Hard to Believe It's Over

Things tend to turn around pretty quickly, which means today is already travel day. Players and staff return to their home or club, obviously disappointed with the way things turned out but having enjoyed every moment of the experience anyway.

We'll leave you with a recap of last night's game, and remind you to keep following the WNT as they make their run through the knock-out phases.

USA vs. Nigeria Recap:

• Match Story
• Quotes and reaction from the team
• Photos
• Final Stats for the Tournament

We can't thank everyone enough for their support. To be an Olympian is something special, and to have the amount of support from home that we had was amazing. The people of China have put together a great spectacle and we were proud to be a small part of it.

More to the Show

Now there is some sort of martial arts demonstration going on across the field from where we're sitting. It seems to be part martial arts and part dance routine for the fans on the far side from the benches.

A Different Atmosphere

Wow, there is a different atmosphere here in Beijing. Present at the stadium tonight are cheerleaders, dancers... and the Olympic Mascots!

As the teams are warming up, the dance team and the cheerleaders are doing their routine on the track while the huge mascots are bouncing around.

We definitely did NOT see anything like this in Tianjin, that's for sure...

Tonight's Starters

Tonight’s lineup - Danny Szetela and Jozy Altidore will step into the Starting XI spots vacated by suspensions to Michael Bradley and Freddy Adu, respectively.

Guzan

Wynne – Edu – Parkhurst – Orozco

Rogers – Holden – Kljestan – Szetela

McBride - Altidore




NGA Starters

GK: 1-Vanzekin

D: 2-Okonkwo, 5-Adeleye, 15-Ambrose

M: 6-James, 8-Kaita, 10-Promise-capt, 12-Ajilore

F: 7-Ogbuke, 9-Obinna, 11-Okoronkwo

Sharing Olympic Moments

This is a photo of the elevator lobby in an office building close to the hotel that also happens to host a Starbucks. Instead of getting on their elevator and presumably going back to work in the middle of a Wednesday, everyone paused to watch the USA and China battle it out in the Women's Gymnastics Team competition. In case you haven't watched it yet, we won't give away the results, but we just thought it was cool that these strangers came together to watch the final round on the TV.

Game Day in Beijing

You know the scenarios. You know what's at stake tonight at Workers Stadium in Beijing and you'll be awake at 5 a.m. on the East Coast or 2 a.m. on the West Coast to see the action live from across the world.

We'll be back from inside the stadium with pre-game and in-game updates. You can watch it live on the USA Network, NBC Olympic Soccer Channel and follow the game live on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker.

One-Stop Shopping

We've got some good stuff for you to check out before tonight's game if you're so inclined...

• We caught up with Stu Holden to talk more about the Olympic Village
• Mo Edu talked to us about his transition to central defender
• Marvell Wynne talked about his Olympic experience in this exclusive podcast
• Peter Nowak and his players talk about Nigeria in this quote sheet

You can find all your pre-game insight and info in one place at ussoccer.com

America.

Usually team locker rooms, especially in foreign countries, go for the easy label of "USA". Everyone pretty much seems to understand the three-letter abbreviation for our team and our country. The people in Beijing have opted for the more rare label of "America" on our locker room at Workers Stadium. Maybe we can convince the fans to chant "AM-ER-I-CA" instead of "U-S-A!", but it just doesn't have the same ring to it...

What Happens Next

Confused about all of the different ways that the USA can advance to the quarterfinals? We've taken the liberty to map it all out for you...

How the U.S. can advance to the quarterfinals:

1) A win against Nigeria
With a win, the U.S. would end up with the most points in the group (7).

2) A draw against Nigeria
With a draw, the U.S. would end up tied with Nigeria on points and goal differential, but would finish ahead on the next tiebreaker, goals scored.

3) A loss against Nigeria AND a Netherlands draw or loss against Japan
With a loss, the U.S. could still finish in second place and advance to the quarterfinals with four points, but only if the Netherlands, sitting on two points, either lose or draw against Japan. A draw would only provide the Netherlands with three points, finishing below the U.S. at four points (Japan has no chance of catching the U.S. with zero points going into the final match).

How the U.S. can win the group:

1) A win against Nigeria
With a win, the U.S. would end up with the most points in the group (7).

2) A draw against Nigeria AND Netherlands draw or loss against Japan
With a draw, the U.S. would end up tied with Nigeria on points and goal differential, but would finish ahead on the next tiebreaker, goals scored. If the Netherlands, only sitting on two points, either lose or draw against Japan, they would end up with at most three points, finishing below the U.S. at four points

3) A draw against Nigeria AND a Netherlands win AND win the tiebreakers
With a draw AND a Netherlands win, the U.S. could still win the group depending on the tiebreakers (goal difference and goals scored). In this scenario, both teams would finish with five points. The U.S. would finish with a +1 goal differential, which means the U.S. would need the Netherlands (at a goal differential of 0 after two games) to only defeat Japan by one goal, putting them tied on goal differential at +1. If the Netherlands win by more than one goal, they would win the group. If the Netherlands win by just one goal, the next tiebreaker is goal scored. If it moves to this tiebreaker, as long as the U.S. scores at least as many goals as the Netherlands it would also win the group (after two games the U.S. is at 3, while the Netherlands are at 2).

However, if the U.S. and Netherlands are equal on the points, goal difference and goals scored, their ranking would be determined by a fair play point system, in which the number of yellow and red cards each team has received is evaluated. And if they’re still tied, the group winner will be decided by drawing of lots by the FIFA Organizing Committee.

