World Cup Round of 16 Recap

Time for our World Cup roundup. The 8 games of the Round of 16 brought us a couple classic encounters, a couple bizarre decisions, and some of the world's stars beginning to shine. So, let's break it all down from the Round of 16 at the World Cup.

1) Biggest Winner - Ghana

-The African team that was left for dead before the tournament started and missing star midfielder Michael Essien now remains as Africa's hope. Cote D'Ivoire is no more. Nigeria is no more. Cameroon is no more. While Ghana has been the most successful African nation on the world scene in recent years (2006 QF, 2009 U-20 World Champion), not a lot of people gave them a chance in this tournament because of their tough group and injury problems. However, the sometimes maligned Asamoah Gyan has been huge up front and they've shown heart the size of the continent to push through to the quarterfinals. There, they meet another Cinderella, Uruguay, but they'll be playing in Soccer City with all of Africa behind them. Ghana has enough fight, defense (with John and Jonathan Mensah), and speed to give any team trouble... it'll be interesting to see how far they carry the African flag.

2) Standout Performer - Luis Suarez

3) Highlight - Luis Suarez - The Real Last AirBender!... God those commercials are terrible...

-Perhaps no player has done more for himself at the World Cup than Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez. Would you believe that Suarez scored more goals this year at Ajax in Holland (49) than Lionel Messi (47)?! With Messi's remarkable season, it's amazing that Suarez could fly so far under the radar coming into the World Cup. Then again, Dutch club football is a far cry from what it used to be... but 49 flippin goals!! We said before the tourney that Uruguay would go as far as Suarez and Diego Forlan would take them and they look like they're only just getting started. With Forlan conducting the orchestra, Suarez has been the pure goalscorer. His two against Korea sent Uruguay into the quarters for the first time since 1966. Suarez's second, the matchwinner, was a real thing of beauty...

4)Biggest Loser - FIFA

-FIFA has morphed into some combination of Major League Baseball, the Nixon Presidency, and BP with 1) their refusal to implement technology into the game, 2) commitment to secrecy and stamping out controversy, and 3) terrible PR moves and general incompetency. The governing body of the world's most popular sport has been atrocious and thankfully the world is finally taking notice. The terrible refereeing decisions that cost England and Mexico can pressure FIFA into installing goalline technology at the very least. But the attitude that bans replays in stadiums, turns a blind eye toward cheating and diving, and hides information better than Kim Jong-Il is what is most troubling about FIFA. Let's hope some common sense and decency infects FIFA before 2014 comes around so we don't have to put up with this garbage anymore.

5) Best Game - Ghana 2 USA 1 ET

-You can check out our full thoughts on USA soccer here. This game was clearly the most competitive and intense of the R16 (and no, I'm not counting that goalless snoozer between PAR/JPN). The USA had their chances, but couldn't get that second goal to get the win. Asamoah Gyan split the defense and beat Tim Howard rather too easily for Ghana in the first minutes of extra time. Heartache at home, but it was a deserved win for Ghana in the most dramatic of games.

6) Biggest Statement - Brazil Is Back

-It was a highly anticipated encounter between the top two South American qualifiers in the Round of 16 - Brazil v Chile. Through the group stage Chile had played more of the samba style that we were used to from the Brazilians. However, Brazil showed their true colors in a 3-0 demolition of Chile, even showing that the bag of tricks isn't completely empty. This team has such a good match of flair and steel that it's hard to see anybody beating them now.

7) Extra Time - 10 More Awards For The Round of 16!

*Best Coaching Job - Bert Van Marwijk (Holland)

-Van Marwijk made an important adjustment for the Dutch team - he didn't rest them in Game 3 of the group stage like in the '06 World Cup and Euro 2008. In those tournaments, the Dutch went out in the KO stage even though they played amazing football in their group games. In South Africa, the Dutch haven't played at their absolute best, but Van Marwijk has his team playing better and better. Brazil should be wary of Agent Orange in the quarters, especially with a fit Arjen Robben.

*Worst Coaching Job - Fabio Capello (England)

-Capello is getting ripped all across England for his archaic tactics, puzzling lineup choices, and inability to get England to play one minute of inspired soccer in the World Cup. Sadly for Capello, the genius of 6 months ago is now a victim of the hype and praise England threw on him before the tournament. In truth, he's as much of a victim of the English media and unrealistic hype machine more than anything. At least England's loss looks better in Legos!

*D'Oh Moment - Bob Bradley Starts Ricardo Clark

-The biggest single coaching mistake though was from Bob Bradley and his selection of Ricardo Clark in the midfield against Ghana. Clark's turnover led to the Ghanian first goal and Bradley acknowledged his mistake to the world by pulling Clark after 30 minutes. D'oh!

*Best Young Player - Mesut Ozil

-Of all of the great young players to shine, Ozil pulling the strings for Germany may be the player of the tournament so far. His timely runs, deadeye passes, and pure pace have lit up the competiton. Germany have mixed youth and experience well in the World Cup and Ozil is the main reason why.

*Biggest Surprise - Paraguay & Uruguay

-Yes, everyone expected Argentina and Brazil to represent South America in the quarterfinals... but these two? Their exceptional performances led to group wins over favorites France and Italy. Their longterm outlook for beyond the QF round isn't great, but they have shined so far. And hey, at least one American can locate one of these two countries on a map...

*Biggest Disappointment - USA

-England can take up permanent residence in this category, but given the chance that lay ahead of the USA and the way they played the first 30 minutes against Ghana, they are the most disappointed team heading home from South Africa.

*Sorry To See You Go - Chile

-The unlucky 5th South American team played so well and brought life to a tournament that has featured a few sides (cough, Portugal, cough) just playing to get through 90 minutes at 0-0. Chile always attacked and had some success trying to play the beautiful game, especially with their blazing winger Alexis Sanchez.

*I Told You So - The Goals Have Come

-Through the first stretch of games, World Cup scoring was at an all-time low. People were blaming the Jabulani, the altitude, the vuvuzelas, and everything in between. But, as we said, as players have figured out the ball and the altitude and needed to open up play, the goals have come aplenty. Hey, I have to remember when I'm right every now and then to make up for all of those terrible predictions!

*Biggest Mirage - Diego Maradona's Coaching Genius

-This isn't the popular opinion at the moment, but I just have a feeling that Maradona will be exposed against Germany as a paper tiger on the sidelines. Look at who he's played so far - Nigeria, South Korea, Greece, and Mexico. 2 teams that were willing to attack (KOR/MEX) and get sliced up by Argentina's amazing frontline and 2 teams (NIG/GRE) that sat back and just let Argentina pile up shot after shot while offering minimal counterattack threat. Neither will be the case against a storming German side. This game will be the truest test of Maradona's so-called coaching ability.

*Overrated Story of the World Cup - Vuvuzela Madness

-Vuvuwho? After watching 50+ matches, I've almost stopped hearing them completely. Almost...

USA Soccer World Cup Review

With the USA exiting the World Cup it's time for us to use our combined Yoder power to reflect on the 2010 World Cup and its impact on American soccer. There were some great moments and some great disappointments, but in the big picture, what does the South African experience mean for the future of US Soccer and the sport's popularity here at home?

How Successful Was This World Cup For The USA?

Mr. Yoder I: I'd say it was a 5 out of 10. On one hand, winning the group for the first time since the first World Cup in 1930 is quite an achievement (especially considering that France, Italy, England, and Portugal didn't this year). Getting a draw against England is quite an achievement. The thrill of Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria is an unmatched moment in US Soccer history. But, the USA never put together a great 90 minute game. We'll also look back on 2010 as the biggest missed opportunity at a World Cup. Ghana and Uruguay are good teams, but we might never have a better opportunity to reach a World Cup semifinal. Maybe it's good that the USA is disappointed, but there's too much of a sense that there was a lot left behind in South Africa.

