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U.S. soccer fans crowd Hermosa Beach Pier

June 26, 2014

US soccer fans react as they watch the telecast of the 2014 Brazil World Cup soccer match between United States and Germany in Hermosa Beach, Calif., Thursday, June 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

HERMOSA BEACH (CNS) – About 5,000 fans packed the Hermosa Beach Pier today for a World Cup viewing party as the United States lost to Germany 1-0 in the final match of group play, but still advanced to the round of 16.

Fans waving American flags packed around a big-screen television in the middle of the pier for the ESPN telecast from Recife, Brazil.

The viewing party organized by the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer included appearances by the team’s Star Squad promotional and entertainment group, mascot Cozmo and the Futboleros freestyle soccer performance team.

The U.S. advanced to the round of 16 despite the loss because Portugal defeated Ghana 2-1. One more goal from Ghana would have knocked the Americans out of the World Cup.

The Ghana-Portugal match was played in Brasilia, Brazil, simultaneously with the U.S.-Germany contest.

Hermosa Beach police Sgt. Kevin Averill said the viewing party went smoothly. Police reported only two arrests for public intoxication.

“As soon as the event was over, about two-thirds of the crowd dispersed immediately,” Averill said.

Averill said there were four officers assigned to the free viewing party and that event coordinators had about a dozen private security officers in attendance. He said other than a few minor slips and falls, the event “went
very smoothly. Everyone behaved very well.”

The U.S. and German teams have several ties to each other. U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann coached Germany to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup and as a player, helped lead Germany to the 1990 World Cup championship. German coach Joachim Low was Klinsmann’s assistant on the 2006 World Cup team.

U.S. midfielder Julian Green is the teammate of seven German players on the traditional Bundesliga power Bayern Munich while American defender Fabian Johnson and German midfielder Cristoph Kramer are teammates on Borussia Moncherngladbach in the Bundesliga.

U.S. defenders John Brooks and Timmy Chandler also play in the Bundesliga.