US men's national team coach Bruce Arena, the longest-tenured manager at the 2006 World Cup, predicted ahead of Monday's Group E opener in Gelsenkirchen that several traditional football powerhouses would be eliminated earlier than expected, citing a narrowing gap between elite nations and emerging sides.
Arena expressed confidence heading into the match against the Czech Republic, dismissing reports that Czech players including striker Tomas Rosicky and midfielder Tomas Galasek were nursing injuries. He said his squad was preparing to face a fully fit Czech side regardless of what the press had reported.
Forward Landon Donovan acknowledged needing about a week to settle into a routine in Germany but said the squad was now focused on studying Czech Republic footage and developing a game plan. Midfielder Pablo Mastroeni echoed that the team had prepared both mentally and physically for a strong opponent.
The US previously beat Portugal 3-2 in its 2002 World Cup opener before reaching the quarterfinals. Donovan stressed the importance of winning the first match, noting that group rivals Italy and Ghana had not yet entered his thinking.
Arena added that football's continued growth in the United States no longer depends entirely on World Cup results, though he considered another run to the final eight a realistic goal.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in June 2006, in its own words.