Mr. Yoder II: I agree with the sentiment that the exit in the round of 16 leaves an empty feeling in the pit of your stomach. But, I don't think it is either an abject success or failure. Think of all this team has been through in the last year. A shock run to the final of the Confederations Cup, the loss of Charlie Davies, being drawn in an easy group, meeting those expectations by winning the group, then the disappointment of missing a golden chance at the semis. At best, you'd have to say it was a mixed bag for Team USA.

Should Bob Bradley Stay As Head Coach?

Y2: I say he should go. He's put in a good stint as national team coach, taking the team to heights they haven't seen before. But, there were still too many lineup mistakes (playing Ricardo Clark against Ghana, not starting Benny Feilhaber once) and you have to place some of the blame for the continuallly sluggish starts on the coach. It's time for Team USA to go get a high-profile manager to take us to the next level.

Y1: I think you've won me over. Very rarely these days does a head coach stay on for two World Cup cycles. Bradley pulled a lot of the right strings, but at the World Cup level you can't afford any "my bads" like the Clark start over Maurice Edu against Ghana. Bradley had a great run after the Bruce Arena failure, but it is time for US Soccer to write Jurgen Klinsmann a blank check or go after another world class coach to go to that next level.

Who Was the Standout Performer?

Y1: As much credit as Landon Donovan gets for his goals, the standout performer for me was the coach's son Michael Bradley. Bradley was the most consistent player throughout the 4 games and played very well in the center of midfield. He got that tying goal against Slovenia and his 2 way capabilities mean he should be a fixture in the lineup come 2014. Playing every game with Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany also means he should get a lot of seasoning in the Bundesliga and keep improving his already stout game.

Y2: I totally agree. Bradley is the type of player who is still young enough (22 years old) to be a fixture on the USMNT for years to come. While players like Donovan and Dempsey are more fancied, they disappeared too often and didn't have a consistent impact throughout any of the 4 games. GK Tim Howard also picked a bad time to have his worst performance of the tourney against Ghana. Bradley meanwhile, should get looks from more prestigous European clubs for his two-way midfield play. By the time 2014 rolls around, expect Bradley to be the focal point of the team.

Where Do We Need The Most Improvement?

Y2: Obviously the biggest room for improvement is at our weakest positions, striker and defender. Each of the goals given up by the U.S. in the WC could have been snuffed out by better defense, expecially in the center of the pitch. And, we're going on almost a decade without a goal at the WC from a striker. Maybe Charlie Davies could have helped, but we'll never know. Until a consistent threat in front of goal develops (paging Jozy Altidore) the U.S. will be held back.

Y1: I think those are clearly our weakest positions on the field, but I think the underlying problem is our lack of technical ability as footballers. As hopeful future coach Jurgen Klinsmann pointed out after the Ghana game on ABC - the first touch is the most valuable in soccer and it was consistently poor from the USA. Maybe it takes more experience from our top players in better leagues, maybe it takes decades to hone the craft from youngsters playing the game, who knows. But, in the end, it's a lack of footballing skill that holds us back.

What's The Current Outlook for 2014?

Y1: The outlook is partly cloudy. 2009 and 2010 should provide hope for the USA that we can compete and beat some of the world's best nations (W v Spain, Egypt, draw v England, up 2-0 against Brazil). However, as you said, the USA had their easiest group at this year's World Cup and only made it to the last 16 losing to Ghana. What if we're drawn with Spain, Ghana, and Chile in 2014? There's no guarantee players like Donovan and Dempsey will be at top level in 4 years and it will take some of our young players reaching their ceilings as players and a lot of pieces falling into place to surpass the results from the past 2 years in Brazil 2014.

Y2: Unfortunately I think the US still has a long way to go to reach the ultimate goal, winning a world cup. The decline of some of our more influential players makes this the most important transition in our team's history if we're going to a new coach because there are young players ready to contribute, but they need more sophisticated coaching and need to play in the best leagues in the world. I think the short-term success should open some doors for some of our players, but guys like Bradley, Altidore, Donovan, and Dempsey have to continue being trailblazers for success abroad at the highest level to take the national team as a whole to the next level.

Has Soccer Made It?

Y2: As i said, for soccer to truly "make it" we have to win a World Cup and MLS has to break into the top 10 of leagues worldwide. But, after the gripping drama of the last two summers, I think soccer is in a better place now in this country than ever before. You should see ratings for the WC continue at record levels even with the U.S. being KO'd. But, it all depends on how U.S. soccer and MLS take advantage of new soccer fans. Can we convince our young athletes to go for soccer instead of football/basketball? Can MLS draw more fans and better talent than they have been? Can our best players break in with clubs like Manchester United or Real Madrid? The answers to those questions hold the key to soccer's long-term viability in the U.S.

Y1: I think soccer had made it even before this World Cup started. Think about it, more soccer matches are shown on TV than almost any other sport. At the flick of a button we can check out the local MLS game, EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Champions League, or international games around the world. But, this World Cup has brought the sport what it really needed - the full backing of ESPN and a landmark, exciting moment (Donovan vs Algeria). With the American sports media juggernaut pumping out soccer around the clock and replaying highlights of that goal, the sport is reaching across the country like never before. You're right that MLS needs to seize on the World Cup bounce... but would you believe it if I told you average attendance this year is over 16,000 per game? With the success of the 2010 World Cup, we'll pay more attention to our players overseas, World Cup Qualifying, the EPL, the Champions League, Euro 2012, and everything in between. Soccer has certainly made it in the USA and it will continue growing in anticipation of 2014.

The USA Advances!... and World Cup Day 13 Roundup & Picks

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Today was one of the most memorable sports days that I can remember and one of the main reasons was the amazing USA victory against Algeria. With all hope appearing to be lost, Landon Donovan rescued American hope. But, that wasn't the only thing that happened today at the World Cup as Groups C and D reached their conclusion.

1) Biggest Winner - USA! USA! USA! USA!

2) Best Game - USA 1 Algeria 0

-YYYYYEEEEESSSSSS!!!!

YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!

YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!

That was my reaction and probably the reaction of millions of other Americans around the country when THIS happened...

What an unbelievable moment and what an unbelievable game! The USA needed to beat Algeria with England defeating Slovenia 1-0 to win the group and advance into the last 16. For 90+ minutes, the USA team had hit the post, been robbed by the officials again, and come close on countless occasions. For all the world, it looked like that the soccer gods were against us yet again and we would fail on the big stage yet again. Soccer in the US would go dormant for another 4 years and a golden generation would wave goodbye to their chance to do something special.

Then, one of the most exciting moments of the sports year and the history of US Soccer happened in the 91st minute. Just when all hope looked lost, Tim Howard made a key save and a Herculean throw to find Donovan in space and the rest is history. The sheer joy in that moment is what sports is all about. This team showed such heart and desire throughout the three games so far that seeing them bow out after a disheartening and unlucky draw would have been a cruel twist of fate. But, our boys came through and now there is a pathway to the semifinals (v Ghana, v Uru/Kor) and what could be a defining moment for the sport in the USA. What a game, what a moment, and what a time to be an American! Wow, I'm getting goosebumps just typing this - how bout a lil Lee Greenwood baby!

3) Standout Performer - Landon Donovan

-This was Donovan's goal and Donovan's day. In truth, he wasn't much of a factor throughout the game, but he showed up with the play that sent the USA through to the knockout round. Donovan is the poster boy for US Soccer and it's only fitting that he be the one to score one of the most memorable goals in US history. Donovan started the play latching onto Tim Howard's beautiful throw, took a great first touch, followed up Dempsey's block and sent it in. The tears in Donovan's eyes after the game told you just how much that goal and that win meant to him and US soccer. Nobody in the red, white, and blue deserved that moment more than the American #10.

