HAMBURG - Czech giant Jan Koller presents the Americans with a massive problem when it comes to matching their quarter-final run from the 2002 World Cup.
How well they handle the 2.01m forward will play a critical role when the two sides meet in Group E at Gelsenkirchen on Monday.
"He's a handful," US midfielder Ben Olsen said. "He's something we're not used to seeing. He's not just a big tall player up there. He's a great passer. He can move the ball around."
Koller, the all-time leading Czech scorer who recently left Borussia Dortmund for Monaco, returned in April from knee surgery after suffering an injury last September. His massive presence in the middle ignites the Czech attack.
"You can't expect our players are going to win headers or 50-50 balls from him," said four-time US World Cup veteran Claudio Reyna.
"When it comes to Koller, their guys are going already. They expect the flick on. They gamble he's going to win the ball. The job around Koller is to win the second balls."
Koller is a fearsome figure and was a popular topic for US players, but Reyna drew the line at respect.
"He brings a quality we have to respect. But at this level, I don't think anyone is afraid of anyone," Reyna said.
"The dimension he brings to the team is something different. They can change their style of play and play long balls to him. We always have to be aware of where he is.
Koller, 33, can be a target as well as a distributor for playmakers Pavel Nedved and Tomas Rosicky although his strike-partner Milan Baros is a doubtful starter for the game.
"There has to be great communication and interaction between the forwards," US forward Brian McBride said. "Size alone doesn't matter in that respect."
"For a guy that size he has got great feet," said defender Steve Cherundolo, the smallest US player at 5-foot-6. "He's a great target for their other forwards. They run through the channel. They expect him to win the ball."
Koller should face a challenge from 6-foot-4 US defender Oguchi Onyewu, affectionately known as "Gooch".
"The most important thing with Gooch is he has got better mentally," US star Landon Donovan said.
"It's hard to be a 24-year-old defender going against some of these players. He makes it look like he has been around a while."
Koller has been around a while and US defender Gregg Berhalter saw plenty of Koller while playing for Munich 1860 in the Bundesliga.
"His elbows go around your head but he is also pretty skillful on the ground," Berhalter said. "And time after time, Baros somehow finds a way to get to the ball. He's not the prettiest player but he gets the job done."
The only time most US players see someone of Koller's size is when watching National Basketball Association games.
"He's a basketball player," US defender Eddie Pope said. "If he had been born in the United States, he would have been a basketball player."

06/09/2006 15:39 GMT