Everywhere We Turn..

One of the (many) cool things about being in the Olympic host country is that no matter where you are, there is always a TV nearby to watch whatever live events are on at any given moment. And in the Olympics, it doesn't matter if you had any idea that a sport existed - because it's in the Olympics, it's exciting!

Here the guys pause on the way out of training to watch the Weightlifting Clean and Jerk Finals. Even though our guys could probably take that Venezuelan lifter in arm wrestling, they were pretty impressed.

The Olympic Village

Anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to step into an Olympic Village understands - this place is HUGE. Without even venturing to the outskirts of the Village to the Birds Nest and the Swimming Arena (both of which are absolutely beautiful by the way), there is a lot going on at the Village.

Rows upon rows of apartments and dorms fill acres of space. Flags of every nation you can think of - and some you've never heard of - decorate the buildings. The Olympic Rings can be seen in pretty much every direction in one form or another... hedges, sidewalk imprints, the sides of every wall....

The cafeteria is absolutely massive. Walking in, the first thing you see are the familiar Golden Arches of McDonalds, which makes it feel like home! But really, you can find just about anything to eat in the dining hall that is seemingly endless. There are water and drink machines everywhere that require no money, just a button push.

Here you can get your hair, nails and eyebrows done (so far none of the guys have tried those things). You can send packages, buy plane tickets, buy clothes, hang out in the internet cafe and play foosball. Honestly, just about every need is met without traveling outside the Village walls... We'll have much more on the whole thing of course, but honestly, this place is remarkable.

Also Enjoying the Olympic Experience...

Some of the players met him at the Opening Ceremonies, but soccer fan (and NBA superstar) Kobe Bryant is just one of the athletes here in Beijing. While visiting the Village this afternoon, he happened to be walking out of the gates at the same time as Brian McBride and Peter Nowak were heading to their pre-game press conference.

Bryant was sitting down waiting for his escort as Nowak and McBride walked by. Not wanting to bother him, the pair just gave a friendly wave, but upon recognizing them as soccer players, Bryant popped up off his seat and shook their hands enthusiastically. The three Olympians chatted about upcoming games and past results before having to go about their business, but it was a cool Olympic "Team USA" moment that the athletes have been enjoying.

The Olympic Lane

On our drive to Beijing from Tianjin, there was a lot of security - police escorts, random searches of vehicles sharing our highways and even policemen standing in the middle of the highway on our way out of Tianjin, similar to the way we arrived.

As we approached Beijing, the security increased and suddenly we found ourselves speeding past three lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic. Then we started to notice the Olympic Rings painted in our lane of the highway and realized that there are entire highway lanes dedicated to Olympic vehicles! Not only that, but people were actually following the rules and sitting in traffic when there was a perfectly good (read: empty) lane just a few merges away.

We could tell that the energy was highly geared towards the Games here, but an Olympic Lane? Sorry commuters of one of the largest cities in the world, we're coming through...

So Long, Tianjin!

This morning we had to say goodbye to Tianjin and all of the wonderful staff and volunteers in the city that held our first Olympic memories. The team got up for a regeneration session, ate some lunch and then hit the road, making the two and a half hour bus ride to Beijing - the Olympic epicenter.

The bus ride, as you can imagine was pretty standard: sleeping, iPods, cards and movies. We passed some interesting sights along the way, including trucks that were filled with live chickens and pigs. But we have safely arrived at the Olympic Village! More on that later...

Post Game Thoughts

We have heard from several people in attendance that last night's game against the Netherlands was one that they'll never forget watching. Judging from the post-game locker room, we don't think the players will ever forget playing in it.

In case you missed it - in which case, shame on you! - you can read all about the game here. Photos... here. Post-game reaction from Coach Nowak and his players here.

We'll be back after the big move from Tianjin to Beijing!

Stadium Update: Makaay In?

Yea - We didn't really believe Coach Foppe de Haan would keep him out either if they needed him. Despite all the reports that you probably read about him being injured, he has just entered the game for the Netherlands, minutes after they went down a goal.

Stadium Update - Altidore Puts the US Ahead!!

Less than 10 minutes after entering the game, Jozy Altidore found the end of a perfectly placed Michael Orozco cross and gave the USA a 2-1 lead!!

The whole American bench SPRINTED toward the corner where Jozy was celebrating. We don't think Coach Nowak has moved that fast since his playing days!

Stadium Update - We have a ball game!

Sacha Kljestan's 64th Minute strike just leveled the game for the U.S.!!!

The midfielder put forth a great individual effort there, fighting through a few defenders to get into the box alone and the U.S. has drawn even. Kljestan (which was pronounced KA-LA-JESTAN by the Chinese PA announcer here) celebrated his goal with his now-famous karate kick in the corner.

Following the goal, Jozy Altidore came on for Robbie Rogers, and will now be running on the left wing.

Stay tuned!

Haftime: NED 1, USA 0

The U.S. heads into the locker room in a 1-0 hole, but has created a number of dangerous chances that has the raucous crowd on the edge of their seat. Make sure to stay tuned - the second half is gearing up to be a good one!

Netherlands 1, USA 0

Netherlands' Ryan Babel just put his team on top, pouncing on a rebound of his own header and knocking into the upper netting of the goal from close range. Impressive work from the Liverpool striker. Let's see if the U.S. can battle back!