Reliable sources told me this morning that MLS has turned down a "multi-million" dollar offer from English Premier League club Charlton Athletic for the New England Revolution midfielder. Dempsey, who has made no secret of his desire to leave MLS, will be out of contract with the league in 2007.

Published reports in England and the USA that West Ham United had approached the player's representatives or the league are incorrect. At least one other team has expressed interest in the player: Turkey's Fenerbahce has spoken to team personnel with the New England Revolution.

...and we sense this is going to be a long 30 minutes. Donovan, McBride and Dempsey are woorking hard up top but Simone Perrotta is finding a lot of space on that left side now.

Arena, for once, is also right to be frustrated at the fine hand trap the Italians just pulled off in the box on Dempsey's last foray.

We’ve had a heck of a first half here, folks and we’ll bring you up to speed before we kick off the second half and take you through the rest of the game.

This is inarguably a far more positive approach for the USA than we saw the other night against the Czechs. The USA looks driven, focused, and even leaping over each other at times to get the ball. And one thing that has been incredible: This is the first truly pro-USA crowd we’ve seen at a World Cup. Ever. This crowd is behind the team, loud and proactive and knows the game. It’s a real breath of fresh air.

Clint Dempsey is the revelation of the game; his screwy passes through the box have confounded the Italians, and the consistent pressure out of the back from Gooch and Mastroeni have kept the USA in the driver’s seat.

Now, we had a rather questionable red on Mastroeni to end the first half; will this take some of the wind out of the USA’s sails? Hard to tell – both he and Gooch were really cleaning the messes up back there, allowing Carlos Bocanegra to roam forward efficiently. Personally, at the half, I mighty swap out Pope, who has been beat several times down the guts for Chris Albright to add a little more size and fresh legs.