When it comes to the World Cup, sometimes a loss works just as well as a win or draw.
The United States Men's National soccer team may have dropped their final group match in a 1-0 loss to Germany Thursday, but that didn't stop fans from showing their excitement in downtown Auburn over the team's qualification for the knockout stages of the 2014 World Cup.
"The good thing is that the team had done most of the heavy lifting in the previous two matches against Ghana and Portugal," said Robert Litton, founder of the Auburn American Outlaws chapter. "When you beat a team like Ghana and you dominate a team like Portugal, it's tough to back into a draw with them. Then you have to face Germany, who is one of the two or three best teams in the world. Losing 1-0 isn't ideal, but for an up and coming team I think it says a lot."
Thomas Muller's goal in the 55th minute was all Germany needed to defeat the United States, but Portugal's 2-1 victory over Ghana in the other simultaneously played Group G match meant the U.S. still advanced on goal differential.
"I think today one of the best players in the world hit a perfect shot," Litton said. "You just have to tip your cap and say that's why (Muller)'s playing for Germany and (club team) Bayern Munich."
Despite the loss, the now-official Auburn branch of the American Outlaws support group was once again on hand at Halftime in downtown Auburn to support the cause.
"We were pretty pleasantly surprised with the turnout," Litton said. "It wasn't as many as the Portugal or Ghana games, obviously since it was at 11 o'clock in the morning and it was on a workday. There were probably 150 people or so there still and that added up as it went into the second half. It was still standing room only downstairs."
Litton said the group has garnered enough members to finally become recognized as an official American Outlaws branch.
"I definitely think it's growing," said Josh Brunner, an American Outlaw member and Auburn journalism student. "Everybody is going to be into the World Cup since it's one of the biggest events in the world, but what I'm really interested to see is if we can keep the numbers in Auburn growing even when the Cup is over. That goes for the women's World Cup as well."
Official membership gives branch members extra opportunities to buy bulk USMNT tickets for friendlies, qualifiers and World Cup matches. Gears, banners and reserved seating are also benefits of becoming officially recognized.
With the U.S. officially finishing the group stages as the Group G runner-up, all eyes are turned to Tuesday's knockout stage match against Group H winner Belgium.
"Belgium is a really good team with a lot of young players that play in England and other top leagues," Brunner said. "But I think we can hang with them and beat them."
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