"So you're saying there's a chance."
Posted on 06/12/2006 12:39:37 PM PDT by The Blitherer
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) -- Four years ago, the U.S. team woke up Americans to soccer with a stunning start and surprising run in the World Cup. This time, it opened with a thud.
Routed 3-0 by the Czech Republic on Monday night, the United States might have a very short tournament stay this year.
Jan Koller scored just five minutes in, Tomas Rosicky added two goals and the Czechs coasted to an easy win.
"They punished us for every mistake we made," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said.
Eager to prove they are among soccer's elite after their quarterfinal finish in South Korea four years ago, the Americans brought their most-talented team ever to Germany. They even got a pregame pep talk from President Bush, who called from Camp David before the game and wished them well.
But they undoubtedly disappointed millions of fans back home and certainly the 5,000 or so who made the trek overseas, falling to 0-8 in Europe in World Cup play.
" We had a lot of guys who were in their first games and were a little bit nervous," captain Claudio Reyna said. "Now there's no more excuses, we have to play better than that."
With the loss, the Americans put themselves in quite a hole -- in the last two World Cups, the only team to advance from the first round after losing its opener was Turkey, in 2002.
Next up for the United States is traditional power Italy on Saturday, followed by rising Ghana on June 22.
"You can't be hesitant," Reyna added. "You have to be aggressive from the first minute."
Reyna came closest to scoring, hitting a post midway through the first half. But Rosicky scored on a soaring 25-yard shot in the 36th minute, and the Americans never got back into the game against the Czechs, semifinalists in the European Championship two years ago.
Rosicky hit the crossbar in the 68th and added a goal in the 76th minute, getting past the U.S. defense off a through pass from Pavel Nedved, Europe's 2003 player of the year, and beating Kasey Keller on a breakaway.
"The Rosicky goal was a great goal," Arena said. "To me the big play in the game was giving up the early goal."
Eddie Johnson, who entered at halftime, provided some energy, missing just wide in the 70th minute and high in the 76th.
When the Americans returned to the World Cup in 1990 after a 40-year absence, they were embarrassed 5-1 by Czechoslovakia in their opener. Ever since December's draw, they said this game was an opportunity to show how much they've improved.
They're ranked fifth in the world by FIFA's much-criticized computer formula -- the Czechs are second behind only Brazil -- but the Americans created few dangerous scoring chances.
"With all due respect, that's probably the best team in the group," Reyna said. "Italy's another tough team and it'll be another tough game, but we have to bounce back and put this game behind us and learn from it real quick."
Four years ago, the United States broke on top in its opener against Portugal in the fourth minute. This time, it was the Americans who fell behind quickly. David Rozehnal played the ball to the right flank for Zdenek Grygera, who had plenty of space and time, and crossed the ball before an onrushing Pablo Mastroeni could get there.
The 6-foot-7 1/2 -inch Koller, who returned only last month from knee surgery, already had been fouled by Oguchi Onyewu and Eddie Pope in the first two minutes. He stayed behind Onyewu, a 24-year-old who has been with the national team for less than two years, and was inside of the more experienced Pope. He easily bent his bald head to meet the cross and put the ball past Keller for his 43rd goal in 69 international appearances, a Czech record.
Reyna, who hasn't scored for the national team since 2000, nearly tied the score in the 29th, curling a 25-yard shot that got by a diving Petr Cech in goal. Reyna had a hopeful look on his face, but his expression quickly changed to disgust when the ball clanked off the far post.
Just as the United States was starting to establish some offensive rhythm, the Czechs went up 2-0. Nedved crossed and Onyewu headed the ball out. But it went to Rosicky, who settled it and sent a spectacular right-footed shot into the top corner to Keller's left, above the goalkeeper's raised right hand.
Koller injured his right leg battling Onyewu for a ball on the flank in the 43d minute, and was taken off on a stretcher, one hand behind his head, the other covering his face. He was taken to a hospital to be examined.
His coach, Karel Bruckner said the injury was "quite serious."
"So you're saying there's a chance."
The US definately overtook Poland for worst performance in the World Cup so far.
Other than Australia and England, it hasn't been good so far for the "Coalition of the Willing" countries.
Gads, I'm so sorry about the Polish side. It gave the USA a run-for-the-money in the "worst performance" category.
You know, I just don't think this game is ever going to catch on.
LOL!!!!
It was a 3 pointer :)
lol!
Actually I find it funny that in places like the Ivory Coast, civil war is put on hold while the team competes for the World Cup, but here in the good ol' USA we muster up more enthusiasm for GOLF.
Like your Daddy yold ya : " Don't start no stuff, and there won't be no stuff."
I wonder which is the worst domination, the Czechs over the US, or the Mavs over the Heat.
Golf translates better on TV than Soccer does.
You know, the Czech Republic is also a part of the Coalition of the Willing.
I really hope you don't like golf, football, basketball, or Nascar....
and anything can be generalized like that (like the above mentioned sports...)
There's a whole generation of kids growing up now playing soccer. Many kids who couldn't compete in baseball or football.
I know I've got 3, my 10 yr old has been playing 7 years, my 6 y.o. and 4 (5 in 2 weeks ;-) )y.o. have been dribbling the ball since they could toddle.
The US is just a generation or so behind. We're getting there. If nothing else, Americans are competitive, and do like to win ;-)
That's the point though. When they get the kids who do compete in football, baseball, and basketball then we'll have a chance. If Marcus Vick would have played soccer instead of football, then we might have had something.
As a true insomnia cure. Don't get me wrong, I like golf, I've even caddied for pros, but golf on TV is instant snoozeville.
Hehe, Nascar. Turn left, straight, turn left, straight, ... turn left, straight, crash, turn left, straight, turn left, straight, ... turn left, straight, stop for gas and tires, turn left, straight, ... turn left, straight, turn left, straight, the end.
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