By Ridge Mahoney in Hamburg Forget the rankings, forget the perceived prejudices, forget the statistics.
In the next six days, the U.S. national team can blacken some of those eyes that so disdainfully view the American game. It could also confirm those prejudices in the minds of many and dishearten the fans at home.
This World Cup is not just another signpost on the road to respect, as impressive as it is to be playing in a fifth consecutive competition after a 40-year absence. It is instead a proving ground, a 180-minute run through a gauntlet formed by two of the EuropeÆs best teams.
(The Ghana game is also a severe test, but its ultimate importance wonÆt be known until the results against Italy and the Czech Republic are recorded.)
ThereÆd be no shame of failing to advance out of a brutal Group E, at least in the minds of the soccer-savvy. To most of the U.S. audience, however, the bright light bathing this team in the buildup to the tournament would turn into a blinding glare of despair.
ôWeÆve got a tough draw, we know that,ö says goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who in his club career has played against several of the Czechs he faces Monday. ôWeÆve got three great teams weÆre playing against, two European [opponents] in Europe. We know weÆve got a task in front of ourselves but we also know weÆre capable of doing it. If we can continue to put out some of those stereotypes that are out there against the US Soccer program and be successful against teams like the Czech Republic and Italy in European competition, it would definitely go a long way for the game.ö
Numerous niggling injuries, not all of which can be confirmed, have been nagging the Czechs in their warmup games. If Milan Baros canÆt go, it would ease the burden on the Americans only slightly, as massive (6-foot-8) Jan Koller seems fully recovered from the knee injury that sidelined him from late September to early May and the slashing runs of Pavel Nedved can threaten any team.
Add in playmaker Tomas Rosicky, a tricky wide midfielder in Karel Poborsky, and an attacking left back in Marek Jankulovski, and youÆve got trouble.
ôTheir system is unique to the Czechs,ö says Coach Bruce Arena. ôMobility is the one the greatest assets of their attack, the movement of Baros, Rosicky, Nedved with Koller in the attack up high and the ability of Poborsky and Jankulovski to also come forward. TheyÆre very good on set pieces. As much as we talk about the attacking players, their back line is solid and their goalkeeper is outstanding.ö
That back line is led by Tomas Ujfalusi of Fiorentina and Jankulovski of AC Milan. That goalkeeper is Petr Cech, who broke into the first team at Sparta Prague at age 19 and now, at the ripe old age of 24, is a two-time Premier League champion with Chelsea.
ôWe know they have great players, and we know we have great players,ö says Arena. ôOur team is probably more about team than it is individuals, a collective effort by everyone on our team is critical for us to be successful.ö
Truth. The Americans need a solid, strong 90 minutes from every player and because of youth and freshness might be tougher at the end. The experience gained by players in Æ98 and Æ02 is one of the factors Arena is counting on to guide his players to the final whistle.
Arena, as usual, has kept his lineup within the camp and was planning to reveal it to the players Sunday night after a training session in Gelsenkirchen. He wouldnÆt even disclose who forward Brian Ching collided with in training Saturday. Ching suffered a cut that needed 13 stitches to close.
ôHe had a collision,ö was all Arena would say. When pressed if the collision was of a vehicular or human nature, he replied, ôA car ran over him at practice.ö
Ching is expected to be available for selection, as are all 23 players.
Part of the game plan, regardless of personnel, is to limit the Czechs opportunities on set plays and exploit the U.S. dead balls with the size and prowess of Brian McBride and Oguchi Onyewu in the air and the nimbleness of Landon Donovan and Bobby Convey in the attacking third.
Only the right midfield slot is in question and unless Arena takes a big gamble and lets loose Clint Dempsey, he must choose between two players relatively unfamiliar with that position: Josh Wolff and DaMarcus Beasley.
Wolff is one of the best linkmen on the team; Beasley prefers the left but has quickness, pace, experience and the defensive abilities to help central midfielders Pablo Mastroeni and Claudio Reyna contain the Czechs. Both have the pace and guile to find cracks between the defenders or get in behind them.
DempseyÆs daring attacking forays are a great asset., but his defending is still rudimentary and amid the whirl of buzzing Czechs would be lured into fouls. Yet just about every U.S. player will be tested by the class and quality of these foes.
ôThey attack with everything so sometimes they leave space, but their back four does a good job to support the play,ö says Reyna. ôThe more we play to our strengths and defend well, weÆre to a state now where always create chances against anybody. We feel that if we defend well weÆll create chances over 90 minutes because we have players who like to attack and maybe hit them on the break as well.ö
Only twice in ArenaÆs career has the U.S. beaten European opposition on that continent, and both of those wins were 1-0 victories over Poland. On Monday comes a steep upward step.
ôMost of the best teams in the world are from Europe so itÆs very competitive,ö says Reyna. ôBut weÆve played some good games even if we donÆt always get the results. ThatÆs one thing as a national team weÆd like to prove, and itÆs another challenge for us to do well on European soil.ö
Projected U.S. lineup: Keller; Steve Cherundolo, Eddie Pope, Onyewu, Eddie Lewis; Beasley, Mastroeni, Reyna, Convey; Donovan, McBride.