Czech Republic v USA
by Herr Danny
The USA would struggle to see off American Samoa on this kind of form. How can a team be so badly prepared for a World Cup campaign? No man in the starting XI can possibly be happy with his performance in their opening group game. The Czech Republic looked organised, fit and full of confidence, whereas the US were sluggish and shapeless.
Eddie Lewis, such an important part of the Leeds Utd team, was barely able to keep the ball on the pitch. Claudio Reyna succeeded in his mission to get booked but showed no leadership or intelligence in his play. Landon Donovan must have wandered off for a corn dog after five minutes and returned just before the end of the match. He was as much use a chocolate windshield.
The USA will have to completely rethink their gameplan for the match against Italy. If they continue to play aimless balls beyond McBride, give away silly free-kicks and fail to remove brainless Convey from the team they will get one hell of a beating. However, if they can use the channels effectively, win a higher percentage of second-balls and play to feet they will stand a chance of gaining a point.
For the Czech Republic, Nedved and Rosicky showed good touches and dominated the midfield exchanges, taking it in turns to be the driving force. The two of them ensured the US had very little time on the ball, and as a result the Americans lost their self-belief early in the first-half. Man-mountain Jan Koller found scoring as easy as eating toast and had he not been injured would no doubt have scored a hat-trick of headers. The major difference between the teams was the quality of the balls from defence to midfield, and from midfield to the front players. This match proved that if a full-back has to take two touches before he can move the ball on to his wide man, there is little chance of taking any opposition players out of the game.
On this evidence the Czech Republic look sure to progress to the Second Round. If the USA come away from their next match with nothing, Bruce Arena may need to practice flipping burgers.
June 13th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
IT was an abysmal game for the US. They clearly believed the hype that they were “the best US team ever fielded.” They still played like crap. The offense was lifeless, the transition game was non-existent.
This is one of the few times I have ever seen a US game where I thought that the Bruce did a poor job managing. He should have taken McBride out much earlier and has Johnson and Wolf screaming down the flanks with the ball to slot it back to the top of the box for Convey and Beasley to run onto. I think Bruce was trying to match height with height, and in my humble opinion he should have fought height with speed. They kept trying to chip the insanely tall Czechs. They were never able to chip the Czechs. Not once. I guess we are too used to playing the 4′3″ CONCACAF teams, and tall Europeans give is troubles.
McBride was completely ineffective; he was neither an aerial threat nor an offensive ball winner.
Donovan must have had a couple of corn dogs, for the amount of time he was a non-factor.
At least Eddie Johnson tried to put some shots on frame.
Wolf was inserted way too late in the game top be of use.
Reyna was incapable of holding the ball for distribution.
Beasley was afraid to take anyone on with the ball at his feet.
Convey was not afraid to take on people, he just couldn’t.
Was Mastroeni even on the pitch? He was so invisible as a defensive mid that he might as well have been on the bench.
Obrien looked “okay” but he never made a mark on the match. They did not put him on the team to look “Okay.”
Cherundalo was at least willing to run. He had an okay showing, so I am not sure why he was subbed.
Pope looked desperate most of the game. He seemed to constantly be chasing.
Onyewu looked dazed and confused every time they showed a close-up of him. Not to mention picking up a yellow way too early.
Lewis was marginal at best, and you are correct, he a difficult time keeping the ball on the pitch.
Keller looked like he was ball watching on the first goal.
Had the US played well and the Czechs beat them , I would not feel too bad, but it looked like a bunch of US boys were playing the Czech men’s national team. All that being said, I think the Czechs made meals out of a bunch of the fouls. I am sorry, if Beasley knocks you over, you wanted to be knocked over.
Good Lord, things had best be different on Saturday against the Italians.
June 13th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
The USA looked ‘off Koller’, they must have been feeling ‘as Rosicky as a parrot’
June 13th, 2006 at 1:58 pm
Will be interesting to see how the USA respond for the next game. Surely they will start with a more attacking formation.
Gavin Peacock (BBC co-commentator) was awful.
June 14th, 2006 at 8:45 am
I didn’t see the game, so can’t really comment. I will anyway. You shouldn’t forget that the Czech’s are a very good side (if getting a bit old). I can see the Italian’s taking the game a bit too easy and coming a cropper, so it’s not all over for the US of A just yet.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:25 am
The Czechs were made to look very good. It was like the US were playing with 9 men.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:11 am
playing with 9 slow and un-interested men
June 14th, 2006 at 11:33 am
…wearing blindfolds
June 14th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
…and lead boots.
June 14th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
Maybe FIFA should introduce a handicap system to even games out. Brazil have to wear lead boots, blindfolds and a strait-jacket whilst the Angolan keeper is allowed to pile furniture up on his line during the game.
June 15th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Is it me or does Kasey Keller never look bothered when he concedes a goal?
June 17th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
Apparently the US are going to start with Donovan up front versus Italy. A step in the right direction?
June 19th, 2006 at 9:04 am
As a Leicester City fan, what used to bother me was that Kasey Keller wore glasses in post match interviews, but not whilst on pitch.
June 19th, 2006 at 2:41 pm
I can understand why that would bother you. However I would have been more bothered by Ian Walker playing in goal.