French Toast... US Beats France 3-1 For WWC Berth

((HT: FIFA/ESPN/youtube))

The United States is in the World Cup final for the first time since it last won the title in 1999, and Abby Wambach coming up big in a 3-1 victory over France.

Here's Wambach's header for the lead in the 79th minute...


It was Wambach's third goal of the tournament and 12th of her career, tying Michelle Akers for third on the all-time World Cup scoring list.

Alex Morgan added an insurance goal in the 82nd minute...

"Abby, she's just the best," US WMT Head Coach Pia Sundhage said. "I'm very happy to have her in our team. Great."

DEVELOPING: Team USA's Uphill Battle Against Brazil aka Surviving "The Dresden Screwjob..."

Okay, let's face it...

The US soccer squad got absolutely screwed in their quarterfinal against Brazil...

After having a 1-nil lead in the second half, a red card was called against Rachel Buehler holding the opposition from a scoring opportunity. That makes it 10v11 and a penalty kick situation...

The penalty kick was next...
((HT: FIFA/youtube))


So Solo leaves her line early, which every goalie in the world does...
Rekick, goal, and we're tied...
((HT: ESPN/FIFA/youtube))


The best the Stars and Stripes could do is hold on through overtime and PK's...
It was very small consolation that the Brazil side, and especially Marta, were booed at every opportunity handling the ball for the remainder of the contest.

But, with an offsides call omitted, in the 92nd minute, Marta registered her second goal of the game- Brazil picked up the 2-1 lead.
((HT: ESPN/FIFA/youtube))


Add to that the gamesmanship by "injured" players in the second 15-minutes, and the HQ will go ahead and call this the "Dresden Screwjob..."

But Megan Rapinoe sends a ball into the box in the second minute of extra time and Abby Wambach sends it into the net to force PK's...

On the 12th anniversary of the 1999 WWC victory in PK's over China, Ally Krieger's PK shot in the top of the 5th frame gets the US into the semi-finals...

Poetic justice for the red, white, and blue...

Megan Rapinoe Knows She's On TV

((HT: FIFA/ESPN/youtube's MrSoccerblues2000))

For those of you who like soccer, the women's world cup is going on over in Germany.

The US had a 3-0 victory over Colombia today to ensure their place in the knockout round. But Megan Rapinoe made a statement with what happened below, and reminded all of us that it's just television...

In front of millions...


If you go on youtube, you'll see Rapinoe's musical talent. But today, she showed us that the mic is always hot... and good for that... ((for the record, there is a cleaner, but shorter version hyah...))

And, while the HQ is at it, thanks to our friends at Larry Brown Sports for thinking of us as "often imitated and never replicated..."

Brown bag it, baby...

Mexico Takes Gold Cup In Pasadena, Howard Pissed At CONCACAF For Spanish Postgame

This just had a lot of bad things going wrong from the start...

Steve Cherundolo's injury led to some juggling for USMNT head coach Bob Bradley. A crowd of 93,000-plus at the Rose Bowl was mostly Mexican in their fandom and would greet the US National Team introductions with the word "Burro..."

Or "ass..."

Classy...

But the US pressed early and got a 2-0 lead after 24 minutes from Bradley and Donovan. It was all downhill from there as the visitors scored 4 unanswered to win 4-2 to take the Gold Cup and advance to the Confederations Cup the year before the 2014 World Cup.

Here's the highlights and the lowlights...
((HT: Univision/CONCACAF/youtube))


Alexei Lalas and Janusz Michallik analyze with Dari Knowkha...
((HT: ESPN))


But the larger issue was the post-game ceremony...
It was done in Spanish for a majority of the presentation... and the US goalie, Tim Howard, was understandably pissed...

"CONCACAF should be ashamed of themselves," Howard said. "I think it was a [expletive] disgrace that the entire postmatch ceremony was in Spanish. You can bet your ass that if we were in Mexico City, it wouldn't be all in English.

"It never ceases to amaze me all that stuff."

Ben Spencer, a spokesman for CONCACAF, declined to comment..
Of course, he did...

The HQ knows Howard is right and the USMNT should be pissed at CONCACAF for that stunt. It goes to show how they really don't want to step on anyone's toes...

We're simply being too nice these days...

Charlie Davies Return To MLS

((HT: MLS/CSwashington/youtube))

There's some synergy here...
The day after the sentencing for the woman who wrecked Charlie Davies' car and keep him out of soccer for two years, Davies returned to the pitch for DC United...

The results are below and couldn't be any better...

DEVELOPING: US Stoned Twice In World Cup Bidding

Qatar was selected as host of the 2022 World Cup, beating out a bid by the United States to bring the competition back to America for the first time since 1994.

FIFA's executive committee choose Qatar over the U.S., Australia, Japan and South Korea in a secret vote Thursday.

Russia was announced as host of the 2018 tournament. It was chosen over England and joint bids by Spain-Portugal and Netherlands-Belgium.

Here's the presentation that put one of the world's hottest nations over the top...
HH Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser is at the podium..
((HT: MalaysiaQatar))


All the HQ can say is: There better be AC in the building...

