A Much Needed Break

Man. OK. Well, that was something. The staff here at SSN Headquarters needed over a day to recover. But, recover we have and now it's time to look back and reflect and also to look forward. Tomorrow the schedule is this:

Really lovely stuff for the Fourth of July. Barney Ronay is looking ahead to the second match of the day and the hype surrounding James and Neymar. France might get lucky in their clash with Germany because a lot of Germans are sick.

Martin Rogers is looking forward and wondering about the international future of some of the U.S. players. Will Deuce and Timmy stick around or has Father Time called time on their careers? Liviu Bird has a prediction on the 23 who will be in Russia for the next go round for the Yanks. Jeff Carlisle is looking back: Klinsmann's promise not yet delivered. We agree.

Speaking of careers, the silly season is getting pretty nutty. It looks like The Cannibal is moving from Liverpool to Catalonia. Here's all of that fun stuff: The Mill. Plus One.

What else? Phil McNulty is curious about the Europe vs. Americas dynamic. Who will reign supreme?

OK, we're going to ease into the holiday weekend with an abbreviated post today. Enjoy the matches and have a good one.

Onward!!

-SSN

The United States of America vs. Belgium

Today's Schedule

Today is the day, peeps! The Yanks take on The Waffles down in Salvador. Before we dive into all those previews, however, we must address yesterday's action. Here:

Talking Points

France 2 - 0 Nigeria

Stuart James at the Estádio Nacional

Andy Brassell: Forget the narrative, Giroud was key in France victory

Amy Lawrence: Griezmann stakes claim for place

John Brewin: Pogba lives up to the hype

Germany 2 - 1 Algeria

David Hytner at the Estádio Beira-Rio

David Ornstein: Germany & Algeria deliver 'beautiful story'

John Ashdown: Algeria fail to find revenge

Ready? OK. Go.

Today At The Tournament

Switzerland vs. Argentina

Preview + Charlie Nicholas' Prediction

Marcus Christenson: Shaqiri takes on Argentina for Switzerland (and Kosovo)

Gabriele Marcotti: Messi, Maradona and the Maracana

Matchpack

USA vs. Belgium

Preview + Charlie Nicholas' Prediction

Stadium Primer

Roger Bennet: U.S. face their biggest game ever

Grant Wahl: Scenic, historic Salvador provides backdrop to knockout clash

Jeff Carlisle: How the U.S. will deploy Jozy Altidore

Chris Jones: Do you believe?

Brian Straus: Belgium has high expectations, golden generation

Ben Smith: The quirks of football that baffle Americans

Doug McIntire: Beasley resurrected under Klinsmann (includes interview)

50-50 Challenge

Meet Graham Zusi

Let's take a moment to look back at the Group Stage. Jonathan Wilson has his Top XI by position and Jermaine Jones makes the team!

We've not heard from Marcela Mora y Araujo in a while so it's nice to see she's got an article out today. She's reporting on an Argentinian paper that's reporting on the World Cup from the favelas. Have a read.

The Mill. Plus One. And Liverpool have purchased Lallana from Southampton for for £25m.

African football is still just can't get over the hump. The talent is there, but, as filmmaker and columnist Farai Sevenzo writes, African football remains bedevilled by the perennial problems of poor organisation, tactical indiscipline and rows over money.

And finally...we know this World Cup has been good. It's easily the best anyone at SSN Headquarters has ever seen. The Telegraph's Henry Winter has been to seven World Cups, and agrees that this has been the most magnificent.

Onward!!

-SSN

Brazil Edge Chile, Costa Rica Edge Greece, Colombia Defeat Whiners, Robben & Holland Fly On, Water Breaks = Bullshit

Today's Schedule

Happy Monday, Campers! Loads to get through today, but let's begin with this: Water Breaks. They are, quite simply, bullshit. They are an opportunity for additional advertising. If SPECTRE FIFA are really concerned about players needing a drink of water because of the heat and humidity, don't schedule a match in a place that is hot and humid. And then play in the middle of the day. Assholes. One more thing: Robben is a diver. He always has been. (Where does he rank among the all-time best divers?) We all know that. But the penalty he won against Mexico was just that. A penalty. A foul was committed by Márquez when he stepped on Robben's foot. That certainly doesn't excuse the theatrics, though. Hey Jan Molby! What can SPECTRE FIFA do to end theatrics in football?

OK, that's done. The Round of 16 gave us much Drama over the weekend. Here's your lot:

Talking Points

Brazil 1 - 1 Chile (Pens 3-2): Daniel Taylor at Estádio Mineirão

David Ornstein: All hail Cesar

James Young: Brazil survives

Three Points

Colombia 2 - 0 Uruguay: Owen Gibson at the Maracanã

Phil McNulty: James Rodriguez joins the perfect 10s

Gabriele Marcotti: Colombia exorcise ghosts

Uruguay President Jose Mujica: Fifa "a bunch of old sons of bitches" 

Holland 2 - 1 Mexico: Sid Lowe at Estádio Castelão

Andrea Canales: Mexico's dream dies

Alan Smith: Dirk Kuyt the unsung hero who refuses to stop running

Jeff Carlisle: Robben playing to his strengths

Grant Wahl: Five Thoughts

Three Points

Did he dive? 

Costa Rica 1 - 1 Greece (Pens 5-3): Paul Wilson at Arena Pernambuco

Costa Rica 1 - 1 Greece (Pens 5-3): Mark Ogden at Arena Pernambuco

File this one in the "Oops" category. File this in the "Really?!?!" category.

Rumors! Gossip! Rumours! Speculation! The Mill. Plus One. Plus Plus One.

Today At The Tournament

France vs. Nigeria

Preview + Charlie Nicholas' Prediction

Germany vs. Nigeria

Preview + Charlie Nicholas' Prediction

Gabriele Marcotti: Midfield dilemma for Low

Raphael Honigstein: Germany’s Schweinsteiger and Khedira conundrum

Really, KLM??!!

We'll conclude with Five Crazy Things You (might have) Missed.

Onward!!

-SSN