Group of Death Recap: USMNT Can Thank Ronaldo Later (Plus Free Swinging In Ghana)

((HT: ESPN/FIFA))

As it turns out, the Germany 4-0 blowout of Portugal was the decider that sent Germany and the United States on and sent Portugal and the Ghanaians home.

This is one of those times that a 1-0 loss is a win as the US moves on to play, probably, Holland


And here's how Ronaldo put the Portuguese in front of Ghana for good...


But, the incident that will make everyone remember that particular match comes from something worse than a cup-check
((HT: Jack Conness' Vine))

Yeah, Okay... We'll Talk About It, Too...

((HT: ESPN/FIFA))

The HQ had the feeling Twitter broke twice in, about, a half an hour Sunday when Clint Dempsey scored and then CR7 assisted in game-tying goal with ten seconds left in the USA-Portugal match for a salvaged 2-2 draw.

Let's relive that hell all over again, shall we...??? With analysis...


So, there's all the talk now of colluding with Germany Thursday so both advance (yeah, that NEVER has happened in the past) and Portugal can go home- which would be the biggest irony of it all.

The back line was a complete breakdown in the last possession and NBCSports analyzes with a Molly Ringwold reference
((HT: Dan Patrick Show/Audience Network))


Yeah, it feels like a loss- and with a country that has increased expectations- it should be...

Now, go and park that bus against Germany!!!

Pepe Is Gone-Gone For USA Match

((HT: Clay's Vine))

Because of this... another classless outburst on the pitch


And Germany is rolling in the second half against Portugal, 3-0.

The larger question has to be around just how long will Cristiano Ronaldo be on the pitch and how much will he be saved for the USA match- the next one on their schedule...???

OSG UEFA: Real Smokes Bayern

((HT: UEFA/Fox Soccer))

Sergio Ramos scored twice in five minutes and Cristiano Ronaldo punched it through twice on his own...

As a matter of fact, the goals by CR7 set a new Champions League record for goals in a campaign- with 16...

The final was 5-0 on aggregate- and it wasn't even that close...

Here's the PK by CR7 to advance to the final for the first time since 2002...


Bayern had never lost by three goals at home in Europe- they lost by four today...

OSG UEFA: Real and PSG Put Up 3 Each In Leg One...

((HT: UEFA))

It was a busy day for goalkeepers- in a bad way- in the first legs of the UEFA Champions League semifinals...

At PSG, it was Lavezzi breaking through early and the home side didn't look back in a dominating 3-1 win over Chelsea. The only saving grace for the Blues is the one road goal in the process before next week's game at Stamford Bridge


The larger issue for PSG in the second leg is the health of Zlatan Ibrahimovich- who went down late with either a knee or hamstring injury. The upside is having Cavani taking over that spot isn't to much of a drop off...

In the other semi, Real Madrid took care of Borussia Dortmund by a 3-0 score...
Three different goal scorers- including Gareth Bale- made it really difficult for an anemic offense like Dortmund's to try and do something in the second leg on the road...


The issue for Real is the injury on Cristiano Ronaldo, but look for him to sit a lot with a three goal lead in Leg 2...

El Clasico Certainly Was

((HT: La Liga/Star Sports))

When Benzema put Real Madrid in front of Barcelona 2-1, you thought it was going to be a two-team race for the top of the La Liga ladder. But if you thought that, you were sadly mistaken...

A Messi hat trick (of course) put FCB in front for a hotly and highly-contested 4-3 final that puts these two teams and Athletico Madrid all separated by one point in the top of the table...

Here's the goals...


Cristiano, of course, after the match felt he wuz robbed...via Football Espana

“We played against 12. It's always the same. They don't allow us. Maybe they wanted Barca back in the League. I don't want to leave this inside of me and I’m not looking for excuses, but the ref is not at the required level for a game like this. If Barca lost today they would have been out. After five years here, I understand how things work."

He also promised the team would win the league and feels Real Madrid never gets their calls in game...

Ah, rivalry...

OSG Prem: Chelsea Maintains, Real Destroys Schalke

((HT: UEFA/Fox Soccer))

Let's face it...

There are a couple of words that come to mind with the absolute dismantling that Real Madrid had of Schalke today in Champions League play. When it's 6-1, sometimes it's hard to find an adjective that will fit...

But surgical comes to mind... two goals each from Benzema, Bale, and CR7... in order, in each half...


And, then, with all of the reporter shenanigans in and around the joke The Chosen One told in confidence about Samuel Eto'o, you wondered if something would be up with their match against Galatasaray in Turkey...

But Chelsea maintained... they got their road goal setting up a return of Drogba to Stamford Bridge in a game that means something...

