Wild Finish For Team USA; Team USA Faces Germany In Critical Match-up
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to NEW DAY. It's Monday, June 23rd, 6:00 in the east. There is clearly a lot going on today including some of the big news. Team USA is still in it at the World Cup. Chris is down in Brazil in the middle of it all. Good morning, Chris.</s>CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Kate, we are live in Rio de Janeiro, one of the most exciting cities in the world. It lived up to its reputation last night as the fans are going crazy during the U.S.-Portugal match. Now the major moment, the final seconds, the U.S. just takes from victory when Portugal ties the game at 2-all. What? The big news, though, the American side is still alive, earning a much needed point in the standings and even more importantly, much needed confidence.</s>CUOMO (voice-over): From the beginning, U.S.-Portugal was bigger than a game.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were supposed to be in Spain. Go to the World Cup. We went to the game a couple nights ago. There was a bunch of Honduran fans and Ecuadorian fans. They wanted a picture with the</s>U.S. CUOMO: There's a mantra surrounding U.S. soccer and bold predictions for Portugal match. Bravado put to the test before 40,000 in a stadium in Manaus, Brazil, 20,000 more packed in a rock concert atmosphere in Rio that dozens of nations colors you see reflecting the millions and millions more around the world, bearing World Cup witness. But the most daunting audience, 11 men from Portugal, the old world masters. Among them, the king of soccer, Ronaldo. It only takes minutes for reality to strike the American side. But now, it becomes a fairy tale, American drama. The atmosphere in the stadium, red hot, literally. The heat index above 90 degrees forcing the first official World Cup water break. The Americans rally soon after finding their opportunities. Defense led by goalie Tim Howard denying Portugal again and again. A second half brings a second wind. The crowd stirs as the ball begins to bounce between the white shirts and then -- Jermaine Jones finishes for a score heard from Manaus to Manhattan shaking the rocky cliffs. Once this spell is broken, the U.S. shows it is more than a one goal wonder. Clint Dempsey, broken nose and all displays why he is the captain. As the minutes tick down, it looks like a fairy tale ending, U.S. supporters are everywhere.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We believe that we can win.</s>CUOMO: Could they really avoid the venomous feet of the great Ronaldo? The answer, yes, until less than a minute to go when another last second goal would marked a U.S. match. But this time, the U.S. falls victim.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ronaldo. A great cross. It is an equalizer.</s>CUOMO: A tie isn't a win, but it awards the U.S. another valuable point making the chances of moving on that much better. And showing the U.S. can go toe-to-toe with the best.</s>CUOMO: It's infectious, we believe that we will win. So what do we know? The U.S. has to keep doing it the hard way. They are going to need a strong showing against Germany. They don't have to win, but they believe they can and that's what Jermaine Jones tells me in our interview this morning. He scored that strong first goal for the U.S. Here is what he had to say about the big match.</s>JERMAINE JONES, TEAM USA: I think the whole team, after the game was upset where we know that we have like 30 seconds to go. We will be like one of the 16 teams in the next round and -- yes, we give them a chance to come back and score a goal. But I think you make two mistakes and they score.</s>CUOMO: It was odd that two mistakes as you say, one, just a few minutes into the game and one just a few seconds left. Does that make it easier or harder to deal with?</s>JONES: Mistakes happen and we have to learn that we step on. We have to try to take something from the German game. We still can go to the next round so we don't try to make us so much crazy about what happened. We have to step on and hope that we get points against Germany.</s>CUOMO: Let's talk about your goal. It was so important because after Portugal scored early like that, everybody started to think, no, is tonight not the American's night. How did your goal happen?</s>JONES: Say that we have to shoot more and some players come to me and say we shoot in training. I try to shoot and he said yes, I shoot. We celebrate.</s>CUOMO: You did celebrate and rightly so. So, we were hearing about the heat. There was the first water break called in the tournament because of the heat. What was it like, the conditions on the field?</s>JONES: The conditions were really hot, but the team show face and yes, we are 100 percent lucky that we finished the group. We are done for the next round. We have to go still against Germany.</s>CUOMO: Did you feel the heat was affecting your play? Did it make guys feel a little bit slower or more tired?</s>JONES: No, what I'm saying before, it's not easy to play out there, but the team was fighting and everybody run for each other. You can see it after the first goal from Portugal. We try to push and try to come back to the game. Yes, we were 2-1 in front, close to 30 seconds for end of the game, so, I think the team -- the team makes a good job and a good work out there.</s>CUOMO: It's true, anybody can do it when it's easy, right. You guys show that you can come back when it was hard, even when it was very hot and go toe-to-toe with the best. Does that give you confidence into the Germany game?</s>JONES: I think the important stuff is that we always trust in ourselves and a lot of people were saying that this is the group of death and we have no chance to come to the next round. So, today, we were close to be one of the teams from this group to be maybe in the next round. So, we give it up with our own hands. But, yes, we have to -- what I'm saying before, we have to go and Germany is a tough team, but we have a lot of respect for this team. But we are not scared.</s>CUOMO: At least you know what they are saying on the pitch, right? Like a spy out there.