4)Biggest Loser - Serbia

-The Cinderella/darkhorse/under the radar team du jour coming into the tournament was Serbia. They had a difficult but not unconquerable group, veteran talent and experience, and enough defense to make a long run in the tournament. Heck, they even beat Group D winner Germany! And, they would have made it to the last 16 if they had not choked against Australia. They were level through 69 minutes and had several chances to hit the front in that time, but Serbia ended up allowing 2 quick goals and bowing out of the competition. With Serbia and Slovenia both exiting the World Cup from favorable positions, it won't go down as a banner day for Eastern European soccer.

5) Biggest Surprise -England's Hero is... Jermain Defoe?

-With all of the focus stateside on the American triumph, England's ability to win in a must-win game has been overlooked. Without their 1-0 win today over Slovenia, they would be headed back towards London in disgrace. And, it was a goal from surprise starter Jermain Defoe that won the game and saved England's World Cup. Defoe was one of the last guys you would expect on the England roster to step into the starting lineup and be able to take the Three Lions into the next phase with Capello's preference for Emile Heskey to partner Wayne Rooney. Defoe was left out of the 2006 World Cup and never seemed to fit into Fabio Capello's team structure this time around - nevertheless it was the Tottenham striker that was the man today and it will be interesting to see if he features in the team going forward.

6) Highlight - From Way Downtown!

-German wunderkind Mesut Ozil (one of our breakout players to watch, which I will certainly take the credit for) scored one of the great long-range goals of the tournament thus far with a splendid strike and a clutch goal to send Germany to the top of Group D and a matchup with England in the last 16!

Not to be outdone though is Aussie Brett Holman with this wicked one hopper that put away the Serbs!

7) Extra Time - What A Moment!

-Today's USA game is what sports is all about. Across the country Tweets, Facebook messages, IMs, texts, e-mails, phone calls, and everything in-between was going nuts over Landon Donovan's goal. Even some of the most diehard soccer haters were watching on the edge of their seat and hoping that the USA could pull out a victory. Donovan's goal was that moment that we love so much about sports. The moment when the dream comes true and frustration and disappointment instantly transform into joy and achievement.

I'll say this - it is not our greatest soccer moment, we've reached the WC quarterfinals before, but it might be the most significant moment and the greatest goal in US Soccer history because of the pure excitement. Having the team fight through such adversity and come so close to getting the breakthrough built the suspense to an unbearable level. Winning the game in such a dramatic way shows folks that soccer IS an exciting sport and it does contain surprises and unforgettable moments like the NFL and other sports. Sure, it's not going to make soccer the #1 sport here at home, but mark down June 23, 2010 as a huge day in the history of US Soccer.

Thursday Preview

Group F - 10:00 ET

Slovakia (1 PTS) v Italy (2 PTS)

-Of course the logical choice is to choose Italy to win big. However, the logical choice was also to pick Italy to win big over Paraguay and New Zealand. Yet, here they sit in a wide open Group F needing a win to move on to the knockout round. Slovakia is also in a must-win situation, but they have disappointed thus far in the tournament and you wouldn't expect them to really threaten the Azzuri. In spite of things going against them, Italy must simply get through this group - if not, them and France should be banned from the next World Cup.

PICK: Italy 2 Slovakia 0

Paraguay (4 PTS) v New Zealand (2 PTS)

-Paraguay should continue South America's unbeaten run against a plucky New Zealand team that has punched far above their weight in the tournament thus far. Who knows, perhaps a draw could see the Kiwis through, or they might even shock the world and get a win to move on (and top the group perhaps?) It has been an incredible story for them to even get this far, but Paraguay is quietly playing some world class soccer and should get the win to top Group F.

PICK: Paraguay 2 New Zealand 1

Moving On - 1) Paraguay 2) Italy

Group E - 2:30 ET

Cameroon (0 PTS) v Holland (6 PTS)

-With Holland in and Cameroon out this game has zero significance except for the Dutch to experiment with a couple things and Cameroon to maintain some pride. It's an impossible game to predict. Oh... a prediction you ask? I'm going to say 59-59, why not, right?

PICK: Cameroon 59 Holland 59

Denmark (3 PTS) v Japan (3 PTS)

-The scenario here is clear - a win or tie from Japan sees them through and only a Danish win sees them through. Japan has a clear edge here and can sit back and defend and perhaps strike on a counterattack (a strategy that worked against Cameroon). However, I believe that Denmark is simply the better team and will get the result they require.

PICK: Denmark 1 Japan 0

Moving On - 1) Holland 2) Denmark

World Cup Roundup - Day 11 & 12

Time for our daily World Cup roundup. Today we'll take a look at the games from Monday which saw Spain, Chile, and especially Portugal get huge wins. And then from today, we'll analyze the finishing up of Groups A and B and see who will advance tomorrow from Groups C and D with the United States facing a must win game against Algeria. Let's roll!

1) Biggest Winner - Uruguay

-First, it was fantastic to see Uruguay and Mexico play a proper game today knowing that a draw would send both teams through. Thankfully, both teams attacked with menace and Uruguay ended up getting the goal, the win, and first place in Group A. Luis Suarez scored off of a brilliant cross to open up his campaign at the World Cup and the dynamism that he presents with Diego Forlan is dangerous to the rest of the field. Uruguay face South Korea in the Round of 16 and will be big favorites to make the quarterfinals for the first time since 1970. If this team continues to fire on all cylinders, they are a darkhorse contender to make the semifinals.

2) Standout Performer - South Africa

-The South African team was heroic in their victory over France today. Heading into the final round of Group A play it looked impossible for either RSA or France to advance to the knockout stages. However, 2 goals in the first half against 10 men and a Uruguay lead over Mexico had the miracle talk floating around the world. Alas, it was not meant to be, but in their victory today Bafana Bafana showed heart, determination, and desire (a lot more than what the French can say). So, while they become the first host country to get knocked out in the group phase, South Africa should still be proud of their victory today, their unbelievable fans (yes, even the vuvuzelas), and the way they've made the country and the continent proud with a marvelous tournament thus far.

3)Biggest Loser - Nigeria

4) Best Game - Nigeria 2 South Korea 2

-Marvelous if you're not a fan of the Super Eagles. Coming into today's game, they needed a win against South Korea and an Argentina win to advance. Of course, the silly sending off and 2-1 loss to Greece put themselves in this situation, but it still seemed possible. While Argentina took the lead against Greece, Nigeria found themselves trailing 2-1 to South Korea in the second half when Yakubu had perhaps the worst miss in World Cup history...

Only a couple minutes later, Yakubu somewhat made up for his miss with a successful spot kick to tie the score at 2. But, a missed chip from Obafemi Martins 10 minutes from the end proved to be the last chance for the Super Eagles. After so many missed chances and close calls, Nigeria may be the team most kicking themselves for not making it to the knockout round.

5) Biggest Surprise -Portugal Come Out To Play

-Umm... I probably should have deleted that Tweet that predicted Portugal not being able to break down the mighty wall of North Korea. Shockingly, a team that was held scoreless by the Cape Verde Islands put up 7 goals in a World Cup game. Yes, it was North Korea - but Portugal had shown no signs of scoring against Cote D'Ivoire and was one of the most disappointing teams in the tournament runup. Like France, they have a lot of individual ability, but struggle to put it together. Hold off on putting any money on the Portugese though until you see how they perform against Brazil this week.

6) Highlight - David Villa: Goal of the Tournament

-David Villa's first goal against Honduras is the frontrunner thus far for the goal of the tournament. Villa's mazing run through multiple defenders and clinical finish sparked Spain to a crucial win in Group H.

7) Extra Time - Stop The Cheating & Diving!

