above: Landon Donovan greeted by U.S. troops
at Ramstein AFB, Germany

Official viewing spot for USA-Italy will
be Murphys Irish Pub in Osaka Shinsaibashi,
kickoff 4 a.m., come early for Czech Republic
Ghana at 1 a.m. e-mail or call for directions.

It's been a long week of trying to defend the
USA during a week when we sank to last place
in the tournament (until we were replaced by
the Ukraine, gracias Espana!). I received an
e-mail from from my Brit friend Matt Cooper
who said "USA, like the administration doesn't
understand..it's Art and World Camaderie vs
Naf isolationalism-chip on your shoulder-biggotry
boredom." We may not be artistic but we cer-
tainly are not bigoted, neither the team nor
the fans and I asked him to provide a quote
or proof before he makes such a comment.

We were guilty of modest expectations based on
our 2002 run to the Quarterfinals, winning the
CONCACAF qualifying group, and yes, that infernal
FIFA #5 in the World ranking. Imperial hubris?
We knew the Czechs were very very good, but give
them credit, they played like monsters, especially
Kollar, who channeled the Prague Golem.

Yet he may have a point on the isolationism as
the USMNT are cloistered this week inside
an American 'Green Zone,' namely the US military
base outside of Kaiserslautern Germany. Troops
arrive and depart for the Middle East here and
it where the wounded are first airlifted to.
Quotes from the team suggest everyone is happy
'to be in America again' and if you have ever
been on a base anywhere in the world you know
what I mean. I'm crossing my fingers that the 'bad
guys' haven't targeted this match nor the cup and
that everything passes off without incident.

My gut feeling says 1-0 to Italy and even 1-1
would be more than we deserve, but I still dream
of a win a second round place because
dreams are what the World Cup is all about.