Czech stretch

HAMBURG, Germany – Jan Koller is perched at the top of the Czech offense, sticking out like a redwood, a 6-foot-7 1/2-inch target towering above defenders and teammates.

“He’s different,” U.S. captain Claudio Reyna said. “I think Koller is really special.”

Bulky and bald, with bulging veins on huge calves, he looks a little like Peter Boyle in “Young Frankenstein,” a monster of a forward nicknamed “Dino” because of his height and 220-pound weight.

He has a Czech-record 42 goals in 68 appearances with the national team, and containing Koller is one of the keys for the United States heading into the Americans’ World Cup opener Monday.

For many months, it was unclear whether Koller would play in the tournament. He tore left knee ligaments while playing for Borussia Dortmund against Mainz 05 in a German Bundesliga game Sept. 24, and many Czech fans worried.

“There’s simply nobody who could replace Koller,” Czech coach Karel Bruckner said.

While many European soccer players choose to have their knees repaired by Dr. Richard Steadman in Colorado, Koller remained in Europe and was operated on by Dr. Michael Strobel in Bad Griebach on Oct. 7. His projected rehabilitation time was eight months, but he returned May 2, then scored twice in his club’s season finale against Bayern Munich on May 13.

Koller joined the Czech team for its World Cup preparations, and had a right thigh injury during training camp. But he started and played until the 71st minute May 30 against Costa Rica, then scored twice and set up Pavel Nedved for a goal while playing until the 60th minute in a 3-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on June 3.

Against the Soca Warriors, he had yards of space and capitalized.

“Defenders have to ensure we’re constantly challenging him in the air, not making it easy for him, not making it just so he can knock down everything and have a field day,” U.S. center back Eddie Pope said.

Oguchi Onyewu, a 6-4, 210-pound American center back, is used to being the tallest player on the field. He sounded surprised that Koller is nearly 6-8.

“Four inches taller?” Onyewu said. “Oh, oh, oh.”

American right back Steve Cherundolo, who at 5-6 will be looking way up, has found himself paired against Koller at times while playing for Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga. He thinks he’s held his own.