Day in 100 words or less Its an evening in a remote American town. Monday night. Primetime. Time for dinner. Check Twitter. Wow, the US soccer team just scored a goal in the first few seconds in the World Cup! Wheres the remote? Wow, they cant keep the ball. Its a long game defending, struggling to keep hold of the ball. Can they hold on? No. A deserved equalizer smashed home by the old nemesis. What now? A draw? Can they hold on? Oh, they have a corner. That guy taking it has good hair. Whoa, what a cross! Oh my... Ghana 1 - 2 United States - When Landon Donovan slid into the corner flag in South Africa it was a huge needle-mover in the United States. It happened in late morning Eastern time. John Brooks, who 99.9 per cent of the country had never heard of before 7:45pm Eastern time on Monday evening just moved that needle again. Yes, thousands of soccer fans in the country partied and went wild, but this was a moment that captured the non-soccer fan. Again. It was a monumental moment for US Soccer. - Jurgen Klinsmanns men may still be eliminated at the group stage in Brazil, but they already have that crucial moment. - It should be noted that Slovenia were the only team in South Africa to be eliminated at the group stages after winning their opening game, but if USA play anything like this against Portugal and Germany in the next 10 days, then they will be joining them. - The Americans really struggled to keep the ball. They defended deep after Clint Dempseys goal on 32 seconds, then lost Jozy Altidore and Matt Besler to leg injuries before the second half even started. Ghana pressed well in midfield and dominate in wide areas, but their crosses in the final third were pathetic. Not one good cross into the six yard box. - There remains a chance that three teams can get six points in this group. If Portugal beats USA next and Germany beats Ghana, would you rule out USA narrowly beating Germany in the last games to eliminate Portugal on goal difference? Germany 4 - Portugal 0 - Germany were thought to be rusty, hit by key injuries and potentially vulnerable. Forced into a back four of centre-backs, Bastian Schweinsteiger fit only for the bench and no Marco Reus. No problem. - When a team is this tactically intelligent, it is an absolute joy to watch a team play with a "false nine." With an organized, narrow back four (made up of four centre-backs) and two excellent central midfielders in Philipp Lahm and Sami Khedira, the front four of Germany were magnificent with their movement. - Much like against England four years ago, Germany were happy to overload in wide areas. It is one thing to overload, but it is quite another to have the skill, cohesion and understanding of movement to turn it into a strength. - The important thing here is to watch the positioning of the opposing back four. My colleague, and proud member of the centre-backs union Jason De Vos, always says you dont want to get dragged outside the width of the 18-yard box. Not only are Germany masters at doing that, but they drag the other centre-back on the outside of it as well! - Cast your mind back to World Cup 2010 and the last 16 game when Germany beat England 4-1. On the second goal, their buildup play led to Englands back four looking like a shambles. - False nine or no false nine, it is about movement. That is Miroslav Klose, as a striker, on the touchline. He receives the ball and sends Thomas Mueller into space and the German on the far left, Lukas Podolski, scores the goal. - Fast forward to the opening goal of Mondays match. It is brilliant movement from Germany to create the opening that led to Joao Pereira fouling Mario Gotze in the box. - Initially, Portugal look more than organized to deal with the threat with as many as eight players active and alert to an attack. The two centre-backs are occupied - Pepe by Gotze and on the far side Bruno Alves on Sami Khedira. - Then, Germany creates another bit of magic on the flank and the key move is from deep as Mesut Ozil finds space, crucially, dragging Pepe further over allowing Gotze with more than enough room away from Pereira... - Thats why, on the tactical view, Portugal look like a defensive shambles with their back four, similar to England four years ago. - The biggest story of the game came in the 36th minute when Pepe stupidly let his team down by reacting angrily to a flop by Muller. The Real Madrid man took exception to Mullers antics and his headbutt was idiotic. - All in all, it was pretty much the worst possible day for Portugal who need to work on getting service to Cristiano Ronaldo. Expect the magician Joao Moutinho to get far more involved in their next two matches. Iran 0 - 0 Nigeria - The 13th game of the tournament proved to be unlucky as two very average sides played out a game that wouldnt have looked out of place in the third tier of English football. - At least the atmosphere looked good. - Massive missed opportunity for Nigeria who now will have to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina to get to the last 16. Man of the Day: Nominees: - Philipp Lahm – He moved into midfield and was equally as brilliant for Germany than he was for Bayern Munich this past season. - Sami Khedira – Some were worried if he would be 100 per cent as he fights back from a long-term injury, but the midfielder, alongside Lahm, was magnificent. - Thomas Muller – Mr. Golden Boot now has as many goals at World Cups as Diego Maradona. - John Brooks – Move over, Garth. America has a new Brooks. - Clint Dempsey – It was a perfect start for the Americans as the Seattle man breezed into the box and ignited their World Cup campaign. And the winner is... Thomas Muller – His goals were brilliant, showing all of his strengths. He wanted the penalty and told Ozil so right before it and then bullied his way to the ball on the other two. At 24, he could still have two more World Cups to come. What comes next? - Belgium vs. Algeria (12pm et/9am pt) - Brazil vs. Mexico (3pm et/12pm pt) - Russia vs. Korea Republic (6pm et /3pm et) Burning question for tomorrow: Can Brazil find another gear in what is likely their last real competitive test before the knockout stages? Key stat for Day 5: We have now had 11 headed goals already at the World Cup. Jayson Tatum Jersey . Steve has built a solid reputation throughout the years - first as a hockey player, then as an NHL general manager and now as a scout. Marcus Smart Jersey . There are practical ideas, like this Chewbaca inspired Star Wars jerseys. Star Wars themed