Wondo Back On The Mainland, Still Apologizing

((HT: CSN Bay Area))

And he is still apologizing for what went down against Belgium

Remember, San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski took to Twitter and apologized for his miss that could have sent the USMNT to the quarters to play Argentina.

I'm gutted to have let down everyone but especially my teammates. It's been an incredible ride but I know this will make me stronger.

Thank you to all the great fans that has supported this wonderful team. This is a special group made up of great teammates

Now, that he's back here in the States to get the Quakes out of the bottom of the Western Conference standings in MLS, Wondo is thinking that what went down will only make him stronger as a player.


The HQ wasn't all that cool with people turning him into a verb, but we hope he is right.
And he doesn't need to apologize for anything, but it is our way...

Eric Wynalda Does Not Like How US Soccer Was Set Up, Either...

((HT: Dan Patrick Show/Audience Network/NBCSN))

Landon Donovan was asked about what he thought when it came to Team USA's efforts in Brazil. He admitted that he thought the team wasn't set up to succeed.

The HQ would agree noticing that there was no substitute for Jozy Altidore up front (No Johnson or some such striker) and the team, offensively, seem to rope-a-dope their way through the Germany and Belgium matches waiting for a transitional opportunity to score.

Eric Wynalda appeared on the "Dan Patrick Show" and was not pleased either- bringing up points that we hadn't even considered- and even dropped an s-bomb early in the interview since he was so apoplectic about it.

It was noticed by Dan, who gave him a warning...


So there... we hadn't even thought about the whole "Michael Bradley-being out of position" thing, but we did notice that he was not around offensively as much as the entire country would have liked...

Here's All Of Tim Howard's Activity Vs. Belgium

((HT: bubbaprog's COUB))

The HQ thinks that Team USA keeper Tim Howard should not have to buy another drink in this country for the rest of his natural born life and should IMMEDIATELY be given the Congressional Medal of Honor

Here's all of his saves put back-to-back and Ian Darke gets to yell a lot, too...


The HQ blames Piers Morgan for the loss

If Nick Saban Was In Jurgen Klinsmann's Cleats...

((HT: Fox Sports/Mike Romano via Vimeo))

This is what happens when Nick Saban is answering questions as the head coach of the USMNT after Group play...

And Mike, pretty much, nailed it...


No other questions, coach, thanks...

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!!!

And Then John Brooks Went And Broke Twitter As USMNT Wins

((HT: FIFA/gsports2's Vine))

Ayew scored off a brilliant pass from Gyan to tie the game at ones, but in the 87th minute, John Brooks (the second of three Klinsmann subs) scored on the corner entry from Graham Zusi (the last Klinsmann sub)

And reacted thusly...


Lesson here: Do not question Jurgen Klinsmann and his substutions EVER AGAIN!!!

Team USA beat Ghana 2-1 in their opening rounder...

Next up a Portugal-less Pepe over the weekend...

Clint Dempsey's Goal Broke Twitter

((HT: ESPN/FIFA))

It was the 5th-fastest goal in World Cup history and the fastest ever in the history of the US National Men's team. But Clint Dempsey caught the Ghanaian defense napping for this opener in competition


Larger issues are around Jozy Altidore's injured hamstring and Matt Besler wasn't too far behind in the 41st minute to go along with the shot Dempsey took to his nose- which is, probably, broken.

Abby Wambach Now Has The Record

((HT: NBCSN))

Abby Wambach had a hat trick inside 30 minutes and scored a fourth goal in first half stoppage time to reach 160 goals in her international career, breaking Mia Hamm’s previous world record of 158.

Here's the record breaker against South Korea as the US Women's National Team beat the visitors 5-0...

And it didn't even seem that close at Red Bull Arena...

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Wambach Or Morgan...??? Which Last-Second Goal Is Better...???

((HT: IOC/Televiso))

We all know the Women's World Cup game ender against Brazil...
Rapinoe to Wambach in injury time in extra time to advance to the final...

Now, we have another one that ranks right up there for suspense, meaning, and all the other predicate nouns that are associated with nationalistic athletics...

Down 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 the USWNT came back three separate times against Canada in the women's soccer semifinals in London...

The game went into extra time tied at 3 and stayed that way until the end again... all that was missing was Ian Darke...


Alex Morgan's header sends them into the finals against Japan...
Again...

What say you...??? Wambach or Morgan...???

FIFA Reviewing Dirty Play On Abby Wambach

((HT: IOC/NBC/cfraley91))

Just watch the next 1:50 or so first...


In the USWNT 3-0 win over Colombia, Lady Andrade claimed that what happened was nothing:

"Nothing happened," she said through an interpreter. "It was just a normal part of the game. We were both running, she ran across me and we collided. I had my hands in the air. It was an accident."

Now, word comes down that FIFA is looking at the play even as the US didn't file a formal complaint. Wambach is fine, except for the shiner, and she'll play Tuesday in the last group game against North Korea.

Dempsey Gets First American Hat Trick In EPL

((HT: FoxSports.com/Premier League))

He pulled it off in FA Cup play a little over a week ago, and now with a little help from his friends Fulham's Clint Dempsey grabbed a piece of history with the first hat trick for a colonist in Premier League play.

And to think Fulham was actually down 1-0 in this one...

Here's the edited version...
<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/video?vid=b3d31c83-2e5b-4e25-bd59-6e55aefe496b" target="_new" title="">Clint Dempsey is sensational</a>

Fulham now solidifies themselves in the log-jam in the middle of the Prem table with the 5-2 win over Newcastle. United is still tied for 5th with Arsenal, and now Fulham is tied with Swansea and Everton for 12th at 26 points...

US Women Start Four-Ringed Qualifying With 14 Goals

And, yes, it was in one game...

At BC Place in Vancouver, it was a busy night for USWNT head coach Pia Sundhage and the stars and bars. The United States scored three goals in the first seven minutes in a 14-0 rout of the Dominican Republic in the opening game of CONCACAF qualifying.

Amy Rodriguez tied a U.S. record with five goals in a game -- all in the second half -- and the 14 goals are the most the Americans have ever scored in a game, besting their previous mark of 12.

But the larger concern in the tournament is the seriousness of the knee injury of Ali Krieger- a team spokesman said the injury was "serious" and would be reevaluated.

The tourney also has Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico, and only two berths will be awarded out of qualifying...

Here's some of the goals, since it would take all night to edit them together...
((HT: UniversalSports))

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...