-One of our favorite sites, EPL Talk, had a great article here about how the constant diving, simulation, cheating, and embellishment is stopping American sports fans from becoming soccer fans. Many people love the games but hate the constant cheating and acting from players. While Ronaldo may be one of the worst divers, at seems that at least once per game someone falls down clutching their face after being touched in the arm, or acts like their leg was shot with a cannonball after being knicked by a ladybug. It's pathetic and it needs to stop because it is an embarrassment to the sport.

Here's our suggestion to stop the cheating and diving - FIFA must set up a panel to review each game and hand out suspensions to people deemed guilty of diving, simulation, or clear embellishment. With the speed and space of the game, it is almost impossible to determine what exactly happens on the field at the time (see Kaka's sending off). Therefore, punishment must come via video review after the games and severe enforcement of cheating and diving must happen. The NBA and MLS have a similar disciplinary process where players can be suspended following games after looking at video. FIFA and international soccer must do something similar after this tournament is over to prevent this pollution of the beautiful game going forward.

Wednesday Preview

Group C - 10:00 ET

USA (2 PTS) v Algeria (1 PTS)

-With Robbie Findley suspended, who will play up front with Jozy Altidore? Edson Buddle looks the most likely, but if the US can't get a breakthrough early on I would expect Bob Bradley to not hesitate to make changes. Algeria has not looked close to scoring yet in this tournament, but the US would be smart to sit back and defend early on to not go down a goal early on yet again. The US should let the game come to them and be patient with Algeria. It is a game they should and will win to advance to the next round.

PICK: USA 2 Algeria 0

England (2 PTS) v Slovenia (4 PTS)

-Can England turn it on? I just don't know. Like France, England have some of the most talented footballers in the world, but the whole of the national team is never equal to the sum of its parts. With John Terry having a go at Fabio Capello in the media, the team is going through some turmoil in the dressing room. With England, the negative mojo affects them like no other country. It's hard to imagine them flipping the switch when under so much pressure. Slovenia will defend and get the draw to advance.

PICK: England 1 Slovenia 1

Moving On - 1) USA 2) Slovenia

Group D - 2:30 ET

Ghana (4 PTS) v Germany (3 PTS)

-The Group of Depth has come through as each team still has a chance to make it through. Ghana sit in the catbird seat currently, but they face an angry Germany side that didn't show up against Serbia. Ghana is Africa's last hope to make the knockout stages and they need at least a tie to advance. Ghana has the heart to get the job done, but Germany has everything else.

PICK: Germany 2 Ghana 1

Serbia (3 PTS) v Australia (1 PTS)

-A tough one to pick. Serbia will advance with a win, while even a tie might not be enough. Australia must win to have any hope of advancing. Serbia has to be favored in this situation and with Australia being afflicted with red cards they will be missing key players. Serbia will be riding high after defeating Germany and should get another win tomorrow.

PICK: Serbia 2 Australia 0

Moving On - 1) Germany 2) Serbia

5 Thoughts On USA vs England

Well, it came and went - the biggest soccer game in the history of the United States. The USA drew 1-1 with the mother country in the biggest battle since 1776. The game featured a well taken goal from Steven Gerrard early on and a memorable reply thanks to Clint Dempsey due in large part to one of the all-time great goalie gaffes from Robert Green. We learned a lot about both countries from that game, and now both the USA and England have one point in Group C. So, let's take a look at 5 Things We Learned from USA-England.

1) We Can Play With The Big Boys

-Yes, the USA was exposed at certain times by the speed of Aaron Lennon, the skill of Steven Gerrard, and the fierceness of Wayne Rooney - but we never looked to be out of the game, or entirely outclassed. With Tim Howard between the pipes, Onyewu and the backline playing strong, and athleticism up front - the USA has established in the past 2 years that this group of players doesn't only compete, but can beat anybody in the world. While Dempsey's goal was pure luck, the US created good chances and defended strong for much of the game and went toe to toe with one of the world giants. Whether the British tabloids want to believe it or not, a draw was a just result.

2) England Ain't All It's Cracked Up To Be

-World Cup fans have heard this before. England comes into a tournament with a talented team. The English media proclaim that this is their year. England fans get excited about their chances. England lets down those fans with new ways to shock and disappoint their fans. We'll get into Robert Green's goof in just a bit - but the entire England team didn't have the look of a title contender. While Stevie G played inspired football for most of the game, his other teammates couldn't put it together. Lennon and SWP had great speed on the wings but couldn't play a telling cross. King and Carragher showed injury, age, and a lack of athleticism at the back. Rooney and Heskey couldn't put the ball in the net. So much talent for England's golden generation and yet they may come up empty yet again.

3) Goalie Gaffes

-Robert Green's botched save off of a nothing shot from Clint Dempsey was one of the all-time memorable World Cup gaffes. Give him credit for coming back and getting a clutch save on a Jozy Altidore breakaway in the second half - but he might never live down what happened in the 40th minute. Let the pictures tell the story...

4) The USA Needs More Offensive Fireworks

-Even though we played well in this game, it was clear that the United States lacked a little creativity offensively. A majority of the offense consisted of long balls forward to Jozy Altidore and hoping that going the direct route would pay off. Rarely was the US able to string passes together through the midfield and actually build an attack. Dempsey and Donovan appeared dangerous at times, but there wasn't enough wide play from them to provide a diversity to the attack. Perhaps adding Jose Francisco Torres to the midfield in place of one of the holding players or perhaps trying Buddle/Gomez with Altidore could shake things up just enough to supply more goals against Slovenia and Algeria.

5) Soccer Is Definitely Making It in the USA

-The USA/England game was the highest rated USA soccer game in the states since 1994 (when the US hosted the World Cup), and the 5th highest WC game in history. Almost 13 million people watched the game! You can see more ratings stats at EPL talk. Perhaps more encouraging is that ratings for the entire tournament are up over 100% since the last World Cup. ESPN's in-depth coverage with veteran, informed broadcasters (we'll get to that later this week) has been fantastic and the commitment to the tournament and providing the best possible coverage has improved World Cup viewing immensely. Viewers are clearly taking notice and tuning in to the World Cup at what could be record numbers. Learn to love it, learn to love with it - soccer has arrived.

World Cup Winner Prediction, Best XI, and Friday/Saturday Picks

Yesterday, we took a look at who would make the semifinals at the World Cup. Today, we give our prediction for World Cup winner, Best XI, and take a stab at our picks for Friday & Saturday's games, including the massive, revolutionary showdown between the USA and England. First up, our World Cup Best XI.

World Cup Best XI

Iker Casillas (ESP)

Dani Alves (BRA) Pique (ESP) Lucio (BRA) Ashley Cole (ENG)

Mesut Ozil (GER) Xavi (ESP) Wesley Snejder (NED) Steven Gerrard (ENG)

Samuel Eto'o (CAM) Wayne Rooney (ENG)

-Our team is loaded with many Spaniards and Brazilians (hint! hint!), but if England is going to be successful than Ashley Cole will have to have a good tournament in attack and defense and Steven Gerrard, now in a captaincy role, will have to perform out of position on the left side. Pique and Lucio anchor our defense and are the consensus two best center backs in the tournament, while Dani Alves' attacking runs from right back will be a catalyst for Brazil. Iker Casillas is our choice at keeper, just ahead of Julio Cesar and Tim Howard.

-With Gerrard in the midfield we've picked the key to the Spanish side - Xavi. Xavi was the player of the tournament in Euro 2008 and will pick up with his elite play again here. Without Arjen Robben, the creative load for Holland falls to Wesley Snejder. Snejder was excellent in the latter stages of the season for Inter Milan and should have plenty of freedom to weave magic for the Dutch. Finall, German youngster Mesut Ozil is our pick for young player of the tournament. Like Holland, Germany without Michael Ballack should free up the side for a creative spark like Ozil - the best player on Germany's U-21 Euro winners.

