GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany, June 11 (UPI) -- The United States and the Czech Republic, half of this year's Group of Death, provide one of the best first-game pairings in the 2006 World Cup.
The Czech Republic and the United States play Monday in Gelsenkirchen to open the Group E round robin. Italy and Ghana, the rest of Group E, meet Monday in Hanover.
Each year one World Cup group looks to be the toughest match-ups with three viable contenders. This year it's Group E, with the United States and the Czech Republic both looking to grab the early advantage.
The Czech Republic is making its first World Cup appearance, but that is slightly misleading since Czechoslovakia played in eight World Cups. As if to remind everyone that the Czechs are no usual tournament rookies, they also bring a No. 2 FIFA ranking into the tournament.
It is a very balanced -- and prolific -- attack with Jan Koller leading the team with nine goals in qualifying but four other players had at least four scores.
The United States, which FIFA rates No. 5, is on the verge of making a big splash internationally, and a strong showing in its first two games in 2006 -- the Czechs and then the Italians -- could prove this to be the year the results match the hope. On the other hand, not many other teams have to face that much talent back-to-back.
U.S. strikers Brandon McBride and Landon Donovan performed well in 2002 and goalkeeper Kasey Keller also has World Cup experience and that could overcome the tough scheduling.
