WITH EACH PASSING game, and each step forward into the wonderful realm of the World Cup, football’s popularity is swelling in the United States.

Today, #BeatBelgium is picking up pace across the Atlantic, and the nation is bracing itself for all known soccer viewing figures to be smashed.

Last time out was a free play, losing to Germany neither discredited, disheartened or dumped them out of the tournament. And besides, every good American sports movie needs a moment of adversity before a soul-searching, rousing speech stirs the passions back into a frenzy.

This, my Yankee friends, is that speech.

It’s called Flip the Script and it’s absolutely superb. But if you thought the words from John Goodman’s mouth sound familiar, it’s because it’s from this 2009 Nike campaign.

The New York Post are properly pumped!

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Every bandwagon needs its celebrity following. Joe Biden and Will Ferrell were on board all the way back in the group stages. Now Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is in Salvador for the big game.

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Waffle House are desperately scrambling to convince the nation that their product is NOT just a Belgian thing.

There are cool posters like this knocking around.

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Some seem inspired by the Biblical showers they endured in Recife.

And US Soccer’s #AreYouReady official pre-match video has enough training clips to put Rocky to shame.

U. S. A!

U. S. A!

U. S. A!

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