"GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany, June 12 — Four years of planning and expectation, and two years of qualifying, unraveled disastrously in five minutes for the United States at the World Cup in a humiliating 3-0 defeat to the Czech Republic.
As soccer's global championship entered its fourth day on Monday, the reeling Americans suffered the ignominy of the tournament's most lopsided loss so far.
"It was embarrassing," said forward Landon Donovan, who, along with other American starters, was bluntly criticized by United States Manager Bruce Arena.
The United States hoped to possess an edge in speed, fitness and health. But it was the supposedly aging and hobbled Czechs who proved to be the more spry, imaginative and determined team, even with four starters over age 30."
Ach, it wasn't that humiliating - the Czechs are a class outfit. But at least the yanks don't go in for whinging. There was no bleating about the heat or the referee, unlike certain other contestants who performed less well than expected.
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