USA v Czech Republic, 12 June 2006

Score3-0 to Czech Republic
RefereeCarlos Amarilla
CompetitionFIFA World Cup Finals group E
VenueVeltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen
Attendance52,000
Kick-Off: 18:00 Local (17:00 BST) Assistant referees: Amelio Andino (Paraguay) Bernal Manuel (Paraguay) Fourth official: Carlos Chandía (Chile) Fifth official: Rodrigo González (Chile) Man of the Match: Tomáš Rosický (Czech Republic) Czech Republic got off to a flying start with a fabulous victory over USA. Giant striker Jan Koller headed home a Zdenek Grygera cross after five minutes before Tomas Rosicky's 30-yard screamer doubled their half-time advantage. After Koller went off injured Tomas Ujfalusi headed wide and Rosicky hit the bar, before racing through and chipping over Kasey Keller to seal it. USA captain Claudio Reyna saw a 25-yard shot cannon back off a post in the first half, but they were well beaten. The 36th minute strike by new Arsenal signing Tomas Rosicky is a contender for World Cup Wonder Goals. Jan Koller sustained a thigh injury just before half time but the injury is not as serious as first feared.

0  USA

Manager: Bruce Arena

3  Czech Republic

Manager: Karel Bruckner

Goals:

Goals:

Jan Koller 5 G
Tomáš Rosický 36 G
Tomáš Rosický 76 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Kasey Keller
Defender Oguchi Onyewu
Defender Eddie Pope
Defender/Midfielder Steve Cherundolo
Midfielder DaMarcus Beasley
Midfielder Bobby Convey
Midfielder Landon Donovan
Midfielder Eddie Lewis
Midfielder Pablo Mastroeni
Midfielder Claudio Reyna (captain)
Forward Brian McBride

Starting lineup:

Petr Čech Goalkeeper
Zdeněk Grygera Defender
David Rozehnal Defender
Tomáš Galásek Midfielder (captain)
Pavel Nedvěd Midfielder
Jaroslav Plašil Midfielder
Karel Poborský Midfielder
Tomáš Rosický Midfielder
Jan Koller Forward

Substitutions:

Eddie Johnson for Steve Cherundolo 46
John O'Brien for Pablo Mastroeni 46
Josh Wolff for Brian McBride 77

Substitutions:

Vratislav Lokvenc for Jan Koller 45
Jan Polák for Karel Poborský 82
Jiří Stajner for Tomáš Rosický 86

Cards:

Oguchi Onyewu 4 Y
Claudio Reyna 60 Y

Cards:

David Rozehnal 16 Y
Vratislav Lokvenc 59 Y
Tomáš Rosický 81 Y
Zdeněk Grygera 88 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann
Goalkeeper Tim Howard
Defender Chris Albright
Defender Jimmy Conrad
Defender/Centre back Gregg Berhalter
Defender/Centre back Carlos Bocanegra
Midfielder John O'Brien
Midfielder Ben Olsen
Midfielder/Forward Clint Dempsey
Forward Brian Ching
Forward Eddie Johnson
Forward Josh Wolff

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Jaromir Blažek
Goalkeeper Antonín Kinský
Defender Martin Jiránek
Defender Radoslav Kováč
Midfielder David Jarolím
Midfielder Pavel Mares
Midfielder Jan Polák
Midfielder Libor Sionko
Forward Milan Baroš
Forward Marek Heinz
Forward Jiří Stajner

Comments:

The USA continued to struggle against European opposition at the World Cup. Their record against teams from Europe is now three wins, one draw and 11 defeats. USA lost 1-5 to Czechoslovakia in the group stages of the 1990 World Cup finals. It was their only previous meeting with Czechoslovakia or the Czech Republic.

Comments:

Czech Republic are presently second in the FIFA rankings. Former Manchester United winger Karel Poborsky was the only member of the Czech Republic team today who currently plays his club football in the country's domestic league. Czech Republic became the first team in the 2006 World Cup finals to win a game by a three-goal margin. Tomas Rosicky became the fifth player to score twice at this tournament. The others are Miroslav Klose (Germany), Omar Bravo (Mexico), Paulo Wanchope (Costa Rica) and Tim Cahill (Australia).

0  USA

Manager: Bruce Arena

Goals:

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Kasey Keller
Defender Oguchi Onyewu
Defender Eddie Pope
Defender/Midfielder Steve Cherundolo
Midfielder DaMarcus Beasley
Midfielder Bobby Convey
Midfielder Landon Donovan
Midfielder Eddie Lewis
Midfielder Pablo Mastroeni
Midfielder Claudio Reyna (captain)
Forward Brian McBride

Substitutions:

Eddie Johnson for Steve Cherundolo 46
John O'Brien for Pablo Mastroeni 46
Josh Wolff for Brian McBride 77

Cards:

Oguchi Onyewu 4 Y
Claudio Reyna 60 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann
Goalkeeper Tim Howard
Defender Chris Albright
Defender Jimmy Conrad
Defender/Centre back Gregg Berhalter
Defender/Centre back Carlos Bocanegra
Midfielder John O'Brien
Midfielder Ben Olsen
Midfielder/Forward Clint Dempsey
Forward Brian Ching
Forward Eddie Johnson
Forward Josh Wolff

Comments:

The USA continued to struggle against European opposition at the World Cup. Their record against teams from Europe is now three wins, one draw and 11 defeats. USA lost 1-5 to Czechoslovakia in the group stages of the 1990 World Cup finals. It was their only previous meeting with Czechoslovakia or the Czech Republic.

3  Czech Republic

Manager: Karel Bruckner

Goals:

Jan Koller 5 G
Tomáš Rosický 36 G
Tomáš Rosický 76 G

Starting lineup:

Petr Čech Goalkeeper
Zdeněk Grygera Defender
David Rozehnal Defender
Tomáš Galásek Midfielder (captain)
Pavel Nedvěd Midfielder
Jaroslav Plašil Midfielder
Karel Poborský Midfielder
Tomáš Rosický Midfielder
Jan Koller Forward

Substitutions:

Vratislav Lokvenc for Jan Koller 45
Jan Polák for Karel Poborský 82
Jiří Stajner for Tomáš Rosický 86

Cards:

David Rozehnal 16 Y
Vratislav Lokvenc 59 Y
Tomáš Rosický 81 Y
Zdeněk Grygera 88 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Jaromir Blažek
Goalkeeper Antonín Kinský
Defender Martin Jiránek
Defender Radoslav Kováč
Midfielder David Jarolím
Midfielder Pavel Mares
Midfielder Jan Polák
Midfielder Libor Sionko
Forward Milan Baroš
Forward Marek Heinz
Forward Jiří Stajner

Comments:

Czech Republic are presently second in the FIFA rankings. Former Manchester United winger Karel Poborsky was the only member of the Czech Republic team today who currently plays his club football in the country's domestic league. Czech Republic became the first team in the 2006 World Cup finals to win a game by a three-goal margin. Tomas Rosicky became the fifth player to score twice at this tournament. The others are Miroslav Klose (Germany), Omar Bravo (Mexico), Paulo Wanchope (Costa Rica) and Tim Cahill (Australia).