And, more importantly, what does this say about the stroke the US has in the world sports theatre...???

Jus' axin'...

Texas Toddler Killed Over USA-Ghana Match

Just when you thought people couldn't get any more stupid...
Or, as we'll say sometimes at the HQ- "stupider..."

A man accused of beating his two-year-old stepdaughter to death has been charged with capital murder- as he should be...

The stepdaughter's crime- not stopping crying during the USA-Ghana soccer match... and the guy actually said this to investigators.

McAllen ((TX)) Police Sergeant Joel Morales says 27-year-old Hector Castro was charged Monday night after being arrested Saturday night. Morales says Castro is being held on $1 million bond.

Unless, someone can thrown him under the jail fairly quickly without being seen...

McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez says the child was severely beaten and suffered several broken ribs. It was also revealed that a screw or a bolt of some kind was stuck in the little girl's throat to make it look like she choked to death.

Absolutely ridiculous...

Here are the highlights, thanks to our friends at KRGV-TV in the Rio Grande Valley

More Hypnotic Lego Football

((HT: Legofussball.eu))

Wouldn't you know that the USA-Ghana match had to be their next production...???
Here's their look... and, no, the result doesn't change...

US World Cup Run Ends In Extra Time Vs. Ghana

Gyan's goal in tyhe third minute of extra time gave the Ghana National Squad a 2-1 overtime win over the US Men's National Team in Rustenburg, South Africa Saturday afternoon ((Saturday evening local time)).

The USMNT gave up another goal in the first five minutes of play, but Landon Donovan's penalty kick in the 62nd gave the teams a 1-1 draw leading into the OT.

Ghana now gets Uruguay in the Elite 8...

More when we know more...

Here's the PK that tied it...
((HT: ABC/FIFA/soccerman123123))

The Andres Cantor Looped Donovan Call...

((HT: Deadspin/Jalopnik-Golson))

Just when you thought you heard every version of the Golden Goal, Deadspin hooked up with Jalopnik's Jordan Golson...

And this is priceless...
((HT: FIFA/ESPNDeportes/ESPN))

Donovan Goal Saves USA In Group Play

In what would have been a US catastrophe had they not made it out of group play, Landon Donovan temporarily cemented his place as the United States' premier soccer star.

His goal in injury time against Algeria gives the Stars and Bars a game against either Ghana or Serbia in the knockout round for the Soccer World Championships currently being held in South Africa.

((The HQ doesn't know if we can identify the contest by its actual name without drawing the ire of the folks overseas))

As a country collects his collective breath, here's the goal...
((HT: ESPN/FIFA/hineighbor))

DEVELOPING STORY: USA Soccer Screwed in 2-2 Draw

Just when you thought international conspiracies of sport were on the DL for a while, we get another one for the United States in South Africa...

After falling behind 2-nil to Slovenia on goals from Valter Birsa and Zlatan Ljubijankic, Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley evened the score at twos in the 82nd minute.

Maurice Edu appeared to put the U.S. ahead in the 86th, putting home a 12-yard shot after Jozy Altidore headed Donovan's free kick to him. But the goal was disallowed by referee Koman Couilibaly of Mali, apparently for a foul before Edu got the ball.

"I still don't know why the goal was disallowed," Bob Bradley said after the match.

Neither does the rest of the Free World- unless you want to get into conspiracy theories about an African lead official trying to keep another African nation, Algeria, alive in Group play.

But that would never happen...

Here's the Bradley goal that squared the match...
((HT: FIFA/ESPN/Robfactory))


Now, all that's left is a match with Algeria and a lot of hope for the stars and bars if they are to advance to the knockout round...

Here's the screwjob in question... thanks, Jason...
((HT: FIFA/ESPN/thebiglead))


The jokes are already starting: People are wondering when Bret Hart suited up for the USA and, yes, Senator Joe Barton (R-TX) has already apologized to FIFA for Michael Bradley's shakedown of the lead official, Koman Couilibaly.

USA-England Lego Style

As Team USA prepares for its game against Slovenia, everyone is playing the USA-England game over and over in their minds and in their toy sets...

Like Legos...
Here's a representation of the game- and the tournament's seminal moment through the eyes of our friends at leedsunitedninetytwo and The Guardian
((HT: legofussball.eu))


Good to know the result didn't change...
Absolutely gorgeous...

Goalie Gaffe Gives US A Tie

((HT: FIFA/Futbision))

"We'll take more out of a draw than they will," said U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, the man of the match. "They're going to feel like they should have won the game."

Facing the Brits for the first time in 60 years, the United States rallied as Clint Dempsey became only the second American to score in two World Cups, getting the tying goal in the 40th minute on an absolute goof of the biblical degree by goalkeeper Robert Green.

Here's your highlights...

The Buffalo Blitzers... No Joke...

FC Buffalo is one of those new soccer teams out there, and the HQ won't lie, there's a little bit of World Cup Fever going on in anticipation of the event in South Africa.

