument I had Sunday with some non-soccer fans. They were discussing how hard soccer players shoot the ball and couldn't fathom why keepers punch instead of catch it. I told him that a) if he tried to catch it most likely one or both of his wrists would get broken and b) he would never get the opportunity because he would be diving out of the way. They all looked at me like I was crazy.

Anyway, that's the end of that pointless rant.

[Edited on June 25, 2014 at 5:16 PM. Reason : ,]

I get Sakho and Sissoko mixed up far too often

[Edited on June 25, 2014 at 5:20 PM. Reason : god im bored]

6/25/2014 5:09:03 PM

Essentially, even if we lose, let's lose by 1. Really, an early goal and a shitload of defense would be great!

6/25/2014 9:37:10 PM

Quote :

"man, i wish i was able to pay attention to this game. i kinda hate that this WC is in the same time zone as us."

double edged sword; the last world cup was -6 or -7 hours behind us, which was no good during the week or--hell--during the weekend, either. blackout.

6/25/2014 9:42:25 PM

I know some Chinese fans just die by watching this overnight.

6/25/2014 9:44:34 PM

http://bitemangame.com/

6/25/2014 9:44:49 PM

So is it true Boateng and Muntari were sent home for brawling? This certainly helps if true..

This World Cup is like a soap opera. I'd love to see a hot take from a right wing political commentator on it to really tie things together.

[Edited on June 26, 2014 at 7:27 AM. Reason : X]

6/26/2014 7:22:49 AM

Muntari is out today anyway

Pepe is back for Portugal right?

6/26/2014 7:27:50 AM

Yep. That's pretty big for them.

6/26/2014 7:49:44 AM

The weather in Recife is horrific. 0-0 coming?

6/26/2014 7:50:46 AM

works for me.

6/26/2014 7:52:30 AM

We've kept two clean sheets since the 90 WC and one was a Dos A Cero so it doesn't count. Algeria is the other. If we keep Germany from scoring, I'll be surprised.

[Edited on June 26, 2014 at 8:17 AM. Reason : ok didn't realize it was "shin-deep" flooding ]

6/26/2014 7:57:22 AM

Whatever it takes, if it turns into a water polo match thats fine with me!

6/26/2014 8:25:08 AM

I BELIEVE

6/26/2014 8:48:28 AM

Quote :

"The weather in Recife is horrific. 0-0 coming?"

Not necessarily. Torrential rain frequently leads to more errors and goals, not less. Keepers can't handle the wet ball, and a hard rainfall disrupts their vision. Square passes from defenders on a soaked pitch are going to be less accurate, leading to giveaways in dangerous areas.

Normally I would say it's a good thing for USA, as it most dramatically impacts teams that are good at passing (Germany, not us). But since we just need a point, heavy rain might not be ideal.

6/26/2014 8:55:12 AM

This flooding is insane. Game would have already been called off if it was a club game.

[Edited on June 26, 2014 at 9:06 AM. Reason : offf]

6/26/2014 9:04:53 AM

Anyone seen images of the actual pitch and how waterlogged it appears?

Just saw the officials are going to kick a ball around at 11 am and determine if they field is even playable. Possible the game is delayed or rescheduled? If so do they move the other game as well so they are played simultaneously?

[Edited on June 26, 2014 at 9:15 AM. Reason : .]

6/26/2014 9:08:26 AM

Journos saying the area around the stadium is fine.

6/26/2014 9:27:03 AM

We are going into battle today and we will VICTOR!

6/26/2014 9:28:06 AM

They may be less concerned with how it will affect the actual game today and more concerned with the field being destroyed by playing on it today when it is supposed to host a round of 16 game as well.

6/26/2014 9:29:06 AM

Quote :

"So is it true Boateng and Muntari were sent home for brawling? This certainly helps if true.."

http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/story/1913522/ghana-send-home-kevin-prince-boateng-and-sulley-muntari

[Edited on June 26, 2014 at 9:30 AM. Reason : hilarious]

6/26/2014 9:29:38 AM

FIFA just said "pitch is operational"

6/26/2014 9:31:50 AM

6/26/2014 9:44:39 AM

Oh I think you'll find that the pitch is fully operational

6/26/2014 9:45:58 AM

I BELIEVE

6/26/2014 9:46:58 AM

So if we win, the path to the cup is russia --> france --> chile --> holland
If we tie (or lose and sneak in) the path is belgium --> argentina --> holland --> chile

Yes I realize that everybody else would say Brazil over Chile but I'm being optimistic. I'm not sure which road is easier to be quite honest, but winning the group would be the easiest entry into at least the quarters.

6/26/2014 9:54:03 AM

^ lets just get out of the group first. I am dying here waiting for kickoff.

6/26/2014 9:58:27 AM

I would love to be wrong but no part of me has even the slightest thought we are actually going to win today. I will be overjoyed with a draw and content with a one goal loss. Our chance to win the group was gone in that last second fail and now we may also pay for it with an exit.

I actually think the portugal/ghana game will be high scoring but thinking a 2-2 draw or 3-2 portugal win, either of which puts us through.

We have made progress and advancing from this group is something to be very proud of, but advancing any further into the tournament still seems to be a long shot at best.

6/26/2014 10:00:40 AM

Hey guys, I won't be able to watch the game until later, so no spoilers please!

6/26/2014 10:11:02 AM

9 games 4 months ban

6/26/2014 10:11:25 AM

^^Klinsmann has provided you with a note to get out of work

6/26/2014 10:15:05 AM

Four months off and $111,715 fine for Suarez

Sounds about right

6/26/2014 10:24:03 AM

I wonder how empty offices around the country are going to be from 12-2PM today

I know I won't be in mine

[Edited on June 26, 2014 at 10:29 AM. Reason : .]

6/26/2014 10:29:43 AM

Facebook all day today:

6/26/2014 10:39:53 AM

6/26/2014 10:50:30 AM

any streams for today's game?

6/26/2014 10:51:10 AM

I'm sticking with Univision. Really good quality and it never lags for me like WatchESPN does. Check Firstrow if you aren't down with the español

6/26/2014 10:52:33 AM

Quote :

"I'm sticking with Univision. Really good quality and it never lags for me like WatchESPN does. Check Firstrow if you aren't down with the español"

Why would you want a virus on your computer? I was watching soccer on there one time and got the most up to date FBI virus on my computer.

6/26/2014 11:04:24 AM

I will be watching this at my desk.

6/26/2014 11:07:39 AM