The USMNT advanced to the knockout round of the 2014 World Cup after losing to Group G winners Germany on Thursday in Recife. In wet conditions, both teams had trouble turning opportunities into shots on goal in the first-half. The USMNT needed to do more than Germany to keep the game scoreless, with Germany finally getting the game's only goal in the 55th minute. Portugal beat Ghana in the other . . .
5 from USMNT vs Germany
By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (June 26, 2014) US Soccer Players – The USMNT had trouble with Germany in the final match day of 2014 World Cup Group G, but ultimately progressed to the Round of 16. What went right against Germany was the USMNT staying in position to advance. After all, that's the point in what was widely advertised as the Group of Death. Group G There's always the tendency to . . .
FIFA suspends Uruguay’s Luis Suarez
The 2014 World Cup is over for Uruguay and Liverpool FC forward Luis Suarez. FIFA announced they would ban Suarez for 9 international games, four months of club games, and fine him $112,000 dollars. FIFA found Suarez guilty of biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during their Group D game on Tuesday. Uruguay won, eliminating Italy from the 2014 World Cup. Specifically, the FIFA Disciplinary . . .
Ghana suspends Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari
The Ghana Football Association announced on Thursday that two members of the Ghana National Team are suspended indefinitely. Ghana suspended Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sully Muntari prior to the team's final World Cup Group G game against Portugal. Ghana can still advance to the knockout round of the 2014 World Cup. Kevin-Prince Boateng is suspended for "Boateng’s vulgar verbal insults targeted at . . .
Can the USMNT beat Germany?
By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (June 25, 2014) US Soccer Players – The obvious answer is yes, since the USMNT plays Germany on Thursday in a World Cup where there aren't any overmatched teams. Disappointing teams, sure, but the hallmark of Brazil 2014 is competitiveness. The USMNT is certainly competitive, doing their part to rewrite the story in Group G - aka the Group of Death. What needs to . . .
Scoring at the World Cup
By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (June 24, 2014) US Soccer Players - We’re hearing a lot about the scoring at the 2014 World Cup. While it’s probably safe to say this won’t be another 2006 where a defender wins player of the tournament, it is safe to say that without a big time player on your team, you’re not going anywhere. For now, the days of Greece in 2004 are done. Coaches of teams with a . . .
Is Jermaine Jones the best USMNT player at the 2014 World Cup?
By Jason Davis - WASHINGTON, DC (June 24, 2014) US Soccer Players - It wasn’t that long ago that a rumbling discontent swirled around the inclusion of Jermaine Jones in each and every USMNT lineup. It wasn’t all that long ago that the calls for replacing Jones in the starting eleven were quite loud. The discontent was wrong. Those website comments and Twitter comments were wrong. Whatever . . .
How to change the World Cup
By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (June 23, 2014) US Soccer Players – It might surprise newer soccer fans to learn that the World Cup doesn't necessarily stay the same every four years. Though the current version of the World Cup has been relatively stable, FIFA does change the competition. Some of those changes are quite drastic. For instance, in the 1994 World Cup the USMNT qualified for the . . .
World Cup: USMNT 2 – Portugal 2
Portugal needed the last moment of the game to keep their World Cup hopes alive against the USMNT in Group G. On a humid and hot night in Manaus, the USMNT fought back to equalize and take the lead, only to see Cristiano Ronaldo send a perfect cross into the box for a 95th minute equalizer. The USMNT looked in trouble early on against Portugal, with Ronaldo active on the wing. That pressure paid . . .
5 from USMNT vs Portugal
By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (June 22, 2014) US Soccer Players – The USMNT showed a complex attack against Portugal in their second Group G World Cup game. Trailing from the 5th minute, the USMNT looked composed at both ends of the field and sent a clear message in Group G. USMNT Playing without the Lead Playing without the lead isn't something most teams want to experience 5 minutes into a . . .