ckb2001 said:I don't think we're seeing the US at the level it played at during qualifying. I don't know, maybe they took this too lightly, but if you look at the first half of qualifying games, the US plays with tenacity, challenging every ball.
So, while the Czechs are good, I think this is more a case of the US not playing to its potential (meaning total lack of aggressiveness) than anything else. And it's Arena who is responsible for that.
There's a significant difference between the teams you play in qualifying and Italy, Ghana and the Czech Republic. Expectations were too high after the World Cup 4 years ago, when in reality, you limped out of the group - ooh, nearly 3-0 - and then beat an average Mexican side.