Chattanooga Soccer Fans Cheer National Team Into Last 16
Open air viewing at Miller Plaza provided by River City brought Chattanooga’s German community away from work on an extended lunch breaks.
"I think it will be interesting but it will be friendly competition" said a local German-American
"City of Chattanooga in a department its fun we are in the city hall, its fun" added German interns at the Mayor’s office on their lunch break.
Fans at Jefferson’s on Georgia Street arrived at 10am to decorate and prepare.
Owner Denise Crowell says their restaurant has filled to capacity for every US game.
"So many new fans come through, according to Andrew outlaws their attendance has been on the rise, hopefully this is good for them, for soccer fans in Chattanooga this is good for us as business."
Coach Bill Elliott of Chattanooga FC says he is surprised and excited by the growth of soccer support in east Tennessee.
"You know in the 1980s you couldn’t even get a game on TV, much less have a local environment like the CFC to see a game and to see the excitement around the world cup, the viewing parties, its unbelievable"
A 1-0 loss left US fans upset but Portugal’s victory over Ghana pushed the American’s into the last 16.
Here in St Elmo soccer fans are very confident heading into the last 16 and believe the US can make it all the way to the quarter finals.
"Belgium’s team has been surprisingly good this world cup i wasn’t expected that myself, but they are not a Germany, they are not going to be that powerhouse where their substitutes are some of the better players coming in off the team"
1885 Grill broke with tradition and opened before lunch.
"We decided to have a little cookout to cheer on the US for the World Cup, we invited some people out, didn’t open our kitchen set up some grills outside"
The US are currently ranked 13th but Chattanooga’s fans feel they can climb even higher.
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