jerseys for the Toledo Mud Hens. http://www.shopceltics.com/Cheap-Paul-Pierce-Celtics-Jersey/. The Padres made the moves before Fridays game at Washington. They promoted infielder Jace Peterson from Double-A San Antonio and right-hander Kevin Quackenbush from Triple-A El Paso. Aron Baynes Jersey . -- Packers cornerback Tramon Williams has been fined $26,250 for contact with an official, per NFL guidelines. Custom Boston Celtics Jerseys .com) - The New York Islanders will try to solve their issues against Central Division opponents when they visit the Minnesota Wild for Tuesdays battle at Xcel Energy Center.HAMILTON - Andy Fantuz wont know until Sunday morning if hell suit up for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division Final. The veteran slotback has missed Hamiltons last three games with a torn hamstring but was placed on the 46-man roster Saturday. Fantuz plans to get to Tim Hortons Field early, warm up then meet with Ticats coaches and doctors to decide if hell face the Montreal Alouettes. You can watch the Eastern Final live on TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5 and TSN GO at 12pm et/9am pt. Im preparing to play, well see how it feels once I get running around and warm up, said Fantuz. I think its going to be a gametime decision but I am preparing to play. Weve been repping it all week without me so theyll be ready to go if I am not ready to. If I am, its just a bonus. Sundays winner will advance to the Grey Cup game Nov. 30 in Vancouver. Hamilton is looking to make a second straight trip to the contest while Montreals last appearance in the CFL title game was in 2010 when it beat Saskatchewan 21-18 in Edmonton. Fantuz was hurt Oct. 17 in a win over Ottawa. He missed Hamiltons final three regular-season contests, including its 29-15 home victory over Montreal on Nov. 8 that earned the Ticats top spot in the East Division. The six-foot-four, 221-pound Fantuz was Hamiltons second-leading receiver with 62 catches for 639 yards and three touchdowns. Fantuz, 30, of Chatham, Ont., practised sparingly this week, taking limited reps with the starting offence Friday. Andy was healthy enough to put on the roster, Ticats head coach/GM Kent Austin said. Is he healthy enough to play four quarters or start? Were still determining that. I cant say he wont play or that he wont start but I cant say how much hes going to play either, if at all. Austin said hes not worrying about the uncertainty of Fantuzs status. He didnt take really any reps this week so its not like the other guys arent prepared, Austin said. The thing about Andy is he knows our offence and hes very smart so theres trustworthiness with Andy as it relates to a lack of repetitions. We know he will be assignment sound even with few reps if he plays. You dont always have that with other players. Ticats quarterback Zach Collaros would prefer Fantuz be in the lineup. Hes been a great player in this league for a long time and theres a reason for it, Collaros said. His size causes problems for people. Hes a physical guy and theyre a physical football team so thats huge to have out there as well. His competitiveness and love of the game, I think, definitely resonate in the locker-room and huddle as well. He gives me a sense of comfort out there. Collaros will make his first career CFL start Sunday but says nerves wont be an issue. Theres always tension, butterflies, but I wouldnt say nervous is the right word, he said. Nervousness is something that comes with not being prepared for the game and I think weve done a goood job all week of being prepared to go out there and do our job.dddddddddddd Im just real excited more than anything. I understand the importance of the game . . . but we feel we know Montreal pretty well. We know theyre going to throw us a curveball here and there but well adjust to it. Montreal head coach Tom Higgins said his team is prepared to face the Ticats, with or without Fantuz. As long as they play with 12 guys on the field, were OK, Higgins said with a smile. Any time you have weapons you have to be conscious of them but they have some other players whove stepped up and done a really nice job. If (Fantuz) gets the opportunity to play, well be ready. Ticats offensive lineman Peter Dyakowski will make his season debut. The six-foot-five, 315-pound Dyakowski, who in 2012 was crowned Canadas Smartest Person, missed the entire regular season recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in last years Grey Cup game. Im back on the roster, Im back in the mix, the 30-year-old Vancouver native said. Ill look to contribute any way I can . . . it may not be many chances but Im going to get a seasons worth of hits in whatever plays I am given. Running back Tyrell Sutton was a surprising omission from Montreals 46-man roster. Sutton missed last weekends 50-17 East Division semifinal win over B.C. with an ankle injury but did practise all of last week. We truly thought he had a shot, said Higgins. But it was obvious he wasnt close to being 100 per cent. Brandon Rutley, who ran for 98 yards and a TD against B.C. in his first CFL start, topped Montreals depth chart. Chris Rainey, who rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown on just three carries versus the Lions, is the other running back. The ground game was important for Montreal, which ran for 215 yards and four TDs versus B.C. The Ticats counter with a defence that allowed a league-low 76.8 yards rushing per game and two weeks ago held the Als to just 17 rushing yards. Austin said Hamiltons defence prepared this week for all three of Montreals running backs, adding Sutton and Rutley have similar running styles. Theyre both physical running backs, theyre strong, Austin said. They break tackles, they play hard so theyre both a challenge to get to the ground. Hamilton is 6-0 this season at Tim Hortons Field, which will be sold out Sunday. The weather forecast looks favourable with a high of 9 C and 60 per cent chance of rain. Wind can be a factor at Tim Hortons Field, making the opening coin flip important to gain that advantage for the fourth quarter. If the forecast of 15-kilometre winds holds true, that would be just fine with Higgins. Fifteen kilometres an hour does not affect the game that much, he said. When it starts to get to 25 and 30, then the coin toss is important. You want to win the coin toss so you have the option that in the second half youll have the wind in the fourth quarter. 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