Just How Bad Will It Get For Atletico After CR7 Crowned By Lighter...???

((HT: RUSport/La Liga))

First off, this is flat stupid by Atleti fans during their Copa loss to Real Madrid...


Something could have happened that could have seriously injured one of the world's greatest footballers...

"I think the consequences could be serious because it could have hurt a player," Real's keeper, Iker Casillas, told Real's website. "There is always someone who tries to smear the image of a club like Atletico and it doesn’t reflect how the majority of their fans are."

The match ref put the crowning in his post-match report and Atleti could be fined up to €30,000 and have their ground closed for one to three games...

Ronaldo In, Zlatan Out...

Your run to Rio had an interesting turn today...

It was Sweden versus Portugal... which means that it was a case of Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic...

Winner is in and the loser goes home...

Portugal qualified after a hat trick from Cristiano Ronaldo secured a 3-2 win over Sweden and a 4-2 victory on aggregate...

Here's how it happened...
((HT: ESPN))


Ibrahimovic admitted postgame that this may have been his last chance to attend the world competition, and the last two berths are up for bid tomorrow- and unless something happens of an earth-shattering variety, it looks like Uruguay and Mexico will go in to complete the 32-nation field...

Cristiano Ronaldo Responds To Sepp Blatter's Impression

So, it all starts with "the" question everyone wants to ask FIFA head Sepp Blatter about who is the greatest footballer on this or any other planet at present...

Go, Oxford kid...
((HT: Oxford Union))


And, then, CR7 goes off for a hat trick in a 7-3 win for Real Madrid yesterday and does this...
Go, Commander...


So much for all those Twitter pleasantries, eh kids...???

OSG Clasico: Barca Up At The Break (UPDATED W/Barca 2-1 Win)

((HT: beINSport))

And here's how... it had nothing to do with Messi or CR7

Post by beIN SPORT USA.

The game is being seen by a billion people- about three times the Roman Numeral Clasico played here in the States...

Chew on that for a second...

More game details at the final whistle...

PM UPDATE: A ridiculous goal by Alexis Sanchez gave Barca enough cushion to survive el Clasico, 2-1. But one point of contention for the Real fans came from this no-call that should have given an equalizer to the visitors...
((HT: beINSport via Instagram))


Oh, here's the Sanchez goal... see for yourself...

Ronaldo Goes For A Hat Trick

((HT: Fox Soccer))

It's something the HQ enjoys occasionally...
It's like the All-Star Game for soccer...

UEFA Champions League started again today with not a whole lot of surprises...
Just some dominating performances...

Like Ronaldo against Galatasaray...


Man City and ManU also had dominating performances...
More action tomorrow...

Cristiano Ronaldo Hugs A Fan

We're all too aware these days on just how dangerous a public figure can be...

And most athletes have flashbacks to Monica Seles more than anything else...

Last night could have been one of those incidents that added to that list, but thankfully it didn't...

It was the final of the ICC tournament in Miami between Chelsea and Real Madrid when a guy hopped the fence and ended up in the arms of Cristiano Ronaldo...


Turns out the guy just wanted a picture and a hug by the looks of things...

A very gracious move in, at first glance, what could have been catastrophic...

ManU, Man Down: Real Loss In Champions League

Two goals in four minutes spelled the end of Manchester United's run in the UEFA Champions League...

But the 1-0 lead that ManU had on an own goal by Sergio Ramos was knocked aside by a ghost-red card on Nani in his collision with Arbeloa. With Manchester United down to ten men, that was when Real Madrid took advantage.

Jose Mourinho subbed for Luca Modric- and the sub gave instant dividends...


Cristiano Ronaldo scored four minutes later and had a very muted celebration...

Real Madrid moved on to the final 8- despite the conspiracy theories on the lead official...

OSG CL: CR7 Saves Real Madrid From Man City

((HT: FoxSports/UEFA))

There are a few meetings in the Champions League that leapt off the page- and the Real/Man City matchup was one of them for the reasons below...

Here's the highlights...


Other big name winners in the forst day of competition were PSG and Arsenal. More action is tomorrow...

Your Football Futbol Weekend: Ronaldo And ManCity

((HT: youtube))

First and foremost, it looks like Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo goes all Bruce Lee for the third goal in his hat trick against Malaga...


And then, Manchester City flat out embarrasses ManU in their Premier League match-up 6-1...

It was Manchester United's worst home defeat since February 1955, and City is now five points clear at the top of the Premier League. And it was the first time United had conceded six goals at Old Trafford since 1930, when Huddersfield won 6-0 and Newcastle 7-4 within four days of each other.

This was their first home defeat in any competition since April 2010...
Here's your look, before it gets pulled...