World cup excitement hitting a new high around the globe. A do or die with belgium is just about 48 hours away. Natalie live in brazil with all of the action for us today. Sunday, june 29th, 2014. This is today with lester holt and erica hill live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Welcome to today. Im erica hill. Im lester holt alongside jenna wolfe and dylan dreyer. There is a lot more to go in the world cup but anybody that watched chile felt like it was the game. Brazil, the home country, the tension and the crowd. It comes down to a shootout. Specially because you know there will be no more ties, one team will win and one will lose. That is what we love and hate about sports all in one. I feel like a shootout is kind of these guys have played their hearts out. I feel like somehow we are on. Or we would probably still be watching the game. Its fun walking through new york city, because you you hear the roar of the crowd in the park. Somebody has scored. We are going to check with natalie a little bit later on about the excitement. Looking forward to that. An update on the Oscar Pistorius murder trial. The olympic sprinter expected back in court tomorrow. This happens after a monthlong psychiatric evaluation that could mark a turning point in this case. Well bring you up to speed on that. Later on, i had the chance to sit down with begin again stars, two of them are stepping out of their comfort zone in this movie. We do begin with this mornings top stories. Those storms expected later today in the midwest and northern plains. Dylan has been tracking that along with the deluge that continues in minnesota. Good morning. It has been brutal. They cannot catch a break. St. Paul yesterday as more heavy rain came down. The water just piling up on the streets and with the mississippi flooding, we are going to continue to see any more rain just make matters worse and unfortunately, more rain is on the way. They are also cleaning up in affair, oklahoma. They saw some strong storms yesterday. It is the Straight Line wind gusts that have produced some of this damage, not so much tornadoes but you could he soo the toppled trees on to buildings and, again, in that area, we are still looking at more strong storms. We dont have any confirmed tornadoes from yesterday. It is still early. They will go out and assess the damage. You can see we do have some areas where we are keeping an eye on the rain. Right through kansas right now, thats area one. Also, down near memphis, tennessee, where we have extremely heavy rain. Starting first in kansas, we did have some tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm warnings with these storms. Now, it is just producing heavy rain and a lot of cloud to ground lightning. Closer to arkansas and western tennessee, we have heavier rain and flood warnings and watches in effect right through memphis because of the heavy downpours. Right through iowa and into parts of northern missouri, including eastern nebraska and northeastern kansas, thats where we are going to see a strong risk of storms today. We could see several tornadoes and damaging wind gusts, Straight Line wind gusts that topple the hail lines. Once again, it is going to be a very busiafter noon the man hirnd the 2012 attack in benghazi appeared in federal court where he entered a not guilty plea on a terrorrelated charge. He is suspected of helping to plan the 2012 attack that killed u. S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other americans. David gregory is moderator of meet the press. Good morning. Good morning, lester. This benghazi attack has been a political flash point from how the Administration First characterized it to what they did or didnt have in place in terms of security. The question of what to do with the suspect. Some republicans wanted him sent directly to guantanamo bay. The president deciding to try him in american courts. Whats the risk in going this fast . They dont have a good case. I think there is a fair amount of confidence that if they brought the case, they have intelligence and evidence, it could be difficult given the difficulty of securing the scene, how long it took to arrest him. They are obviously confident enough to go forward at trial, based on video, eyewitness accounts. They have been interrogating him for two weeks on a navy ship before they gave him his right to replamain silent. I think the president wants more of a public showing. Unusual to bring him to washington, d. C. And try him here as opposed to say virginia, the Eastern District of virginia. Nevertheless, they are moving forward. I this i that politics has something to do with that. Hillary clinton has certainly been a controversial figure related to the benghazi attack. You spoke to her husband about whether she will return in 2016 and what his role would or wouldnt be in terms of making that decision. Let me play that and i have some questions for you. You are just a bit player as to whether secretary clinton runs . Thats what i am. I am a foot soldier in an army. I will do what i am instructed to do. Now, look, you reach our age and you look at it differently. We have had wonderful lives. We have been incredibly blessed. Were looking forward to being grandparents. Im for it. It has to be her decision. He says he is a foot soldier. You heard him say he is for it. Is he beyond her . Do you think he is pushing her in that direction . I think he as somebody who follows politics so closely sees very clear path for her as the nominee and perhaps as the president as well. I think he will always play an interesting role. He became something of a side show in her last run. He is a critical adviser. He is also at a point in his life and even his political career where he may let it rip even a little bit more than he did last time. That could make him unwieldy at the least to say if she is running. Thanks, david. Turning to the new developments in the case of a georgia toddler left for hours in a hot car. Police are revealing more information about why they think his death was not an accident. This as the boy was remembered at an emotional funeral. Gabe gu tee rez hat the