-Up front, we're taking a gamble that the good Samuel Eto'o will actually show up and use his present adversity to play his best soccer with the World Cup on African soil. He'll score plenty of goals if Cameroon gets into the quarterfinals as we predicted. And, Wayne Rooney rounds out the squad as the bulldog that England will ride to the semifinals, speaking of...

SemiFinal Picks

*England vs Brazil

-The English hope will come to an end in the semifinals. While the England team has loads of talent and ability, Brazil has just that little bit more steel in defense and that little bit more creativity in attack. Lucio and the best backline in the world will be able to stall the English attack, and the English weakness - goalkeeper - will finally be exposed. PICK: Brazil 3 England 1

*Spain vs Germany

-Again, we'll ask how in the world Germany ends up in the World Cup Semis. This year they have enough balance of youth and experience to get this far, but not beyond. Spain will possess the ball for most of this game and Germany will be forced to have to win on a fluky counterattack goal to get to the final. I would expect a tighter game with Spain breaking through late and getting a 1-0 win. PICK: Spain 1 Brazil 0

Final Pick

*Spain vs Brazil

-This will be a showpiece worthy of the biggest sporting event in the world. Spain and Brazil will play some of the most exciting soccer in the whole tournament. Ironically though, our pick is Spain because of their samba style. This Brazilian team is outmatched by Spain in the midfield and up front while the defense and goalkeepers will cancel out. Spain gets the edge because of their passing and possession, and they'll complete their golden age with their first ever World Cup. PICK: Spain 3 Brazil 2

***But, before we get to the Final, we have to start the tournament first! We'll be out of town Saturday and DVRing the most important soccer game in American history (no spoilers!). So, let's pick and preview the Friday and Saturday World Cup games.***

Friday Picks - Group A

*South Africa vs Mexico

-The opening game is always such a spectacle, and it's perhaps South Africa's best chance to get a win. Mexico will allow Bafana Bafana to play an open game and come at them in attack. That will benefit the fast Mexican style, but also might leave them open on occasion. If it wasn't the opener, Mexico would be the pick - but the home crowd will be enough to get South Africa at least a point.

PICK: Mexico 2 RSA 2

*Uruguay vs France

-Another crucial game in the tournament is the opening game for France and Uruguay. This would be a great chance for Uruguay to pull the upset on a deflated French side that has never seemed to recover from their 2006 Final loss. Diego Forlan gets at least 1 and again France suffers an opening game letdown.

PICK: Uruguay 2 France 1

Saturday Picks - Groups B/C

*South Korea vs Greece

-This won't be one of the showpiece games of the tournaments. Greece will defend, defend, and defend some more - and I'm not really that confident that South Korea can break through. I see one of the more listless games of the tournament here.

PICK: South Korea 0 Greece 0

*Argentina vs Nigeria

-Another crucial game in this tournament to see how Argentina responds to Diego Maradona. He has selected a lot of headscratchers in midfield and defense especially that are left behind off successful European clubs. Nigeria isn't getting a lot of publicity, but they are one of the sleeper teams in this tournament. I see... you guessed it, another draw!

PICK: Argentina 1 Nigeria 1

*England vs USA

-Now, it's the biggest soccer game in the history of America! We can spend a lot of time dissecting the X's and O's (if those exist in futbol) and the matchups... but this game will come down to one thing - talent. I think both teams have incredible will and belief that they can get the job done, but England has more talent all over the pitch. Look for England to use their wide play specifically to really do the most damage. It'll be a close, exciting game, but I'm picking England to go through... and hoping the RSS jinx kicks in and the US wins!

PICK: England 2 USA 1

World Cup Preview - Breakout Players

With the World Cup only days away, it's time to keep up with some more predictions. The World Cup has long been known as a maker of stars in the soccer world. Names of the gods of football like Pele and Maradona have started and cemented their legend on the biggest stage the globe knows. So, let's look at five players who could burst into household names over the next month and begin life among football's elite!

1. Edson Buddle-F-United States

-If the United States is going to advance, no one player might be more influential than the journeyman striker from the MLS L.A. Galaxy. Sure players like Howard, Dempsey, and Donovan will play at their typically high level. But, with the more-favored Jozy Altidore struggling with injury, it could be Buddle's turn to shine. It might be late in the 29-year old's career to be considered a potential breakout star, but he did score two goals in the last U.S. friendly against Australia. Oddly enough, Buddle has credited David Beckham in helping him transform from lazy journeyman to MLS leading scorer. If he continues to find form at the World Cup, more than just the most hardcore MLS fans will know the man named after Pele.

2. Jong Tae-Se-F-North Korea

-What better chance for the man known as "Asian Wayne Rooney" to break through than at the World Cup, especially playing for North Korea. But, the mystery that shrouds the rest of the North Korean side isn't necessarily true for Tae-Se. He's the only North Korean footballer who plays outside his home country, in Japan. In his native South Korea, he is still beloved, even though he plays for the North Koreans, largely due to his outgoing personality and relentlessness on the pitch. He's scored 3 times in friendlies against Greece and Nigeria recently and could burst onto the world stage if he helps North Korea get any results in the Group of Death.

3. Marek Hamsik-M-Slovakia

-Hamsik is already the star of the Slovakian national team at the tender age of 22 as an attacking midfielder. Not only that, he's recently been appointed as his national team captain...hopefully he doesn't follow the lead of other WC captains like John Terry, but that's another issue. Hamsik plies his trade for Napoli in Italian Serie A where he is one of the top playmakers in the league, scoring 12 goals over the last season. He'll be leaned on heavily for the tiny nation to make any noise at this year's World Cup.

4. Mesut Ozil-M-Germany

-Anyone counting out the Germans after losing captain Michael Ballack should be weary, in part to the introduction of the 21 year old Ozil. While the Germans are traditionally a hard-working if low-scoring side, Ozil brings the type of flair and creativity necessary for success in the modern game. He's scored 11 times for Werder Bremen this past season in the Bundesliga and led the German Under-21 side to the European Championship last spring. Certainly, leading the Germans deep into the tournament could put Ozil front and center as an emerging star.

5. Javier Hernandez/Carlos Vela-F-Mexico

-Finally, a pair of Mexican strikers from the Premier League round out our players to watch at this year's World Cup. El Tri is usually full of attacking flair, and the young duo of Hernandez (22 years old) and Vela (21 years old) should find plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net. While Vela has been underused at Arsenal and Hernandez (nicknamed Chicharito) has just signed with Manchester United this summer, they could become much more well-known, in England especially, if they are at the front of the high-powered Mexican attack.

We'll be back tomorrow with our semifinal predictions for the World Cup and stay with us for more coverage of the NHL and NBA Finals. Until then, it's bye for now!

Can Rugby Make It In The US?

This weekend RSS attended the first ever Rugby Sevens Collegiate Championship Invitational tournament at Crew Stadium here in Columbus, Ohio. 16 of the best rugby programs from around the company competed in the inaugural event. The tournament was also the first national television exposure for the sport of rugby as the finals on Sunday and preliminary play on Saturday was shown on NBC. With rugby sevens becoming an Olympic sport in 2016, rugby seems to be on its way up in the American sporting landscape. So, can it make it as a cult sport, a must see event, or will it end up as an afterthought on the level of judo?

