''My grandfather had a picture of the Italian national team in his delicatessen in Brooklyn. … Because my grandparents were born in Italy, IÆve always thought about playing Italy in a World Cup. That dream has come true. So thatÆs nice, in terms of heritage. IÆm not sure how nice it will be playing them.''

— U.S. coach Bruce Arena, whose paternal grandparents emigrated from Naples and his maternal grandparents came from Sicily to the USA.

By Mike Woitalla in Leipzig

Karel Bruckner, coach of the Czech Republic, wore a big smile, punctuated his answers with a friendly chuckle and admitted he couldnÆt name a single American player. He didnÆt even recognize the name Landon Donovan.

Ratomir Dujkovic, GhanaÆs Serbian coach, also grinned while saying he knew nothing about the USA.

''I must observe them,'' he said. ''I will check on the Internet when they have a friendly. And I will come watch them, if they give me a visa.''

As for a grumpy Marcello Lippi, coach of Italy, one was unsure whether he didnÆt know the Americans or whether he just didnÆt want to discuss them.

''I do not name names,'' he said.

U.S. coach Bruce Arena didnÆt believe his opponentsÆ ignorance of his squad would be an advantage for the Americans.

''TheyÆve got six months,'' he said. ''TheyÆll know everything they need to know about our team by the time we play.''

The USA canÆt be too pleased with the draw. They landed in what comes closest to what the Germans call a ''Hammer Group.''

The Czech Republic, besides the Dutch, are the strongest non-seeded team. Italy, of course, is a world power. And Ghana may be the best out of Africa.

The Americans play the Czechs first, in Gelsenkirchen. Then comes Italy in Kaiserslautern and Ghana in Nuremberg.

The first two games replicate the U.S. schedule at the 1990 World Cup, when it lost its opener to what was then Czechoslovakia, 5-1, fell to host Italy, 1-0, before losing to Austria, 2-1, during a first-round exit. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who didnÆt see action at Italia Æ90, is the only member of that World Cup squad slated to appear in next summerÆs finals.

Keller was one of the few players a group of Czech journalists could name. The player they thought of first when asked about American players was long-retired Alexi Lalas and ''that young star, the 15- or 16-year-old'' — a reference to Freddy Adu, 16, who has yet to play for the U.S. national team (or for Ghana, for which he is also eligible to play at the senior international level).

''WeÆre pleased that we know ''ôWeÆll decide on the field how difficult the group is. Obviously, weÆre in a group with some very good teams.

The Czech Republic is the second-ranked team in the world [according to FIFA rankings]. I donÆt know where Italy is ranked, but theyÆre obviously a top 10 team in anybodyÆs opinion. And Ghana is an excellent newcomer to the World Cup.''

In those dubious FIFA rankings, Italy, which has lost only twice in 18 games during LippiÆs tenure, is ranked No. 12.

''The USA is ranked higher than we are,'' Lippi said. Asked what significance of that ranking is, he replied, ''It means theyÆre a good team.''

The Czechs were the most impressive team in the first round of the 2002 European Championship before suffering an upset to champion-to-be Greece in the semifinals.

Ghana, which is on a 14-game unbeaten streak, conceded only four goals in its 10 qualifying games and ousted South Africa, which had qualified for the last two World Cups .

''Nobody strikes fear in our hearts,'' Arena said. ''We have experienced players who have played against good players. WeÆre obviously going to respect them. They have outstanding players.

But we have to get on with the business of winning the games. If weÆre in awe of their players weÆll never win.''