Here's all the World Cup fun you missed on Friday, June 20:
THE WORLD CUP, HUGE ON FACEBOOK: It seems safe to say the 2014 World Cup is the most prominent on social media in history. But for proof that it is the biggest talking point in, well, the world, look no further. The Hollywood Reporter writes that the World Cup has been bigger on Facebook through the first week than the Super Bowl, Oscars and Olympics this year combined. And for those who believe those numbers are boosted by other countries, consider this: The United States is only behind host country Brazil in talking about the World Cup on Facebook.
USMNT BIGGER THAN CHUCK NORRIS: Can we finally put to bed the notion that the United States isn't a soccer country? On Twitter, there are more searches for the US national team than cult American jack-of-all-trades Chuck Norris.
JUSTICE IS SERVED: Mexican forward Giovani dos Santos had two goals that appeared to be legitimate waved off in Mexico's 1-0 win over Cameroon to open Group A play. As a result of the poor decisions, the assistant referee who made those decisions has been sent home.
"JOHNNY FOOTBALL" LIVENS UP GREECE-JAPAN SNOOZER: OK, so Johnny Manziel wasn't in Brazil, but the Cleveland Browns rookie had a proxy doing his signature move in the stands during an admittedly dull scoreless draw between Greece and Japan:
We believe this completes any Johnny Manziel-related sports coverage on this site for 2014.
FIFA DISCIPLINE FORTHCOMING FOR MEXICO?: The ball is in FIFA's court now. The Mexican federation says its legal department has responded to a FIFA letter after the world governing body opened disciplinary proceedings against Mexico for the homophobic slur chanted by Mexican supporters on opposing team goal kicks.
Mexico manager Miguel Herrera, who has confirmed his lineup for the group finale against Croatia, was asked about the slur: "I think that it's nothing more than simply to pressure the opposing goalkeeper," he told media.
"If we see a red card or a bad call by the referee, [the fans] say all sorts of things," continued Herrera. "You'd have to investigate every match."