After being at the tournament this weekend, I'm cautiously optimistic about the future of rugby in the United States. Today's Championship Final, where Utah upset perennial #1 team and 25 time national champion California 31-26 in sudden death overtime, was as good as sports gets. There were 4 lead changes in the second half alone including a Cal try after the final buzzer to send the game into extra time and thrills from end to end throughout the game. Utah's Thretton Palamo (a US international 7's player above) was a beast on the pitch and shined as the tournament's best player, especially today. Let's look at some of the reasons why rugby can become successful in the United States on the heels of a fantastic tournament:

*Fast Pace - While I'm more of a fan of the traditional 15 man rugby version, sevens has a unique fast pace. Each game takes about 20 minutes to play (7 minute halves with a running clock and 3 minute halftime) and the games are played end to end at a fast pace. It's basically like watching the Phoenix Suns play Texas Tech football. With such a large field and so few players, one missed tackle can mean a run to the try line. Today's final featured 9 tries (touchdowns) in just over 20 minutes of action!

*Athleticism, Physicality, Speed, Big Hitting - Rugby features all of these great aspects of sport. The athletic ability of Utah's Palamo was ungodly to watch in person - think LeBron James on a football field. His size, speed, power and jukability was worth the price of admission alone. Watch these highlights and get an appreciation for all of the fantastic elements at work (Palamo is Utah's #2, sadly only one of his tries is shown). There's nothing quite as thrilling as watching players run in the open field and that is what Rugby 7s is all about. It's like playing backyard football, and who doesn't love that! When you add in the big hits, skill with the ball, and athleticism of the players - it makes for an exciting game.

*Scoring - As mentioned above, today's final between Utah and Cal featured a try almost every 2 minutes. When you consider a running clock for the conversion and kickoff, that's an insane amount of scoring in such a short time period. However, it's not like playing catch in the yard with the kids and everyone scores each time they touch the ball. Other games are played in the single digits and teens and even the thrilling final featured several huge tackles and takeaways. In rugby 7s there is a great balance between offense and defense that makes the game exciting.

With these positives, there are a few negatives that might hinder the sport's growth. The complexity of rugby and all of the various laws considering the tackle, lineout, and other penalties can make your head spin. Watching rugby on TV on the old Fox Sports World growing up, it took about a year of watching it to learn most all of the rules from scratch. You might have had fun watching it today for the first time on TV, but you probably didn't understand it fully if you're new to the game.

Also, being at the game, I definitely felt like an outsider to the rugby culture. Most of the people in the crowd seemed to know each other like they were all best friends and the casual fan felt somewhat out of place. You know what kind of people I'm talking about - big guys acting like meatheads and shouting weird things and girls wearing t-shirts that creatively use the word "ruck." There's a definite rugby culture in the US (especially at the college club level) that isn't necessarily mainstream.

So, all in all, the sport of rugby and rugby 7s specifically has a great potential to grow in the United States. It has the excitement, new Olympic pedigree, and most importantly - support at the national TV and grassroots level with more kids playing rugby each year to help it grow. With the evolving of the rugby culture and the gradual education of casual fans, the sport has the ability to take the 2016 Olympics by storm. At the very least, it could be the Summer Olympics version of curling!

7 Things We Missed On Memorial Day Weekend

With everything going on over the Memorial Day Weekend, it's a great time for our semi-regular feature and take a look at the 7 biggest sports stories from the weekend!

1) Niemi Says No!

-The Chicago Blackhawks are off to a 2-0 series lead over the Flyers after a thrilling 6-5 win in Game 1 and a tense 2-1 victory in Game 2. In Game 1, it was the Hawks offense led by players like Bolland, Brouwer, and Versteeg and not Kane and Toews. The depth of the 'Hawks stood out in Game 1 as they were able to outscore Philly. Then, in Game 2, it was Antti Niemi's turn to step up with several huge saves in the 3rd period to hold on to a 2-1 win. Both games took different complexions and Chicago fans have to be juiced that they were able to beat the Flyers in both an up-tempo game and a physical slugfest... and now they go on the road where they've won 7 straight games!

But, the best news for the NHL is TV ratings going up, even after last year's Stanley Cup Finals between Pittsburgh and Detroit. This news comes on the heels of record ratings for the first two rounds on Versus of all places. While the numbers won't threaten the other major sports, it is encouraging for the sport that there continues to be an increase in ratings... now if we can only bring back the glow puck! Here's Game 2...

2) Mr. Ashley Judd Wins The Indy 500

-Dario Franchitti won his 2nd Indy 500 on Sunday, using fuel mileage and a little luck with a last lap caution to emerge victorious on Sunday. Franchitti had the best car the entire race and was a very deserved winner. However, the race wasn't exactly a classic with few meaningful lead changes. Perhaps the most memorable moment came when Mike Conway had this terrifying crash on the final lap and suffered just leg and back injuries.

3) Kurt Busch Sweeps Charlotte

-The Coca-Cola 600 provided the traditional Memorial Day Sunday nightcap and it was Kurt Busch with his 2nd straight win at Charlotte after winning the All-Star Race last week. Busch sits 6th in the standings and looks on his way to making the chase. In looking at where we stand in NASCAR at the first of June, Kevin Harvick has a surprising lead at the top of the standings. Jimmie Johnson hasn't quite shown the consistent dominance as in years past, but is tied for the series lead with 3 wins. NASCAR desperately needs a competitive season and a new champion to help gain back some fans bored with the Johnson Era.

4) US On The Way To SA

-The US Soccer team won their sendoff game against Turkey 2-1 as they hit the road to South Africa. Bob Bradley played many more starters than against the Czechs, but it was a couple bench guys that shined the most - Jose Torres and Robbie Findley. Many questioned Findley's inclusion, but he helped set up the first goal and Torres played inspired two way soccer in the center of midfield during the second half. It was interesting to see the different combos that Bradley used up front - Altidore/Dempsey -> Altidore/Findley -> Dempsey/Findley. It looks like Bradley might go the Altidore/Dempsey route and use Findley's speed as a sub if needed. Nevertheless, there are still many options for the coach, and it looks like there are spots open as the US plays Australia Saturday in their last WC warmup.

5) England Names WC Squad

-Today, Fabio Capello named his squad for the World Cup. The surprise is the exclusion of winger wunderkind Theo Walcott. Thankfully, the US won't have to worry about seeing this in Rustenburg...

Walcott would have given the US a ton of trouble on the wings with their speed, but Aaron Lennon from Tottenham appears to have beat him out. Expect Steven Gerrard to be pushed wide left while Frank Lampard occupies the middle of midfield with either a fit Gareth Barry or perhaps Michael Carrick/Ledley King. The other worry for England is the 2nd striker spot where Capello picked Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey, and Jermaine Defoe beside Wayne Rooney. It is a dilemma for England, much like the US - do they change their style of play and place Rooney by himself with support from Gerrard/Lampard or pair him with Crouch or Heskey? So many questions surround this game and the subplots are so intriguing that I can't wait for June 12!

6) Just What The Doctor Ordered

-Roy Halladay continues to prove that he is the best pitcher of the Steroid Era. He became only the 5th Cy Young winner to throw a perfect game Saturday in Florida. It's amazing to think that Halladay has been around for 12 years now, getting his first win in 1998. The funny thing about Halladay is that his career numbers don't blow you away - 155 wins and a 3.37 ERA with only 2 20 win seasons. But, unlike others with injury issues (Santana) or ethical issues (Clemens), Halladay has been there through it all with the same consistency. Maybe now that he has a perfect game, and is pitching in a big American market, he'll get the credit he deserves.

7) The Grammatica Files

-Kendry Morales-Grammatica thought that with everything in the sports world going on this Memorial Day Weekend, that the best way to get his name in the papers was to go out and break a leg... literally. Morales becomes the first man in baseball history to injure himself while jumping on home plate while celebrating a walk-off home run! Congratulations Kendry! Of course it's a fluke thing and just plain bad luck... but you have to wonder if his own team will have him beaned when he gets back from the DL for breaking an "unwritten rule of baseball."

D'Oh!