</s>JONES: Yes. If they talk German, yes, we have a lot of players that will understand what they are saying on the pitch, but I think it's not so important what their talk on the pitch. We have to stop them. They don't play the game that they want and if we do that like a team, we have a good chance to win.</s>CUOMO: One more thing, the big chance that Americans have right now is all your fans were screaming "I believe that we can win, I believe that we can win." How do you feel? Do you believe that you can win when you go in the next match?</s>JONES: I believe the whole time. Before the World Cup starts we know we have a tough group and everybody was talking about this group. But I think the team -- the team is not important with the people outside talking. We 100 percent believe that we can make to it the next round. This is what we try on Thursday.</s>CUOMO: You looked great last night. You battled back. As you were saying, anybody can play from ahead. You guys showed you can do it when it's hard. Hopefully you carry to it the next match. I don't know if you can see me, I got the same jersey on that you guys wore last night. I don't look as good, but I feel as good for you guys this morning. Congratulations. Good luck in next match.</s>JONES: OK. Thank you.</s>CUOMO: They're obviously tired. What a long night doing interviews after all of it. Can you imagine that? So what happens next? What are the chances that the U.S. advances to the round of 16? These are all important questions. It takes savvy, knowledge and an Italian last name to know the answers. Luckily we have all three in the form of CNN's Lara Baldesarra. It's very good to be with you. You were tutoring me all night as you watched the match. Big surprises to you in terms of how they showed themselves on the pitch?</s>LARA BALDESARRA, CNN SPORTS: I was a little surprised that the USA didn't start a true striker. We knew that Jozy Altidore was injured, so they'd have to fill somebody. They have to bring on somebody. I thought it was going to be Chris Wondolowski because he has been a critical finisher for the USA. They didn't. They instead the one change that they made to their starting 11 was Graham Zusi who played in his first ever World Cup game. He was a hugely impactful player. You saw him. He was running up and down that far lane, the entire game making some great crosses in. This is a guy, I'll tell you. His pre-game routine used to be him watching videos on YouTube in order to get himself pumped up. I don't know if he did the same thing ahead of the game. Whatever he did, it certainly work because he was a big part.</s>CUOMO: All right, so we have this big twist at the end. It goes from a victory to a tie. Take us through the different permutations here as we go into the Germany match, what has to happen? How do they wind up losers and what's the minimum they need to achieve to move on?</s>BALDESARRA: This is a great situation. It's not the ideal situation meaning they haven't already secured progression. All the USA needs now is a draw against Germany. Hear me out on this one. They are playing Germany. The USA's coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, German legend, won the World Cup with Germany, was the manager, the head coach of the German national team back in 2006.</s>CUOMO: Baldesarra is about to get controversial here.</s>BALDESARRA: I am. I wouldn't be surprised he said, fellow German buddies, all we both need is a draw. You guys finish on top of the group and we'll go through as well and I know that that's not a common thing to say.</s>CUOMO: Suggesting collusion between two teams in the World Cup?</s>BALDESARRA: I am suggesting that Jurgen Klinsmann was asked about it. He said absolutely not. We are not going to do that. We are not friends right now, me and my fellow Germans. We are going out there and the USA is going to win. To me the USA is in the top spot. If I was Portugal and Germany, I would not be too happy about this right now.</s>CUOMO: Even though there's no substance to the allegation, you insist maybe the two teams will take it easy on each other.</s>BALDESARRA: Absolutely. I'm putting that one up.</s>CUOMO: With confidence?</s>BALDESARRA: One hundred percent confidence. I will be shocked if the USA comes out and wins, I'm wrong. Then you can replay this. I know you will.</s>CUOMO: But Lara has been great to me here. We'll be back with you this morning. It's so helpful, Kate and Mickey, to have somebody to explain what's going on. The World Cup is complicated, but one thing is for sure, the environment last night, the atmosphere so electric to us. We'll tell you more about it later this morning. Back to you.</s>MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Certainly kept me up past my bedtime last night.</s>BOLDUAN: Absolutely. It looks like you had the appropriate amount of fun watching game. We're very impressed with Chris.</s>PEREIRA: Let's take a look at the rest of your headlines. Breaking this morning, despite an international outcry, three journalists from Al Jazeera have been sentenced to seven years in an Egyptian prison. The trio was arrested last year on charges of aiding the Muslim Brotherhood, endangering national security and aiding terrorists. Al Jazeera issued a statement criticizing this decision. There are currently 167 journalists in prison around the world. Developing overnight, Israeli jets targeted nine Syrian military targets. This comes hours after an Israeli teen was killed by an attack from the Syrian border. This is the first death on the Israeli side since the civil war erupted in Syria more than three years ago. Israel continues the search for three teens abducted more than a week ago. Those are your headlines right now, a quick look at them. Kate, over to you.</s>BOLDUAN: Thanks, Michaela. Breaking overnight, Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Baghdad for key meetings with the Iraqi government. We're going to take you live to Baghdad in just a moment. Also we're going to have my one-on-one interview with President Obama. His warning to Iraqi leaders. What they have to prove in order to keep U.S. assistance in the fight against ISIS. That's ahead.