USA v Czech Republic: The USA could spring one of the biggest early surprises of the tournament when they open their campaign against the Czech Republic in Gelsenkirchen this afternoon. At their best, the Czechs would be too strong for the Americans but age and injuries mean they are no longer the side they once were, whilst the Americans are nothing if not consistent and tough.
There has been a steady succession of injury scare stories coming out of the Czech camp in the last week, so much so USA defender Jimmy Conrad speculated yesterday perhaps the Czechs were involved in psychological warfare. Striker Milan Baros and midfielders Pavel Nedved and Tomas Rosicky have been reported injured. In reality, Nedved and Rosicky seem certain to start with doubts remaining about Baros.
If and when Baros does line up, he will partner Jan Koller, another player on the way back from injury having missed almost all of this season due to a cruciate-knee ligament injury picked up in September.
As much as the injury scares, time itself may work against the Czechs. Koller, Galasek, Poborsky and Nedved are all now 33-year-olds. In particular, their most inspirational player, Nedved, is no longer the great player of three seasons back.
The USA, too, have their own injury worries. Captain and Manchester City midfielder Claudio Reyna underwent an ankle injury in January but he has played 10 Premiership games since then and considers himself match fit. In attack, either Landon Donovan of the Los Angeles Galaxy or PSV's DaMarcus Beasely could partner Fulham striker Brian McBride.
Germany 2006 represents the USA's fifth consecutive finals appearance while coach Bruce Arena is the longest-serving coach in international football, having been in charge since October 1998. Both he and his team may put that experience to good use this afternoon.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
USA (4-4-2): Keller; Lewis, Onyewu, Pope, Cherundolo; Convey, Reyna, Mastroeni, Beasley; Donovan, McBride.
CZECH REPUBLIC (4-4-2): Cech; Ujfalusi, Grygera, Rozehnal, Jankulovski; Poborsky, Galasek, Rosicky, Nedved; Baros, Koller.
USA v Czech Republic Gelsenkirchen, kick-off 5.0
On TV: RTÉ 2, BBC 1
