Posted on 06/12/2006 5:28:43 AM PDT by soccer_maniac
The wait finally comes to an end Monday for 11 of the 15 MLS players at the 2006 World Cup as the U.S. national team opens Group E play against Czech Republic in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan will lead the U.S. team into action starting at 11:55 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
In other action, Australia meets Japan in Kaiserslautern at 8:55 a.m. (ESPN2) for a Group F match. Italy and Ghana clash in the third match of the day, a Group E affair in Hanover at 2:55 p.m. (ESPN2).
(Excerpt) Read more at mlsnet.com ...
Oh I bet the Czech women provided healthy competition in that department as well.
Was there two weeks ago and loved it. To say they take their football seriously is an understatement. They've got some good odds to win it. With this US loss they're going to have to beat Ghana and tie Italy for a chance at 2nd in their bracket
It looked like the Czech Republic eased up a bit after their first goal and we had the possession for awhile after that. Then Reyna hit the post and the Czechs decided to get series and scored those two hugh goals.
With the -3 GD we need to get two wins or pray for ties elsewhere in the group. In particular, a tie for Ghana and Italy would be nice.
We'd better not fall behind Italy 1-0. They'll lock the game down even if the goal is scored in the first minute.
On the negative side for the Czechs, Koller is probably out for the tournament and they picked up four yellows.
Rosicky picked up a dumb yellow card late.
It would help if the US team would move a little bit and try to score a goal. Showing up to the game and standing on the field didn't appear to be a winning strategy today.
I'm hoping that sort of Italian mentality is gone now with Lippi in charge. In some of our friendlies he's shown a willingness to chase more goals, though if he does need to lock it down having Zambrotta, Oddo, Nesta, and Cannavaro as your back four doesn't hurt.
Speaking of women at the World Cup -- I wonder if there's a dude out there who could successfully complete the "World Cup Ultimate Challenge" -- scoring with a chick from every country represented at the cup.
I knew a guy who was a Visiting Professor of German Literature at the University of Bonn who stayed in Bonn two years so he could score every embassy (this was in the late Sixties).
I should add that I don't condone such activities. (That's for my Freeper Mom).
Gads that was painful to watch!
Why'd they keep passing to the Czechs? Someone trying to meet their spread?
One thing we learned today, is that the USA is not even close to being the 5th best team in the world.
I always tell my players to look at the color of their socks and make sure that when they pass they pass to someone wearing the same colored socks.
Of course, my players have ranged in age from five to ten. You would think professionals wouldn't have to be told, "Pass to the blue socks."
You mean its helps if the team moves off the ball? I would never have known watching today's game!
About the best thing we did was execute the offside trap -- at least until the 75th minute. That's not what you'd hope your best aspect of the game would be.
Having watched virtually all of the games so far, either the Czechs are by far the best team in the Tournament or we are by far the worst -- or both. Bad game.
We looked like a team with players that mostly come from second-tier teams instead of a team with lots of players that play in the Champions League. How could we be so outclassed when our players come from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man U, Bayern Munich, Juventus, AC Milan, and Liverpool?
A 3 - 0 loss to the Czechs and Italy looming. We have a mighty big hole to climb out of!
True. Doesn´t look like you´re staying longer than necessary in Germany. :-(
Italy and the Czech Rep. will go ahead.
The FIFA rankings make the BCS look infallible.
ROFLMAO
Do you know if H. watched? He probably was hugely disappointed, and wondered why we tell him to practice more if he wants to play on the US team, lol.
Their next game is Saturday, so we can all yell at the TV together.
What American players come from those teams?
Reyna's shot off the post was about our only offense for the entire game. Arena needs to do some butt kicking and wake these guys up. Maybe they had too many trips to the beer garden and were too interested in the frauleins!
It could be another last place finish for the US, like 1998 if things don't improve quickly. We won't even beat Ghana.
This game was just pathetic. The US was completely unprepared and looked like they don't even belong anywhere near the World Cup. How in the world can a supposedly world class team look so uninterested in a game like this. Pathetic.
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