World Cup: Petition asks President Obama to declare USMNT-Germany "national holiday" | SIDELINE

USA President Barack Obama

If the excitement of last Monday and Sunday weren't enough to overflow your heart with joy, US national team fans, you've got one more chance to (potentially) celebrate a goal, a save or a result this Thursday.


But, problem: The USMNT's final Group G match, against Germany, kicks off at noon ET (ESPN) on Thursday. While some of you will be able to take a "working lunch" that lasts up to two hours, others will not.


Therefore, solution: Make Thursday, June 26, 2014, a national holiday, thus giving the entire country the day off from work. If you believe in the cause — and we know you do — here's the online petition for you. As of this posting, only 99,964 more signatures to go.


Think of the productivity that will be lost if these sad, soccer-loving souls are forced to report for duty on Thursday. Either employees are going to call in, return late from lunch, show up late to work, check their phone every 10 seconds, or watch the game at their desk anyway.


This country has gone soccer-mad since the World Cup kicked off less than two weeks ago, so why not make it official and help facilitate the transmission of the soccer sickness?