For those of you who haven’t quite joined in on the worldwide event, this is when a draw (or tie) is no longer an acceptable end to the match (or game).
The first round is a bit confusing to some, with its point system, and Groups A through H, it’s hard for the non-soccer fan to wrap their head around. I mean, the US lost on Thursday, that should mean they’re out, right?
If you still haven’t quite figured out how all that works, you no longer have to. This round and the remaining rounds, are pretty straight forward. Whoever wins gets to move on, and the loser is going home.
And for those who really haven’t been following, that means the US has to step up their game this Tuesday (4/3 CT) when they take on Belgium, who has yet to lose a game in this World Cup.
If you haven’t gotten on the bandwagon already, now is the time to do it. This round of 16 is when the nail-biting extra time, shootouts, and sudden-death game and tournament-ending goals come into play. This is when it gets exciting.
If that’s not enough to win you over, then at the very least consider your national pride.
Let’s Go USA!
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More on the Story: USA Today
…just for fun: