Match Preview: USA vs. Czech Republic
Will injuries level the playing field in this all-important Group E opener?
Much has been made of the tough draw the US has received in this year’s World Cup, many calling Group E the group of death. Not only are the Americans facing two of the top teams in the world in group play, they are up against the group favorite Czech Republic right off the bat. The US have earned a degree of respect in international football and are going into this World Cup with a talented team and measured confidence, but every point will be critical. Can they get one, or perhaps even three off the 2nd ranked team in the world?
A rash of injuries to the Czech side could possibly offer the Americans a bit of relief from the constant barrage that typically is the Czech attack. Reports and rumors surround the Czech camp heading into Monday’s match, and it is difficult to tell how much is gamesmanship and media hype, but here’s what we do know. Vladimir Smicer will be missing from the Czech midfield after a series of leg injuries ruled him out before the competition began. Quick and creative striker, Milan Baros, sustained a foot injury and is being dubbed “unlikely” for this match. Though downplayed by the Czech coaching staff, veteran playmaker Pavel Nedved was forced to leave a recent training session with what appeared to be an injury to his left knee. Another star midfielder, Tomas Rosicky, has also been hampered with a thigh injury, though is expected to be available for this match.
Without Smicer and with creative forces Nedved and Baros somewhat questionable, does this leave the Czech attack slightly mitigated? Also keep in mind that towering Jan Koller is just returning from a serious knee injury as well. This side is laden with talent, but these injuries may in fact help the US match up. Baros is an absolute handful for any defense, and is the prototype of the fast, imaginative and sweetly skilled player that the US might have trouble neutralizing. If his foot injury keeps him out of the game or slows him down a bit so that a mere mortal might mark him, it could go a long way toward the American chances of keeping the Czechs off the board. Koller is a giant of a man, but returning from injury may have him slightly rusty, and Ogucci Onyewu is a physical force in his own right, possibly capable of shutting Koller down. If Nedved is also hampered by injury, the US might have an easier time in the midfield.
The keys for the Americans here are speed, shape and possession. The Czech’s talent belies their age, one of the oldest teams in the World Cup. Compound age with injury and you have a weakness that can be exploited with fitness and pace. Bruce Arena should be looking to throw some of his younger, faster players at the Czech defense. Donovan and Beasley need to show their pace and quality, and I hope to see significant minutes from Eddie Johnson and Bobby Convey running right at the Czechs. This offensive tack must be accompanied by solid defensive shape and composed possession. The US cannot be caught out of position or the vision of the Czech Republic will make them pay. Likewise, the Americans cannot pack it in and play for a tie. They will not be able to withstand sustained pressure from this side if they lack a possession game, and at some point the Czechs are bound to break through.
With the string of injuries suffered by the Czechs, an intelligent, aggressive performance by the US may just get a surprise point off the Group E favorites. As always in the World Cup, a little luck would help as well.
Comments
I expect to see Nadved and Rosicky on the field. And I expect both sides to score, but the US has to be careful of giving up silly counteracts. Take care of the ball! Go US!
Posted by: Teddy | June 11, 2006 03:50 PM
The US doesnt need luck!!!!!!!!!
They will win there game by true skill not luck. GO USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!USA!
Posted by: kristina | June 11, 2006 08:01 PM
usa is going to lose 3-0 nadved is going to score one
Posted by: Jesus | June 12, 2006 01:02 AM
as always our noise wont amount to much.Let us meet at the end of the match and it will be USA 2;CZECH 1!@!!!!!!
Posted by: vince | June 12, 2006 04:11 AM
go USA!
Posted by: sarah | June 12, 2006 06:33 AM
i believe that if USA wants to win the match then there going to have to play there game. and i have no dout that they will play the way they a suppose to and take it to the next level. go USA get a win
Posted by: unknown | June 12, 2006 08:18 AM
you must be crazy . Czech team win 3:1
Jedeme hoši jedeme . Go boys go . Go Czech
Posted by: Anonymous | June 12, 2006 09:00 AM
They will win
Posted by: USA | June 12, 2006 09:36 AM
USA go go go
Posted by: Anonymous | June 12, 2006 09:37 AM
USA will win 1:0 it will be a close match but the Czech cannot handle are speed if we decide to use it. Go USA!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 12, 2006 10:28 AM
GO USA!!! USA I#1!!!!! WE R GUNNA GO ALL THE WAY!!! WE R GUNNA WIN DAY!!!
Posted by: ASHLIE!!! | June 12, 2006 11:00 AM
USA IS GUNNA KICK SO CZECH BOOTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Nikki Miller | June 12, 2006 11:22 AM
As Teddy said, I fully expect Nedved and Rosicky to play. The question is, are they fully fit and 100 percent. If they are just a step slower than normal, it could make a big difference in the midfield for this match. Speed kills.
20 Minutes to game time! Time for a long lunch break and hopefully a rowdy crowd at the pub. We've been waiting for this one!
Posted by: Heath Young | June 12, 2006 11:34 AM
Looks like 'Jesus' was right. 3-nil Czechs.
Very, very, very disappointing effort. Total lack of energy and totally outclassed. No one showed up to play.
Posted by: yoyo | June 12, 2006 01:53 PM
Well, that was a deflating start. Not at all what I expected. Not that I expected 3 points, but at least some bright spots and maybe get lucky and steal a point. Like you said yoyo, no one showed up. One dimensional play, just sending balls into the box in the air, of which the US won none. No McBride, no Donovan or Beasely taking people on, Convey looked out of his element, and unfortunately Pope looked a step behind most of the time.
That's not what I expect of this team. It just looked like one of those bad games where your go to guys are off. Hopefully they can put it behind them and show some mettle on Saturday. They are certainly capable of more than they displayed today.
Posted by: Heath Young | June 12, 2006 02:24 PM
very sad. USA looked terrible. We need to start Dempsey, E. Johnson... wake some people up. The guys on the field today looked half asleep.
Posted by: tonyd | June 12, 2006 02:29 PM
HA HA USA lost 3-0 what now
Posted by: Rafael Sanchez | June 12, 2006 04:20 PM
USA LOST HAHAHA UNLIKE MEXICO THEY BEAT IRAN 3-1
Posted by: Anonymous | June 12, 2006 04:23 PM
usa may loose but they have a hard lineup right off the bat. they will have to step it up a notch if they want to make it
Posted by: storm | June 12, 2006 07:39 PM
HEY RAFAEL SANCHEZ,
Go suck a nut!!!!!!!!!! I swear if you live in America your a damn idot in not believing in your counrty.
Posted by: kristina | June 12, 2006 09:44 PM
Go USA!USA!USA!USA!USA! i love you
Posted by: kristina | June 12, 2006 09:45 PM
LOL CZ-USA 3:0!! MUAHAHAHA... SUCKERS!!!
Posted by: Ali-eN | June 13, 2006 03:31 AM
U.S. soccer fans hoping to see the team improve on 2002, the loss to the Czech Republic is a total buzz kill
Posted by: usa stinks | June 13, 2006 11:47 AM
Ultimately, however, blame has to fall where it is due.
Landon Donovan was marked out of the game completely, reducing the USA to 10 men on the field. A star is a man who steps up under pressure. Donovan's marketers have always tried to play down the fact that he flopped in Germany not once but twice, but it will be hard to make people forget today's flop No. 3. Credit the Czechs for knowing whom they had to stop and doing it, but it's also fair to blame Donovan for not being able to solve his problems on the field.
And there's a bit of denial at work here, too: "I'm not sure 3-0 is entirely fair," said Donovan, postgame. "They (Czechs) made three plays that we didn't make."
Eddie Pope looks too slow and too old to do this anymore. And Pablo Mastroeni was non-existent. Both solid guys, team guys — but not in the same class they offered in Korea
The youngsters didn't impress, either. Bobby Convey was tied up and out of the flow much of the game; Oguchi Onyewu looked solid in the back yet made the mistake of conceding far too much space to attackers and was caught early with a yellow card that could be important in the remaining matches. And in a World Cup in which it already has been well established that you can shoot accurately from 30 yards out, defenders have to pay attention and adjust.
Arena said he was "disappointed" in his team tonight.
usa stinks, our dream is over, ruined, lost 4 ever
Posted by: no more usa | June 13, 2006 11:50 AM
USA lost finally someone put USA in their place. They always think they are the best in everythning. Good luck MExico n Czech Republic... USA your good at other things but You are going home!!! baby
Posted by: Czexican | June 14, 2006 01:51 AM
HEY Czexican,
Mexico sucks! They dont have anything on us. We ( the US) can beat them anytime.
Posted by: kristina | June 14, 2006 08:43 PM
GO USA!USA!USA! I love you.
WE WILL BEAT ITALY AND GHANA
Posted by: kristina | June 14, 2006 08:44 PM
I would like to see mexico play czech and not get beat into the dirt. If i was to bet on it I would say they would lose by at least 5. If anyone thinks mexico is going to go to the world cup your a moron.
Posted by: storm | June 15, 2006 12:00 AM
Brazil is going to crush any team they face...
Joga Bonito....Play Beautiful!
Posted by: DragonBurn | June 15, 2006 11:33 PM
USA, Still rocks!!!
Posted by: bac | June 15, 2006 11:41 PM
With Dida in goal, Cafu, Cicinho, Roque Junior, Juan, Lucio and Roberto Carlos on defence, Emerson and Alex in the middle, and Juninho Pernambucano, Julio Baptista, Robinho,"The Unmistakable" Ronaldinho, Kaka, Adriano and Ronaldo up front the unbeatable team will head to the Cup undefeted and then dominate whoever they have to, to win.
Joga Bonito.... Play Beautiful!
A Xícara Mundial será ganha pelo Brasil!
Posted by: DragonBurn | June 15, 2006 11:59 PM
Omg sean...
i never knew u were that smart..
well wen it some to soccer i guess ur smart..
haha... well
BRASIL IS GONNA KICK BUTT!!
{{note how it didn't use profanity!}}
Posted by: Dundalksoccer3 | June 16, 2006 12:06 AM
kristina ,
Are you dumb or what what the (place name of the devils home here) are you thinking do u not know anything about soccer . stop saying ( place other name for poop here ) about mexico and any other team in the future . the usa is good but it will take a BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG miracle for them to be the best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you have a response post it and I unlike you know almost every thing about soccer so I CAN ASSURE AND PROVE ANYTHING YOU SAY IS FALSE ????
Posted by: soccer player (almost ) expert pro | August 7, 2006 07:45 AM
Cool! That's a cvleer way of looking at it!
Posted by: Early | April 29, 2011 11:09 PM