You're locked in to Sports Desk, let's get into it.
Twenty-seven point five million viewers tuned in to watch the United States open World Cup play, making it the most-watched soccer match in American television history. That number crushes previous records and signals something real is happening with the sport's foothold in this country, right as the tournament plays out on home soil.
And the World Cup buzz is everywhere you look. England take on Croatia Wednesday in what figures to be one of the marquee group stage matchups of the tournament. The Three Lions come in as heavy favorites, and SportsLine's Jon Eimer, who's been running hot at thirty-one and thirteen on his picks, has already released his best bets for the match. Croatia will need a massive performance to pull off the upset.
Meanwhile, off the pitch, England fans in Dallas are getting a uniquely American experience between fixtures. The DFW Gun Range and Academy reports a surge in international visitors since the tournament kicked off, with English supporters among those lining up to try something they simply can't do back home. Staff are calling it a multicultural conga line, and honestly, that might be the most World Cup sentence ever spoken.
That's your play-by-play. Sports Desk, back to the booth.
