FIFA World Cup (Men's)

The World Cup is more than just a sporting institution. It’s a guide to leading a better life. The18 considers the most important lessons from the tournament so far:

1. It’s Good To Have Goals In Life…

"I'm so honored to be playing tomorrow," he says. "But I'm not going to lie to you. I'm not in the best shape. I'm not in soccer shape right now."

And so begins Will Ferrell's "pump up" speech to a crowd of rowdy Americans the night before the final U.S. match of the group stage. What's "Frank The Tank" from Old School doing speaking on behalf of U.S. Soccer, you ask? Why wouldn't he. After all, in movies such as Old School, Ferrell has demonstrated an ability to motivate crowds to such extreme action as a naked run through the quad to the gymnasium.

In the last matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup group stage, Belgium defeats South Korea with 10 men and Algeria secures a draw with Russians to advance.

Belgium-South Korea

No more scenarios, no more watching other games closely, the United States Men’s National Team is through to the Round of 16 and will play Belgium on July 1st at 4pm EST. 

Conditions were tough in Recife, where the city suffered severe flooding hours before the match. The match went on as planned, though, as the Germany beat the Americans 1-0 in rainy Arena Pernambuco. 

Last minute goals, amazing saves, fantastic moves, heartbreak and elation (sometimes both in the course of the same match) – World Cup 2014 continues to thrill. For fans everywhere, the ecstasy of victory and the agony of defeat leave little time to consider the journey World Cup players have made to star on soccer's largest stage. Many arose from such dismal origins it is amazing that they survived childhood, let alone continued to play and excel at soccer.

Switzerland vs Honduras 

An already-eliminated Honduras practically laid down against Switzerland in the final round of matches in Group E, as Switzerland cruised to a 3-0 victory. The Swiss knew a victory would go a long way to get them into the knockout stage with Ecuador facing a hot French team. 

To most, heading into World Cup 2014 in Brazil, the USA didn’t stand a chance of getting out of the group stage. Chances aside, the U.S. plays tomorrow against heavily-favored Germany, with a spot in the knock-out stage on the line. Click here to see scenarios that will have the U.S. advancing. 

The final match for the United States in the group stage comes against Germany, considered one of the pre-tournament favorites. This match will be played at the same time as the Ghana-Portugal match, so no team in the group will get the advantage of knowing how the other match played out before it takes the pitch. The stakes of the match for the United States are fairly straight forward: if they can defeat or draw the Germans, their World Cup will continue. While they could still theoretically advance even if they lose, it will then depend on what happens in the Ghana-Portugal match.

There's a book written for teething toddlers called "Teeth Are Not For Biting." Someone should give a copy to Luis Suarez.

What do you do when your defense is lacking the resolve, concentration and fortitude to repel foreign attackers? According to one British souvenir manufacturer, you draft the man in charge of the world’s second largest standing army.