latest. Reporter Justin Ross Harris cried as he called in to the funeral for his 20monthold son, cooper. No cameras were allowed inside the church in alabama. He told mourners, thank you for everything. Im sorry i cant be there. He couldnt be there because he is being held without bond in georgia. Police released key search warrants in the case. During an interview with justin, investigators wrote, he stated that he recently researched through the internet, child death inside vehicles and what temperatures it needs to be for that to occur. This is a very significant development. If justin hair rest searched on the internet for child deaths in cars shortly before his own child died in the car, it looks like firstdegree murder. The dwirnts not say when harris allegedly ran the search but investigators are trying to piece together a dime line of june 18th. Jurors love this kind of evidence. They love a computer search. It is about as close as we can get to reading somebodys mind as to what they were thinking in the days and weeks prior to a death. Reporter according to police documents, harris took his son to breakfast here in suburban atlanta that morning before driving to his office nearby. Police say he briefly went to his vehicle during lunch. After leaving work, harris suddenly pulled over into a parking lot telling investigators he forgot to drop off his son at daycare excellently leaving him in a sweltering car for seven hours. This is really sad to see Something Like that happening. Harris has pleaded not guilty and his wife is standing by him. At the funeral, she said she wasnt angry with her husband, calling him a wonderful father. For today, gabe gutierrez, nbc news. Lets get caught up on some of the other stories. Jenna has those for us gunfire strikes new orleans popular bourbon street injuring seven people. The circumstances are unclear. Police have not given any details about the suspect. Six of the victims are in stable condition and one in Critical Condition. We go now to eastern arizona where hundreds of firefighters are on the ground trying to get a handle on a massive wild fire burning in the white mountains. The san juan fire has charred some 5,000 acres so far. Fire crews, fire Officials Say crews are focusing their efforts on the southwest section of the blaze, near the area of vernon. They say it could take up to two weeks to fully contain the fire. An offduty firefighter in ohio is in Critical Condition after being struck by lightning while waiting for the start of a Major League Soccer match. The game between columbus and s. C. Dallas was delayed saturday night because of severe thunderstorms. It was later postponed until this afternoon. Fire Officials Say the offduty firefighter went into cardiac arrest after being struck a week after she was arrested and charged with assisting her sister and teenage nephew, u. S. Womens soccer star, hope solo, returned to the field on saturday. She rejoined her squad against their match against sky blue fc in seattle. She did stay on the bench and was eligible to play as a substitute. The game ended 00. She pleaded not guilty to domestic charges and apologized on social media for her actions finally, after being postponed six times because of wind, nasa launched what looked like a flying saucer over the pacific on saturday. It is launched. It is launched. The spacecraft lifted off from the u. S. Navys missile facility in kauai, hawaii. The goal to test landing sec nolgs for a future Human Mission to mars. Once it made it to more than 30 miles above the earth, a parachute was supposed to open. Thats the parachute, the pinkish blush. Thats okay. The saucer still landed. The 150 million test flight is not a failure. It is a learning experience. As way my decision to chop my hair off, the floral broesh i wore to my freshman dance and my stint with acidwash jeans. Very good but it made its way down. Thats called gravity. Kind of like you get a trophy for everything as a kid. First or last, everybody gets a trophy. Lets see if dylan is going to get a trophy for the rest of the national forecast. Some areas, yes. In the northeast, it is fantastic. Take a look at some awesome video we have. This was a vine video from the space station above a storm in houston. Watch the lightning strikes here. Just beautiful stuff. I love flying over a storm minus the turbulence. They are a little above the turbulence at that point. Really, just such a nice show. Those storms have cleared out of texas. Now, we are watching kansas and areas like eastern arkansas and western tennessee. Want to point out this area off the coast of the carolinas. This could become a tropical system. It would be named arthur. Then, it would move out to looking outside right now, were seeing temperatures mostly in the 50s. Clear skies, including in san francisco, where it should be a nice, warm afternoon. Up to 75 today. 86 around san jose. Other temperatures in the bay area, 90s in saratoga. In the pride parade, should see the temperatures fairly warm. Numbers climbing to the mid 70s today. And youll also find hot temperatures inland, around santa rosa and pleasanton as the temperatures soar to the mid 90s for the afternoon. Ecast. Lester. Now, backo what we were talking about at the beginning of the program. The celebrations went long into the night into bra sgril when the home country beat chile in a penalty kick shootout at the world cup. This morning, the u. S. Is gearing up for its do or die match against belgium, just two days away. Natalie morales has made her way to rio de janeiro. Good morning. Are are good morning to you, lester. You know, im half brazilian. I have to show a little brazil love as well. A lot of pride in the team here. As you said, those parties went on well into the night, even early into this morning, they are still wrapping up. What a game yesterday. The celebrations, incredible here as brazil won in a stunning win against chile in the round of 16. Brazil is known for playing the socalled beautiful game but the teams round of 16 match against chile was anything but for the home squad. A careless turnover in the first half saw chile even the score one goal