Italy have been damn impressive. Oh yeah and Ghana, Essien looking good.. Totti's movement is world class. I came close to putting Pirlo in my fantasy team, but Italy have one of the most impressive depth in quality for the whole squad, was not sure if he would actually start. Who was it that said Italy would have no chance because of the scandals going on in the national league? First time i have seen Toni & Gilardino, v.impressive. Forget the 'Don't be too disheartened' comment from the US game, your gonna get whipped.

US may finish with zero wins.

ghana's keeper has been pretty great (minus one goal)

fuck, i just jinxed him

Totti i hope you are okay for the next game as yourself & Riquelme have been the most outstanding players i have seen so far. Apart from Peter Crouch.

What was so special about Crouch's performance? He didn't do much of anything except look goofy on the pitch.

Dude being sarcastic, moxie, buddy. Taking the piss outta myself/england fans.

crouch at least held his ground. gerrard did nothing.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaand my interest in Soccer ends.

Way to show up.

Finishing 0-3 this time will probably be viewed more embarassing then 1998, but it probably shouldn't be.

World Cup 1998 for USA

Group F
Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
Germany 7 3 2 1 0 6 2 +4
Yugoslavia 7 3 2 1 0 4 2 +2
Iran 3 3 1 0 2 2 4 -2
USA 0 3 0 0 3 1 5 -4

The only thing that will make this year worse is if we finish with a goal differential of more than -6 and fail to score a goal.

We should all get excited for WC 2010 in South Africa, we always do better outside of Europe.

Finishing 0-3 isn't too embarassing against this group, but playing like ass in the first game was.

This is my view too. I don't mind losing to a better team (which Czech Republic clearly were) if there is some "beauty" in the play. Beauty I define as heart, energy, determination, creativity, strength...

I predict we'll lose to Italy 2-1, but that our side will play with much higher level of energy. And start Johnson and O'Brien for God's sake.

arena ripped beasley and donovan after the match. when will everyone figure out that landy-cakes is a pansy?

honestly, i'm secretly happy that the czechs won--my people--and they deserved it. but i'm bummed koller's out. his absence is really gonna hurt them as the weeks wear on unless they can find a passable replacement.

on to tomorrow. . . it'll be interesting to see how croatia attempts to handle brazil's all out attack and if france can easily handle a young but talented switzerland.

Damn shame that Koller's out. Was it a hamstring? I was half asleep at the time.

And who did Rosicky play for a few years ago? I know I've seen him in CL and been impressed. Actually, come to think of it, it was probably Sparta Prague. Nice to see he's getting a chance in a big team.

So, from people who saw the game, is the consensus that the Czechs look good for a run at the final?

How did Italy look with Gattuso and Zambrotta out and Nesta and Totti coming back from injury?

How many of the American guys play in Europe? From what I've heard it's not many. I think that's what's going to make a big difference because it is an entirely different level to the US major league.

I hate to harp on about Australia again, but it's probably a good analogy to make in terms of two counties that are generally very strong at any sport you can think of, but without much of a football tradition. The thing that allowed us to win that Japan game (apart from the genius touch that is Guus of course) is that even though none of these guys have been to the WC or really get to play meaningful international matches, all of the key players have years of experience in strong European leagues so they know they can cut it and belong at that level. It's got nothing to do with these matches being played in Europe, but the toughness and class that facing against quality players every week brings. The US league is never going to be to match that.

Well, that, and the Czechs are damn good. Most teams would have trouble playing them

In watching the Czech vs. USA game Im convinced that the Czech team isn't that great, it's just that the Americans played so poorly.

There's no way that we're going to beat Italy on the 16th.

Rosicky was fucking awesome back at Dortmund.

But then again, you cant always transfer how good a player is ourside of Germany, those krauts play the game a bit differently.

the czechs are quite a good team - a lot of those players play for well respected european clubs

Koller is a fucking fantastic striker, but hes getting on in years. Shame hes out of the tournament.

Who else have they got apart from Baros?

Vratislav Lokvenc. He's about the same size as Koller but nowhere near the finisher.

They also have Marek Heinz. I've been impressed with him when I've seen him (you may remember he scored a brilliant free kick against Germany at Euro 2004) but apparently he runs hot and cold.

According to the news today Koller's injury isn't as bad as they thought and he might play again in the tournament.

I'm pretty sure 12 of the American players play in Europe or played in Europe.
Tim Howard plays for Man. U
Kasey Keller plays for Borussia Moenchengladbach
Marcus Hahnemann plays for Reading
Carlos Bocanegra plays for Fulham
Steve Cherundolo plays for Hanover 96
Eddie Lewis plays for Leeds
Gregg Berhalter plays for Energie Cottbus
ONYEWU Oguchi plays for Standard Liege
Claudio Reyna plays for Manchester City
Bobby Convey plays for Reading
Demarcus Beasley plays for PSV Eindhoven
Brian McBride plays for Fulham

I forgot to add that today is going to suck.
We got a memo at work that we can't watch tv unless it involves the News or Weather. I hope that means the big shots in the main office can't watch Cubs or Orioles games during work hours too. I'll have to monitor the games via the internet. None of the games look that enthralling, but I would have liked to watch Brazil and France.

It kills me that Togo can score a goal with all the controversy in their camp and the Americans only came close once yesterday. Eric Wynalda was on Mike & Mike this morning and basically said they shouldn't be playing Bobby Convey and that our midfielders need to be taller than 5'8" across the line to be competitive.

That's more than I thought. But then I only really know Reyna, Beasley and McBride. Although, is Howard a goalkeeper. If so I remember some report about him. He wouldn't get many games though would he?

So maybe the US just needs a better coach - one that has a strong sense of tactics to help overcome what you give up in skill. Cos Hiddink has clearly done that for us, and did it for South Korea last time around which is now pretty obvious after that lacklustre performance just now