Reality Czech

This is an accurate breakdown of what broke down for the U.S. team on Monday --

Coach Bruce Arena and several of his players noted that the Czechs' first goal, five minutes into the match, put the U.S. in a hole too deep to climb out of. As if the Czechs stumbled upon that goal like you might find a five Euro note on the sidewalk

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Rosicky, rated by Arena as by far the player of the match, is an example of how deep grow the soccer roots of a great European team like the Czechs. Rosicky's father was a celebrated star on the national (Czechoslovakia) team, and Tomas was a serious star before he was 10, a slick pro at 17. And now: dazzling.

The Czechs, ailing and aging as they are, gave a little tutorial Monday. This is the next step.