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| Millions watch Germany football clash | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Parts of the US have come to a standstill as people take time out from work to watch the crucial World Cup match against Germany. | |
| USA need at least a draw against one of the giants of world football to be sure of a place in the last 16, a game that kicked off at 1200 EST (1700 BST). | |
| A record 24.7 million Americans tuned in for Sunday's dramatic 2-2 draw, when Portugal scored in the last seconds. | A record 24.7 million Americans tuned in for Sunday's dramatic 2-2 draw, when Portugal scored in the last seconds. |
| USA's German coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, tweeted a "get out of work letter". | |
| In it, he said: "I understand that this absence may reduce the productivity of your workplace but I can assure you that it's for an important cause." | In it, he said: "I understand that this absence may reduce the productivity of your workplace but I can assure you that it's for an important cause." |
| At the scene - the BBC's Taylor Kate Brown, Washington DC | |
| On the way to Dupont Circle a restaurant with outdoor seating is blaring "Born in the USA", Bruce Springsteen's hit, and every diner is facing the televisions. | |
| The circle itself is half-full but it's packed tight and tough to get a good view of the two large TV screens broadcasting the game. | |
| There are American flags worn as capes, Lady Liberty foam tiaras, plenty of facepaint and not an insignificant number of German flags. The chants are "U! S! A! U! S! A!", "I will believe we will win", and of course "Ole, ole, ole." | |
| "I started playing soccer when I was five years old," says Gino Gallardo, whose American flag facepaint design is cracking in the summer heat, but he's convinced he'd still be a fan even if he hadn't played as a child. "It's the world's sport." | |
| The German connections do not end with the coach - several of the USA team were born there. | The German connections do not end with the coach - several of the USA team were born there. |
| Although a draw or win would guarantee progress through the so-called Group of Death, the US could lose and go through if the match between Ghana and Portugal ends in their favour. | Although a draw or win would guarantee progress through the so-called Group of Death, the US could lose and go through if the match between Ghana and Portugal ends in their favour. |
| The USA-Germany match will played in Recife, where American fans are expected to continue to offer the vociferous support that has characterised each of their group matches. | The USA-Germany match will played in Recife, where American fans are expected to continue to offer the vociferous support that has characterised each of their group matches. |
| Americans have more matchday tickets than any other country after Brazil, according to Fifa, and Facebook has released data which shows the most "check-ins" inside the stadiums came from people from the US. | Americans have more matchday tickets than any other country after Brazil, according to Fifa, and Facebook has released data which shows the most "check-ins" inside the stadiums came from people from the US. |
| Football fever has gripped fans at home too, where the largest number ever to watch a football match in the US did so on Sunday evening, when a header from Silvestre Varela in the dying seconds left 24.7 million Americans deflated. | Football fever has gripped fans at home too, where the largest number ever to watch a football match in the US did so on Sunday evening, when a header from Silvestre Varela in the dying seconds left 24.7 million Americans deflated. |
| Big screens have been erected in public squares and parks across the country, while bars are braced for a lunchtime rush. | Big screens have been erected in public squares and parks across the country, while bars are braced for a lunchtime rush. |