US World Cup Roster Breakdown & Rankings

Yesterday, USA Soccer coach Bob Bradley announced the 23 man squad to go to South Africa. Here's the list of players going, a breakdown of the roster including rankings from 1 to 23, and what the strategy might be as the Yanks go to South Africa. Here's the roster, with the names most likely to start or play a big role in bold and roster rankings to follow.

GK: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann

LB: Jonathan Bornstein, Carlos Bocanegra

CB: Oguchi Onyewu, Clarence Goodson, Jay DeMerit

RB: Jonathan Spector, Steve Cherundolo

LM: DaMarcus Beasley

CM: Ricardo Clark, Maurice Edu, Michael Bradley, Benny Feilhaber, Jose Torres

RM: Stuart Holden, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan

ST: Jozy Altidore, Robbie Findley, Herculez Gomez, Edson Buddle

Just for fun, let's rank the US Roster from 1 to 23:

1. Donovan

2. Dempsey

3. Howard

4. Onyewu (hoping he's healthy)

5. Bradley

6. Altidore

7. Demerit

8. Bocanegra

9. Holden

10. Spector

11. Clark

12. Edu

13. Cherundolo

14. Gomez

15. Feilhaber

16. Beasley

17. Torres

18. Bornstein

19. Buddle

20. Findley

21. Goodson

22. Guzan

23. Hahnemann

The biggest roster surprise was Robbie Findley of Real Salt Lake ahead of the more accomplished and experienced Brian Ching. But, as SI's Grant Wahl astutely points out, Findley's inclusion is to replace Charlie Davies as a speedy striker (which Ching most certainly is not). Sadly for us, hometown guys Robbie Rogers and Chad Marshall of the Columbus Crew didn't make it either... but that means good news for the Crew in MLS!

One of the strengths of this team is its flexibility. Dempsey and Donvan can go forward, players like Holden, Feilhaber, and Torres can play anywhere in midfield, and veterans like Cherundolo and Bocanegra can play across the backline. The team appears to be a squad built on athleticism up front, a mix of craft and steel in the midfield, and veteran leadership in the back.

But there are clear weaknesses - at left back and second striker. The Czechs destroyed Heath Pearce and Bornstein in the exhibition earlier this week and it is clearly the US's weakest position. Therefore, I would expect either Bocanegra, Cherundolo, or Spector to fill the void... and maybe even, gasp, DaMarcus Beasley. Beasley's National Team renaissance has been a surprise, and while he doesn't have the danger going forward, he can help out in defense, which is why he's likely to start at LM on June 12 against England instead of Stuart Holden.

Bradley faces a more complex dilemma at the second striker position that was Charlie Davies'. He has three options: 1) Play a newbie like Gomez or Findley, 2) Move Donovan or Dempsey up from the midfield (very successful in SA at the Confed Cup w/ Dempsey) or 3) Change the formation to a 4-5-1/4-2-3-1 and play Altidore as a lone striker with Donovan and Dempsey in supporting roles.

The fact that Bradley chose 3 inexperienced forwards to go along with Altidore leads me to believe that he'll go with either option 2 or 3. Moving Dempsey alongside Altidore in the traditional 4-4-2 worked well in South Africa last year. Here's how they might line up in that formation...

Howard

Spector-Onyewu-DeMerit-Bocanegra

Donovan-Clark-Bradley-Beasley

Dempsey-Altidore

If they go with a 4-5-1, here's how it would differ slightly...

Howard

Spector-Onyewu-DeMerit-Bocanegra

Clark-Bradley

Dempsey-Donovan-Beasley

Altidore

This formation differs slightly because it places Donovan in more of a central role (ala Steven Gerrard at Liverpool) and places Dempsey back on the wing with Clark and Bradley slightly further back in front of the back 4. It also puts more pressure on Jozy Altidore as the "lone striker." But, that phrase is becoming more and more of a misplaced stereotype for a negative style of play. As one of the best soccer writers in the world, Jonathan Wilson points out, this formation is becoming more valuable with the majority of the teams at Euro 2008 going the lone ranger route.

Also, the lone striker method takes advantage of the flexibility and attacking prowess of Dempsey and Donovan in more natural withdrawn roles. It also puts another man in midfield to help out in defense, which might be a necessity in watching Tuesday's game against the Czechs. It might be advantageous for Bradley if he springs a surprise on England and the rest of Group C by tweaking his formation and going with the lone striker. Either way, I would expect the US to sit back a little bit, hope their defense/midfield get straightened out, and use their speed on the counterattack to strike.

Whatever the formation or the players on the field may be, this team definitely has the ability to beat England and advance as far as any US team has in recent World Cup memory. If they get a few breaks and a few breakout performances like last year in South Africa, it could be a great month of June for American soccer. Get juiced America!

Protecting the Rings - Olympic Recap & Awards

Every week during the NFL season we Protect the Shield and recap the stories, stars, and everything you need to know from the week that was. Now that the Olympics are over (what, no curling? NOOOOO!!!), who will we look back on as the influential figures from the Vancouver Olympics of 2010? What will we remember, and what will we forget? Who wins our Olympic Awards? So many questions, so little time until the next Olympics! Let's Protect the Rings!

Underrated Story of the Olympics - North American Dominance

-The US set a Winter Olympics record by winning 37 total medals (9/15/13), while Canada's Gold Medal Hockey win gave them a record 14 Golds for a Winter Olympics. Sadly our North American friends to the south failed to medal. C'mon Mexico, even Kazakhstan won a medal! These Olympics were about the two North American superpowers going head to head in many sports and dominating the games. Whether it was hockey, snowboarding, curling, nordic combined, speed skating, skiing, figure skating, bobsled, and everything in between... there was either an American or a Canadian there in the medals. The excellence from both countries throughout the games made it compelling for fans across North America.

Truth be told, these were the most enjoyable Winter Olympics of my lifetime. Some of the major events were spoiled and shown on tape delay in primetime, but you almost expect that by now from TV Olympic coverage. There wasn't the sappiness of made up stories to dominate the games (more on that below), but real drama from beginning to end. And, as we said last week, the diversification of the Winter Olympics and addition of X Games sports has given the Winter Games a much needed boost to go along with the traditional events. There were so many great individual and team performances throughout the Olympics that it made the two weeks fun. Also, Team USA was terrific and made every American sports fan proud of the effort of its record setting Olympians. As American sports fans, we don't get too many chances to go crazy for the red, white, and blue - but the 2010 Vancouver Olympics made all of us stand up and cheer for Team USA.

Overrated Story of the Olympics - Lindsey Vonn's Shin

-Going into the Olympics, Dwight Freeney's Ankle was shoved off of the injured body part stage by Lindsey Vonn's shin. It was an attempt to make her the focal point for the Vancouver Olympics. She was an SI swimsuit model, cover girl, network star, and the poster girl for Team USA. Vonn did win a Gold in the downhill, but didn't become the crossover star that the media would have hoped. Similarly, Apolo Ohno has most likely made a fortune out of his record setting Olympic career (2 more Bronzes in 2010), but he doesn't have enough Gold (2 out of 8 medals) to be an all-time icon.

And, perhaps that was what was most refreshing about these Olympics. There wasn't that one dominating presence ala Michael Phelps to control the spotlight. There was the underdog hockey team, the nordic combined stars, the Night Train and Steve Holcomb, Evan Lysacek, and countless other US Olympians that made themselves stars with their performances. The unfortunate side to the media's star obsession is that we don't hear about guys like Steve Holcomb until they are halfway to a gold medal. In 4 years, let's hope that more of our Olympians get the attention they deserve heading into the Games... instead of a hot skiier's shin.

5 American Stars

* Evan Lysacek - Gold Men's Figure Skating

-The 1st American to win Gold since Brian Boitano... and he did it by shutting up a Russian crybaby (more on him later). I'm no figure skating fan, but Lysacek's win was a great moment.

