Disappointing start: Americans struggle in opening loss
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany – The United States looked like a bewildered World Cup newcomer again.
The Americans didn’t just lose Monday night, they were routed, roughed up and run over by the Czech Republic, a 3-0 crusher that put the Americans in danger of first-round elimination.
“I think the players as well as coaches are a bit shocked right now,” defender Eddie Lewis said.
Jan Koller, the Czech Republic’s 6-foot-7 1/2 forward, scored just five minutes in, and Tomas Rosicky added goals in the 36th and 76th minutes.
The United States managed just one shot on goal and showed little of the spark that earned it an opening 3-2 upset over Portugal four years ago, when it advanced to the quarterfinals in America’s best showing since 1930.
“We didn’t play well. We didn’t compete. We didn’t make the plays,” said goalkeeper Kasey Keller said, one of many U.S. players criticized by coach Bruce Arena. “It was just a shame. We definitely gave the game away, and that’s what we’re frustrated about.”
Landon Donovan and Brian McBride, the two U.S. forwards, didn’t even have any shots at all, and DaMarcus Beasley managed just one.
Arena rarely criticizes players publicly, but with a look of exasperation on his face, he didn’t hold back.
“Landon showed no aggressiveness tonight,” Arena said. “We got nothing out of Beasley on the night.”
He said Bobby Convey, who made his World Cup debut, was one of the few Americans who had “the courage” to attack.
Donovan and Beasley were surprise sensations four years ago, when they were just 20, but they were marked men.
“They swarmed them,” U.S. captain Claudio Reyna said.
The Americans got a pregame pep talk from President Bush, who called from Camp David and wished them well. But they undoubtedly disappointed millions back home and certainly the 5,000 or so fans who made the trek overseas, falling to 0-8 in Europe in World Cup play, getting outscored 24-4.
It could get worse. The Americans next play Saturday against three-time champion Italy, which opened with a 2-0 win over Ghana.
“We all have to learn quick, especially the young guys,” Reyna said. “We can’t wait months or years to get better. We have to get better quickly, and I think we can do that.”
In the last two World Cups, the only team to advance from the first round after losing its opener was Turkey, in 2002.
“It’s going to be hard, but it’s not over,” said Donovan, whose scoreless streak for the national team reached 16 games.
Reyna said the mind-set must change.
“Everyone has to be brave and want the ball,” he said. “We didn’t have guys aggressive enough.”
Four years ago, the United States broke on top in its opener against Portugal in the fourth minute. This time, it was the Americans who fell behind quickly.
Keller sent a goal kick downfield, and the Czechs countered, with David Rozehnal playing the ball to the right flank for Zdenek Grygera and catching Lewis upfield. Grygera crossed, and the 6-foot-7 1/2-inch Koller, who returned only last month from knee surgery, positioned himself between Oguchi Onyewu and Eddie Pope.
“He shoved me a little bit in back, created space for himself,” Pope said.
Rising above the defense like a redwood towering over shrubs, Koller easily bent his bald head to meet the cross and put the ball past Keller for his 43rd goal in 69 international appearances, a Czech record.
Reyna, who hasn’t scored for the national team since 2000, nearly tied the score in the 28th, curling a 25-yard shot that got by a diving Petr Cech in goal. Reyna had a hopeful look on his face, but his expression quickly changed to disgust when the ball clanked off the far post.
Eddie Johnson, who entered at halftime when the United States switched to a three-forward formation, missed just wide in the 70th minute and was high in the 76th.
“I was just trying to make something happen,” he said.