CZECH REPUBLIC
Date: June 12.
Venue: Gelsenkirchen.
History: After a 40-year wait, the USA returned to the World Cup finals in 1990 and was crushed by Czechoslovakia, 5-1, in the opener. The USA and the Czech Republic havenÆt met since the breakup of Czechoslovakia at the senior international level. Current players on both national teams met in 2000 when the USA and Czech Republic played to a 2-2 tie at the Olympics.
Qualifying: Finished second behind the Netherlands in its group, then beat Norway in a playoff.
Player to Watch: Pavel Nedved. The 2003 European Player of the Year came out of international retirement to lead
Our Take: A stronger version of Poland, which beat the USA, 3-1, at the 2002 World Cup, athletic but perhaps ageing.
ITALY
Date: June 17.
Venue: Kaiserslautern.
History: The USA also faced Italy at Italia Æ90, losing, 1-0. The USA hasnÆt beaten Italy in five meetings, but it did manage a 1-1 tie in Chicago to clinch U.S. Cup Æ92.
Qualifying: Easily won EuropeÆs Group 5.
Player to Watch: Luca Toni, veteran striker who has come into his own, leading the resurgence of Fiorentina and scoring goals for the Azzurri.
Our Take: The group favorite but a team with a history of underestimating less-fancied opponents.
GHANA
Date: June 22.
Venue: Nuremberg.
History: The USA and Ghana have never met.
Qualifying: The Black Stars qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time, beating out 2010 World Cup host South Africa.
Player to Watch: Michael Essien, one of the most highly prized young midfielders in Europe. He was sold by French club Lyon to Chelsea for $47 million over the summer. Essien faces a European ban for a studs-up tackle on Liverpool's Dietmar Hamann in Champions League play.
Our Take: Ghana faces an uphill battle in its first World Cup. ItÆs never translated its success at the youth level to the senior level.