** Shaun White - Gold Men's Halfpipe

-Shaun White is sick! The star for the extreme side of the Winter Olympics. His halfpipe performance was simply awesome.

*** Bode Miller - Gold Men's Combined

-The redemption story of these Olympics. Miller grew up in a huge way by finally winning an Olympic Gold in the Combined event.

**** Steve Holcomb & Night Train - Gold Men's 4 Man Bobsled

-The 1st 4 Man Bobsled Gold in 62 years (since they had a natural track - how cool was that footage!). Holcomb has that everyman appeal thanks to the unflattering look in those aerodynamic suits, yeesh. But, he and his team, and his sled Night Train shined brightly in Vancouver.

***** USA Hockey - Silver Men's Hockey

-The stars of the Games, even with their Silver medal. They took Canada to OT in the Gold Medal game and inspired a nation with their grittiness and effort on the ice. G Ryan Miller was very deserving of the MVP award. They were the Dream Team of the 2010 Olympics, let's hope that they can now move the NHL in the right direction.

Also Considered: Apolo Ohno (2 Bronze Short Track), Shani Davis (1 Gold, 1 Silver Speed Skating), Lindsey Vonn & Julia Mancuso (1 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze Alpine Skiing), Bill Demong & Johnny Spillane (1 Gold, 4 Silver Nordic Combined)

International Stars: Kim Yu-Na KOR (Gold Women's Figure Skating), Anette Norberg SWE (Gold Women's Curling), Cheryl Bernard CAN (Silver Women's Curling), Simon Ammann SUI (Gold Ski Jump), Marit Bjorgen NOR (3 Gold Cross Country Skiing)

18 Yoder Awards

1) TO's Crybaby of the Olympics - Evgeni Plushenko (RUS)

-Plushenko do quad... Plushenko lose to American with snakes... Plushenko angry... Plushenko sad.

2) Sorry to See You Go - Curling

-Our favorite Olympic sport! Thank you to NBC for its extensive coverage of the cult phenomenon. Could we be seeing a curling boom along the lines of poker's rise? Let's hope so.

3) Redemption Song - Bode Miller

-An easy choice. Putting the demons of the past behind him and finally winning a Gold. His ride back to the top of the mountain (mountain... skiing... get it?) is what the Olympics are all about.

4) Glitch of the Games - TorchGate 2010

-As good as the Games were, it's easy to forget they were known as the Glitch Games early on. Mainly due to the epic torch fail at the Opening Ceremonies, which led to...

5) Image of the Games - Wayne Gretzky

Classic.

6) TV Personality of the Olympics - Mike Emrick

-The voice of the NHL always adds excitement to a broadcast and was perfect for the Olympic tournament. Doc is one of the most underrated broadcasters in sports and always does a great job. BTW, seeing Al Michaels and Bob Costas interact was awkward. There was definitely some alphadog tension there. Silver goes to the Curling team and Don Duguid, and the Bronze goes to that Bobsled analyst that always sounds like he's hepped up on speed.

7) Canadian Obnoxiousness Award - Whoever the ice dancing guy was wearing a Canadian hockey jersey Saturday night

-Yes, Canada can be cute with its mounted police, Celine Dion, and Cheryl Bernard. But at times, it was ultra annoying. Like the ice dancing guy with the hockey jersey at Saturday's Gala. It was a reminder that Canada went a little overboard with their medal quest - closing off courses and tracks to other countries, and being obsessive over their Own The Podium campaign.

8) Weird X Games Sport Now Masquerading As an Olympic Sport - SkiCross

-I propose that the next weird sport to make it into the Olympics be the snowmobile racing. Make it happen IOC!

9) Inspirational Moment of the Olympics - Curling Crowd Singing O Canada

-This was a pretty cool moment during the last end of Canada's Gold Medal win. Even though Canadians can be annoying at times, this was a unique sporting moment. The athletes stopped playing for the crowd to finish singing the national anthem, it gave you goosebumps no matter your nationality. FYI, it's not as inspiring when Matthew Barnaby sings it.

10) D'Oh Moment of the Olympics - Sven Kramer & Coach

-The Dutch skater won the 5000 and cruised to an apparent win in the 10000. But, his coach told him to wrongly switch lanes during the 10k and Kramer was DQ'd. The coach, Gerard Kemkers, is the origin of the D'oh! moment, but the athlete has to take responsibility and know where he is on the track. It's the Olympics after all!

11) Best Clutch Performance - Sidney Crosby

-Hockey's biggest star had a ho-hum Games until his OT winner in the Gold Medal Game. Not too often does the biggest star show up in that situation, but Crosby did.

12) Forgotten Story - Luge Tragedy

-Sadly, on the other end of the spectrum, Nodar Kumaritashvili's death before the Olympics seemed to have been swept under the rug. Give the IOC credit for remembering him during the Closing Ceremony, but the tragedy was handled poorly in the aftermath. The IOC blamed Kumaritashvili for the crash, not the track... and then tried to slow down the most dangerous track in the world. We want to see fast speeds and athletes pushed, but not to the point of no return. Racers still crashed and pulled out, but thankfully nobody else was seriously injured. In an otherwise fantastic Olympics, this tragedy can't be cast aside like it was by the IOC for the safety of future Olympians.

13) Best Finish - Women's 30km Mass Start

-Justinya Kowalczyk of Poland won the first Gold Medal for a female in her country's history, and won by .3 seconds after 30km of racing. To think that racers could be separated by that much after 30km is incredible.

14) Most Unlikely Gold Medalist - Steve Holcomb - USA Bobsled

-You tell me who the Olympian is...

And who the country music star is...

15) French Judge Memorial Trophy - The Canadian Guy Who Screwed Apolo Ohno

-A Canadian judge DQing an American skater to the benefit of 2 Canadian skaters, hmmm...

16) Team of the Olympics - Kevin Martin & Canadian Curling

-Unbeaten in the Games and the most dominant team of the Vancouver Games. Martin and Team Canada were sensational throughout the Men's Curling competition. Their strategy and shotmaking are second to none, especially Third John Morris' takeouts. These games were redemptive for Martin as well, who lost the Gold in 2002 by an inch.

17) Best Game/Moment - Gold Medal Hockey Game

-No doubt the leader in the clubhouse for the Top 10 Games of the 2010's. Zach Parise, one of the American heroes, scored in the last minute to send the game into OT. But, 20 minutes of 4 on 4 hockey was to Canada's edge with their skilled players. And, it was Iginla to Crosby that won Canada the Gold Medal. It was a game of great drama, great intensity, great players, and great effort. It was a game that symbolizes the best of the Olympics and all of sports.

18) Shuster Award - John Shuster

-This is really all you need to know.

What We Will Remember... Hockey Takes Center Stage

-The defining moment of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics was the amazing Olympic Hockey Tournament. Since the NHL Lockout cancelled the '04-'05 season, hockey has struggled mightily on the sports landscape. The ineptitude of Gary Bettman and the hockey brass has been stunning this decade. But, the game was showing signs of life heading into these Olympics - the Winter Classic has been successful, stars are starting to be made, and there have been exciting Stanley Cups the past few years. But, hockey has been given an unbelievable gift in the drama and significance of the 2010 Olympics. The NHL can't ask for more than Sidney Crosby scoring the Gold Medal winning goal in OT against the USA. But, can they take advantage of such a memorable 2 weeks for the sport? We'll remember the USA's underdog team fight their way to a Gold Medal behind Ryan Miller, and we'll remember Canada saving the sanity of a nation by winning Gold. We'll remember one of the best hockey games of all-time... but we'll remember it even more fondly if that game and that tournament can bring hockey back to the center stage of American sports.