Czech Republic beats the USA 3-0 

Full time 3-0. Czech-mate (sorry).

90:00 (+1) Did Josh Wolff really come on? Where is he?

89:45 Czech fans “ole”ing their sides passes, just to underline how heavily they have outclassed the US.

88:30 Plasil shoots over after beating His Not So Holiness Eddie Pope to the ball.

87:40 Donovan pops up in the box, brings it down but has his shot blocked.

86:15 Good inswinging free kick from Donovan, but it’s cleared easier than a check from Bill Gates.

84:40 Patrick Swayze nails O’Brien. Nedved has been different class today. Balboa (ESPN commentary) just suggested persuading Nedved to play MLS. Think he might find it too easy, based on today’s game.

82:40 Maybe this is the result to make FIFA rethink their world ranking system. Silver lining and all that.

80:33 EJ shoots just over. He’s looked US’s liveliest player. I’d like to see him start next game.

79:20 Convey keeps crossing, but it’s not aimed at anyone. Unless he’s actually aiming for Czech defenders. If so, he’s having the game of his life.

76:40 Arena adds insult to injury by bringing on Josh Wolff for Brian McBride.

75:30 GOAL! Nedved plays Rosicky through, who flicks it past Nedved. Stick a fork in this game, it’s done.

74:24 Donovan has found the strings and started to pull. He found Convey wide who crossed, nearly finding Eddie Johnson. Can’t see the US scoring twice past Cech though. I spy Josh Wolff’s pucked eyebrows ready to come on.

72:45 Another aimless attack from US ends up in Cech’s hands.

72:22 A poorly thumb isn’t exactly a manly injury, but I imagine it’s painful.

71:00 Pope with a great sliding challenge on Nedved. Pope’s holding his thumb. Looks like it could be broken.

70:00 Johnson flashed one wide from outside the box. Sadly, that’s the US’s best effort since Reyna hit the post.

67:30 Rosicky strikes another beauty that hits the bar. That boy has some sort of laser guided system in his right boot. If Bush is watching he’ll be looking to buy that technology.

67:11 O’Brien and Balboa can’t decide if Group E is the group of death. Looks like it might be for the US.

66:00 Convey with flashy work, but Czech defence not buying it.

64:30 DMB takes the ball off Jankulkovski’s toe in the box. First good thing DMB has done. Corner.

63:00 More wasteful passing from US. Have they confused the World Cup with MLS regular season?

61:25 Poborsky hits the side netting with a volley from a tight angle. The CR’s passing is detroying the US. They look more organized and more confident.

60:10Plasil (Reyna’s victim) leaves on a stretcher.

58:00 Reyna must have set his watch wrong because that tackle was late. He gets a yellow.

55:15 Rosicky splits the US defence with a pass but Lokvenc is offside. Looked too easy though.

53:00 Reyna with a fairly harmless tackle on Nedved, who rolls around like he’s being electrocuted.

50:30 Ujfalusi goes close with a header from Poborsky free kick. Even without Koller they’re beating the US in the air.

49:00 Quick shot of Koller limping, waving to the crowd.

48:45 Convey nearly finds McBride with a low cross. McBride’s movement has been slow, like he’s got lead in his boots.

47:30 How long will O’Brien last? Place your bets now.

46:30 Looks like US will go 3 at the back. This could be a good second half.

45 Second half underway. If USA pull this back to 2-2 this will be the “Miracle on Grass”.

-Mastroeni and Cherundolo are out.
-Looks like Eddie Johnson and John O’Brien are coming in. Nice.

-I’d like to see Eddie Johnson ready to go second half, maybe Clint Dempsey too. USA need some of Dempsey’s attitude and Johnson’s recent form has been impressive.

-The Czech Republic have been absolutely outstanding. Rosicky’s goal was like a guided missile, and they’ve gobbled up some aimless US crosses without any trouble.

Half-Time 2-0 to CR, but Koller out injured. USA have to make serious changes for the second half.

45:00 (+1) Onyewu uses those pythonesque muscles to put in a massive long throw, but Cech picks it off.

45:00 Koller gets a round of applause as he leaves. Doesn’t look good for him, his tournament could be over.

43:14 Lokvenc to replace Koller. Feel for Koller, he’s a top man, but that’s a huge break for the USA.

42:00 Replay shows his hamstring went, nothing to do with the challenge. That’s what happens when you pass 30. Koller leaves the field on a stretcher.

41:30 Onyewu floors Koller.

40:00 I’d settle for making it to half time at 2-0 now. Maybe Arena is working on a tactical masterplan for the second 45.

38:30 Karel Bruckner looking mean. He has nothing to complain about right now, and should cheer up.

37:20 Gooch not doing his reputation any favours with headers like that.

36:00 That’s depressing. Four years ago at this stage USA were 3-0 up against Portugal.

35:00 GOAL! Wish I hadn’t said that just. Onyewu heads it out straight to Rosicky who lashes it past Keller from 30 or so yards. I blame Bush. 2-0 to CR.

33:24 OK. Feeling more positive now. No longer fearing a repeat of 1990 (5-1 if you were wondering).

32:00 Dave O’Brien just used the word “defensing”.

31:00 His Holiness The (Eddie) Pope does a great job to muscle Nedved out of possession in the box.

28:50 DMB’s attempt to emulate Reyna’s shot is more than a little off target. They may never find that ball.

27:45 Reyna hits the post from distance after a good passing move. More short passing please.

26:30 Convey has the right attitude, but runs into a Czech defender.

24:15 Lewis crosses high towards no one.

23:00 Nedved with a nice outside of the foot cross, Grygera heads it just over. I’m fearing the worst.

22:00 Great cross from Reyna, but McBride looked at it like he’d never seen one before. Come on guys, sort it out.

20:00 Nothing convincing from the US. The counter attack game plan is no good if you’re losing.

16:33 Beasley losing possession. He’s looking poor. Again.

16:00 Donovan wins a free kick running at defenders.

15:00 Donovan hasn’t scored for 15 games. Now would be a good time to start up again.

13:30 US with possession, but CR sitting back. Just lobbing it into the box isn’t going to work. Donovan will never win a header and McBride can’t do it all on his own.

10:00 Lewis and Convey working together this time. They win a corner, Pope heads at goal from distance but it’s tame. He’s no Jan Koller.

9:30 Nedved offside from a one-two, but still had no trouble passing through the US defence.

7:23 That Czech goal was ruthless. It came from a Lewis pushing too far down the left side and they countered quickly. Wonder what Bush’s reaction was.

6:00 Terrible start from the US. Donovan goes down a la Nedved, but no free kick.

4:45 GOAL! Czech Republic. Koller got the wrong side of Pope to head in a cross from the right. Onyewu looked like he was lost.

3:50 Nedved goes down. Onyewu tackled him late and gets a yellow. Gooch lasted 4 minutes before being booked. The resulting free kick was harmless though.

2:50 Cherundolo floats a cross/shot over the bar. USA need his crossing to be better than that.

2:00 Grygera shoots but no danger.

1:00 US defend Czech free kick. Comes to nothing as Mastroeni is fouled.

0 We’re off!

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