They were having a contest to determine their nickname... an online poll... all that stuff that would make a good impact...

Here's one of the finalists before the name was made official...
((HT: CNN/Jere614))


Here's their website, and we can't wait for the mascot unveiling...

World Cup Draw 2010: USA Escapes "Group of Death"

((HT: ESPN))

The United States got itself a decent draw for World Cup 2010 being paired with only England as a threat to advance to the knockout round. Algeria and Slovenia are the other two in their group.

The Stars and Bars last win over the Brits was 1950... an upset for the ages...
Do your homework on that one... you'll see every sidebar story on the game between now and the opener...

But it's bad news for either Ivory Coast, Brazil, or Portugal who are all paired with each other in Group G...


When we get to June, we might start paying a little more close attention...

Some guy named Schaap caught up with US National Team Head Coach Bob Bradley...


Those of us at OSG HQ are hoping that Bradley is not blowing everything out of proportion and bowing to his opponents when saying they have a "fair chance."

Better be more than "fair..."

US Soccer's Davies Injured In Car Crash

((HT: WTTG-TV/Myfoxdc))

S. Men's National Soccer Team forward Charlie Davies was among three people hurt in a serious accident that happened early Tuesday morning in the D.C. area.

U.S. Park Police say one car was involved in the serious crash, which happened around 3:15 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the George Washington Parkway at Boundary Channel Drive, south of the Memorial Bridge.

Police say one person -- 22-year-old Ashley Roberta of Phoenix, Maryland -- was killed in the accident. Two others were hurt. There's no word yet on what caused the crash.

Davies underwent several hours of surgery Tuesday at Washington Hospital Center Medstar, where he is listed in serious but stable condition.

Davis broke two bones in his right leg and also sustained facial fractures and a fracture in his left elbow. A U.S. Soccer team doctor says such injuries "usually require a recovery period of six to 12 months," making it unlikely Davis will be able to play in next summer's World Cup.

Here's video from the crash scene...thanks again to Fox 5

Happy 10th Anniversary, Brandi Chastain

((HT: ABC/Women's World Cup Organizing Commmittee))

Believe it or not, it has been ten years since this moment in sports history.
Men and women were excited all across the United States- for the same reason and for different reasons...

Some of us were just getting off the golf course and got to watch the conclusion in the Pro Shop. Remember, if it hadn't been for Kristine Lilly's save on the goal line in overtime, we wouldn't have even gotten to this point...

Enjoy...

OSG Roundtable: Is Soccer On The Radar Screen In The U.S. After Confed Cup Final

Nelson:

Had the team actually hung on in South Africa, it would have been the worst thing for the US Soccer Federation this side of an Escobar own-goal...((Soccer reference- look it up...))

Had they won, there would have been the thought here in the country that would have set up an almost-unfair expectation level for the World Cup in 2010- THAT THEY STILL HAVE TO QUALIFY FOR... "

Hey, they beat Spain. Hey, they beat Brazil. They can take the whole thing..."

Not so fast, my friend...

No they can't...

Admittedly, this was the right time of the year for them to make an impact and get into the public consciousness. Any other time of the year, it would have been football and everything else. The country would have shrugged its collective shoulders and gone, "Meh..."

Coach Bob Bradley's career with the Fed was on life support early in the Confed Cup tourney, but then they found some offense and some aggressive behavior and surprised a few people...

His removal of Jozy Altidore in the final for a late sub still brings questions. It's all about momentum and what you can do with it once you get it...Qualify first, get into the World Cup, and understand that the rest of the world doesn't intimidate you anymore...

It's all about momentum and what you can do with it once you get it...Qualify first, get into the World Cup, and understand that the rest of the world doesn't intimidate you anymore...

Then, you do your damage...

On the radar...? Sure...

On the map...? Getting there, but not really there yet...

Wilkie:

Team USA’s win over Spain was great and Brazil having to come from behind to beat the U.S. in the Confederations Cup final was outstanding. Does Team USA’s success mean I have an interest in soccer? No, not really.

If I had a dollar for each time I’ve heard soccer will be the sport of the (insert decade here) I could retire comfortably. It hasn’t worked for the past 50 years and even with Team USA’s success lately it still won’t work. The best soccer players in the world from Pele to Beckham have tried to sell the sport in the U.S. by playing and attempting to legitimize the professional leagues in the states only to find very little takers.

Yes soccer moms across the country are loading up the mini-vans to take their kids to their soccer games. Millions of kids are participating in the sport and for that reason the pool for skilled soccer players for the national team has become very deep.

Even with those factors soccer will always be a niche sport. Oh sure when the World Cup comes along I might catch a few games. It’s usually the only live sport on TV at Mid-day during the week however, if I see an MLS or WPS game on TV I’m going to continue to channel surf.

There are those of you who a very passionate about soccer and God bless them. Enjoy the “beautiful” game but please don’t get on me if I don’t share your passion.

Photo Courtesy: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

US Stuns Spain In Confederation Cup

What in the hell happened here...???

An upset of biblical proportions...
That's what...
((HT: ESPN/FIFA))