US vs Germany today. Beware of spies.

The stage is set.  US vs Germany today at 9aPT in the final game of Group Stage. Needless to say, this is BIG.
Germany is ranked #2 in the world. They have world-class players at every position, including the bench. They have three World Cup trophies. They speak with interesting accents. They worship Hasselhoff.  But, have no fear.  The US is a story of the Whole being more than the Sum of it's parts.
In every World Cup, my gut feeling is that we are under-powered, under-prepared and under-experienced. With the exception of 2006, I have been pleasantly surprised every time since 2002.

This time, I am feeling confident.  This may be the best team we have ever had. It's been a long building process. Much of this momentum can be attributed the US hosting the World Cup. Here's a great story about the children of '94 being motived by the watching the world from their own back yard.
http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_25965533/world-cup-u-s-team-1994-planted-seeds
It echoes the thoughts of Pelé in his latest book explaining how loss in the 1950 Final planted the seeds for victory in 1958 and more. Full circle.

Messi, Messi!
2 stunning goals from Lionel Messi led the the Argentines, as they beat Nigeria on their way to the top of Group F. He's running on all cylinders, be sure to catch him while he's hot.

This is the first WC since 1988 where every team has scored a goal.
Daily Knowledge deposited into you cerebral cortex by T-Smith, maker of fine highlight packages.


Music for your day.
The soul, funk, jazz sounds Tim Maia are currently coming out my iPhone Spotify app this morning. check it. ooh,,  that's so smooooooooove.
https://play.spotify.com/artist/0jOs0wnXCu1bGGP7kh5uIu?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open


Deutschland Connections
Of course, coach Jurgen Klinsman is German, having won the World Cup in 1990 and coached the Germans in 2006. His assistant in 2006, Joachim "Jogi Löw, took over as Head Coach and still is. Their friendship continues and will only add to the drama of the game.  Depending on whose German accent is speaking, his name almost translates into 'Yogi Love'. 
The Germans have invaded! US players might actually be German spies.
Jermaine Jones, who score that rocket of a goal against Portugal, grew up in Germany as the son of a US serviceman father and a German mother. He played 7 seasons for Shalke in the German Bundesliga. On the bubble of the making the full German national squad, Yogi cut him a the last minute before the the 2008 Euro championship. Jones wants payback.
Liekwise, Tim Chandler is the offspring of a German and an American, making him eligible to play for the US. He's lives and plays in Frankfurt. He's just as German as Klaus and Rudy of the Scorpions.
Fabien Johnson, similar story. Ok, his mother is German/American, but that only makes him 1/4 less Deutsch.
John Brooks- scored that amazing goal late in the game to beat Ghana. yep, same story. US Military dad, German Mom.
Julian Green- finally something different. Born in Tampa, but moved to Germany when he was two... with his German mother.           What's next, US soccer officially switches to Adidas???

Daily Dopple DoubleGångér

That actor whose name I can not remember and the super stud goalkeeper Tim Howard.







Suarez Sanctions-

FIFA dropped the hammer. The Biter has been banned for 4 month, 9 games in all competitions. and fined 100,000 Swiss Francs.  Not enough, need to take away the weapon. Pull his friggin teeth!

this doesn't bode well.

On Tap Today:

For the US and Germany, it's in their own hands.  Either team can advance with a win. Both advance with a tie. If they lose, it gets complicated. here's TK, to give you the details:

Sausage Making Chronicles- Episode 3. edit room at the IBC.
This is wher Tony, Reg, Clarkie and I make slap together digital sausage. In the forground, that's Esther, Queen of all routers (Damn!, just cost me $1)  I'm supposed to say 'rooters'. That's what our Brit friends say. The collection box is getting quite full. Esther is the Point Gaurd, the Steve Nash of video distribution.  Her domain includes is a collection of too many video monitors, 2 KP32 intercom panels and a rooter named Nigel. On the right side, next to Tony with coffee, is where the Media Managers collect and archive all the video files.  They can transfer files from/to to the HBS server, the Host set, ESPN in Bristol, Ct and a couple of independent edit houses. On the left, next t the other Java Tony, are the EVS edit stations. We have 3 XT's at our disposal. But, most of the time we using two. One for cutting highlights and one in Support Mode. However, this week is different, with two games going simultaneous. That makes for a busy edit room with way too many voices over intercom...or that might just be the voices in my head.

 From the Quote Board

Major flooding reported around the city of Recife for today's match.  The pitch seems OK, but expect the soggy conditions to play a part. Might slow down the Germans.  If I were you, I'd use the rain as an excuse to stay home,  you might need this today:

TUNE IN NOW. it's on. let's do this.



gotta to, lots o buttons to push.

~The Count Rüsselldorf Von BlogSmith