For those of us who've watched many a US game over the past few years, it wasn't hard to predict they would go down in flames to the Czech Republic Monday.  Sure, some of us thought they'd come through with a draw but that was being hopeful - and we all knew it.

What we saw Monday was a complete dismantling of the Eagles by a team that could very well win the whole darn thing.  Head coach Bruce Arena was spot on with his tactics in 2002 but he was completely mistaken in the opener.  And even if Arena was correct, I'm still not sure the US would have the quality on the park to beat the Czechs.  

After the game, the coach singled out Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Kasey Keller blaming the two outfield players for being largely invisible and thrashing Keller for sending a kick too far up the field where there were no US players and starting off the sequence that led to the Czech opener.

And then Thomas Rosicky hit a cracking second goal - the goal of the tournament in my mind.....Until Andrea Pirlo smashed home Italy's opener two hours later.  Rosicky added a second late on and showed everyone why Arsenal are so excited about this guy.  This could very well be HIS tournament.  Milan Baros was their danger man in 2004, Rosicky could be the guy in 2006.

But back to the US.....And I know I'll get lambasted for saying this but I really don't think that Major League Soccer is an adequate training ground for the World stage.  Yes, it is a good developmental league - but more US players need to be playing abroad in the European game.  Especially since those are the teams they have trouble beating - European ones - when it comes to international games.  Ya, they can walk all over CONCACAF but it doesn't mean anything when your group at the Finals is made up of European sides and you get hammered 3-nil in the opener with Italy next up.

I'll be very interested to see what happens to the lofty ranking of the US if they get eliminated at the Group stage.  I've always thought the FIFA rankings were askew and as much as I hate to say it - the US are a prime example of that.  The new rankings system is going to be detrimental to their position but will (hopefully) provide a more accurate picture of just how good they are.  Yes, the Czechs are second in the world but does anyone out there think the US play Monday afternoon did justice to their ranking?  I didn't think so.

We'll see what they do against the Italians - a game that MUST yield at least a point if the US has any chance of getting into the 16's.

 **Just wanted to promote the blog of colleague Bobby McMahon while I have a moment.  As many of you know, Bobby is in LA and he's been blogging like a maniac since he got there.  He said to me before he left 'what is this blogging thing?' - it appears he mastered it pretty quick!  Anyways, B-Mac is updating during almost every game with his expert insight and analysis - if you haven't read his stuff yet, START!