That said, the odds on England winning ANY sporting event are usually shorter than they should be due to the volume of money bet on England.

Not only are the aforementioned players world-class, but their 6'-5" keeper, Petr Cech, starting goalkeeper at Chelsea, is arguably, if not the best, one of the top 2-3 keepers in the world.

Also, Grygera (D - Ajax Amsterdam), Jarosik (D - Chelsea / Birmingham), Ujfalusi (D - Hamburg / Fiorentina), Rozehnal (D - PSV Eindhoven), Galasek (M - Ajax Amsterdam), Jankulovski (M - Udinese), Smicer (M - Liverpool), Jarolim (M - Hamburg), Plasil (M - Monaco), Stajner (Hannover 96) and Heinz (F - Hamburg) are all top-class players. The coaches biggest worry will be to decide which stars to sit on the bench.

I agree with a previous poster - Anyone that feels the Czech Republic isn't currently one of the top teams in the world, has been smoking crack, or something, to make such assinine comments. In fact, I'd place the Czechs as favorites to win their group over the strong Italians.

I also agree with another poster - As tough as this draw has been for the U.S., I say bring 'em on! This isn't 1990 anymore - We should not fear, only respect, any team in the world. In 2002, we were placed with one of top five favorites to win the WC (Portugal), with another relatively stong Euro team (Poland) and with the host country which went far in the knockout rounds.

We advanced from that tough group, and we can advance from this tough group. U.S. soccer has come a long way and we need to prove that on the world stage in 2006.

Couldn't agree more. I love the US fans who think they'll be able to get out of that group. They'll huff and they'll puff, and if they're lucky, they'll get a draw.

To suggest that the US is stronger than the Czech Republic is a joke!!! And Ghana is the top team coming out of Africa!

The FIFA rankings mean squat, and the US is notorious for playing weak teams in friendlies and Concacaf is crap.

So if you're really convinced that the US will advance to round 2 (to get smeared by Brazil) let me know, and we'll make some wagers.

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If you're really convinced----------
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I can't believe you would actually bet against the U.S. advancing.

Whilst I am the first to say well done for 2002, it is different when the European teams are playing in Europe. No 9 hours time zone change, and the climate is what they are used to.

South Korea had the benefit of some ref calls in 2002, as did Japan. It is hard to say that they fairly beat either Spain or Italy in the knockout stages is it.

Why should he not bet against the US winning anything ? There I was thinking this was a free country and anyone had the right to bet on any wager offered by the bookmakers.

All I have to say is, don't underestimate the word 'free'. Nothing is free.

I haven't got a hate on for the US...I was very happy they qualified, and when the World Cup is on American soil again (and it will be) they'll do very well.

I also want the US to do well because it will help grow the game here.

However...let's be realistic. It will be a hostile environment for the Americans, and there's just too much quality and pedigree in the other teams. They got a rotten group.

I cannot speak for others, but I'd say the more ridiculous statement would be that the U.S. absolutely cannot advance. Let's look at some other things in sports that could not happen:

- The U.S. hockey team could not beat the invincible Soviets in 1980.

- The New York Jets could not beat the more established Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

- Buster Douglas could not beat the machine that was Mike Tyson in his prime.

- The U.S. soccer team surely could not beat venerable England in the 1950 World Cup.

Some knuckleheads around here seem to think that by insisting that the U.S. can advance to the knockout stage means that they will. Go next door, borrow a dictionary and look up the definitions of "can" and "will". You will find that they are different.

Besides, show me the bookmaker who would take a bet against an impossibility.

I wouldn't base much on FIFA rankings. Crap, I wouldn't base the BCS on the media and coaches polls, for that matter.

OTOH, there are too many fans who overrate Western European teams in a World Cup.

Just like every cup before it, someone will crash spectacularly, an Eastern European country will pull a surprise, an African or CONCACAF team will pull a surprise, then the Cup might settle down among two of the usual suspects.

Worst the the Euros in the '02 WC, the North & South Americans had the worst of the time zone change with differences of 12/13 hours. Look at Brazil, they did well enough even with the time change. The U.S. didn't do too shabby either.

With only a 6 hour, or so, difference, this should help the Concacaf & Comenbol teams.

Having said that, I don't think the time change thing plays a big part since most teams arrive with plenty of time in advance to acclimatize themselves to the new time.