a piece. It stayed that way through extra periods leading to a nail biting penalty shootout. With the entire nation on the edge of its seat brazil has done it reporter just mirren muches, the difference between agony and jubilation with chile missing its final shot. Brazil lives on. Americans getting swept up in the emotion too. This is the most amazing experience i have ever been to in my life. Reporter the celebrations going on into the night here with brazilians breathing a huge sigh of relief. For the u. S. , all business this weekend as they prepare for their own do or die match against belgium tuesday. When you move on and you lose, you go home. We want more. There is no feeling of satisfaction at the moment. Reporter they have earned the reputation for doing things the hard way. Again, it wont go easy. Belgiums red devils are coming out of the group stage with three solid winses. To get by them, the u. S. Will have to fair better on offense. Can we do it . Yes, we can. Reporter they also hope to have key striker, Jozy Altidore back in the mix after suffering a hamstring mix. Through it all, they have defied the odds and defied the Toughest Group in a tournament that has seen its fair share of tough moments. If the u. S. Wins that game on tuesday in salvador, they would move on to the quarterfinals. The last time the team got that far was back in 2002. Lester, a lot of hope still riding on this team. A lot of people expecting that they can do it. So much fun. Natalie thanks very much. Cobi jones knows a thing or two about what the u. S. Is going for. He has played for the u. S. In three world cups making more International Appearances for the team than any other player. Good morning. Good morning. Great to have you with us. We really appreciate your expertise on this one. Natalie said of this match we are going into against belgium, this is a tough team. We saw the u. S. Struggle against germany. As you are looking at this match, what do you think the strengths are for the u. S. Heading in . One of the things that the u. S. Has right now is that togetherness, the bond that they actually got out the group of death. Thats the most important of all of this. No one really expected them to get out of it. They are one of the underdogs. I think the bond of them coming together, making that feat, that big accomplishment has really put them at another level. Now, they are at the knockout stage. It is just one game at a time. Now, they can focus solely on belgium. A lot said too about this attitude and great energy they have as a team but they are going up against a very tough team in belgium. What do you think the Biggest Challenges are for them in that match . There is a lot of talent on this belgium squad. It is kind of the golden generation of the belgium team. A lot of players playing at the top level throughout europe. The u. S. , i still think they have a very good chance. They have to Pay Attention to some of the stars on that team. Looking at that, one of the things they have to Pay Attention to is when the guys come off the bench for belgium, they have always done a good job of scoring a goal or assisting. Around that 65th to 70th minute mark when the changes happen, the u. S. Has to be very attentive. A lot of attention and questions surrounding striker, Jozy Altidore. At this point, if he is back with the team on tuesday, how could that make a difference for team usa . Well, i would be very surprised if Jozy Altidore makes it aback with the team. Having a hamstring pull is usually a 46 week situation. If he makes it back, he gives a different aspect that the u. S. Doesnt have when he is not there. He has the strength, the power, the ability to play with is had back to goal and hold up the ball and allow the rest of the team to get into play. That helps players like Clint Dempsey and michael bradley. Well be looking forward to it. Thanks for being with us this morning. Thank you. We are not done with the world cup yet. Still to come, a soccer trivia challenge. We are going to make sure you sound like an expert when you watch the american men take on belgium on tuesday. Were here to help you. Thats right after this. My advice for healthy looking radiant skin. A good nights sleep. And aveeno®. [ female announcer ] only aveeno® positively radiant has an active naturals® total soy formula. It helps reduce the look of brown spots in just four weeks. Aveeno®. Naturally beautiful results™. Aveeno®. [chains dragging] [eerie music playing] [crickets chirping] [owl hoots] announcer if you dont fix them, sparks from dragging tow chains can cause a wildfire. And that could be scary. Bye, smokey only you can prevent wildfires. If you still havent caught the world cup bug, not too late. As your coworkers and friends and family watch tuesdays knockout match, we dont want you to feel left out of the conversation. Jenna is in the orange room with world cup 101 for all of us. Here we go. Lets say youre watching the world cup, at a party, bar, restaurant, friends house, anywhere really and have no idea what anyone is talking about. Consider this your cheat sheet. Here we go. Lets get all librarian on you. Okay. What . 32 teams started, 16 are left. We call that, bam, round of 16. The usa is included in that 16. There is the round of 16, we already told you 12 times, but here is number 13. Who are the u. S. Team, who are they going to be playing . Theyre playing belgium that takes place on tuesday at 4 00 p. M. Now to the players. Here are the ones you should now. Striker, Clint Dempsey, big deal. Kyle beckerman. Tim howard, the goalie, lots of talent. For starters, youll be watching a match, not a game. It is baseball youre watching, actually not baseball youre watching it is what they call the field. So much information here. Equalizer is the goal that ties up the match. And the 12th man is not a 12th player, but all the fans rooting for a certain team. Got it . Good. Go usa. Back to you guys. Will you tell me what stoppage time is, please . Yes. That is collected time throughout the game, injuries, water breaks, whatever it is, and that time is added on at the end of the game. We just dont know wh