The wait finally comes to an end Monday for 11 of the 15 MLS players at the 2006 World Cup as the U.S. national team opens Group E play against Czech Republic in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The Los Angeles Galaxy's Landon Donovan will lead the U.S. team into action starting at 11:55 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
In other action, Australia meets Japan in Kaiserslautern at 8:55 a.m. (ESPN2) for a Group F match. Italy and Ghana clash in the third match of the day, a Group E affair in Hanover at 2:55 p.m. (ESPN2).
While Donovan and Real Salt Lake defender Eddie Pope are likely to start for Bruce Arena's team, it's possible that Colorado midfielder Pablo Mastroeni, Kansas City strikers Eddie Johnson and Josh Wolff, Chivas USA midfielder John O'Brien and New England midfielder Clint Dempsey will see action for a U.S. team that finished first in the CONCACAF region.
Four years ago, many players from this year's U.S. team played an essential part of a World Cup opening upset victory vs. Portugal, including Donovan, O'Brien and former Columbus Crew striker Brian McBride.
The Czechs, lead by World Cup veteran Pavel Nedved, are expected to make a splash in their first foray into the World Cup following separation from Czechoslovakia. They finished five points behind the Netherlands in European qualifying Group 1, but beat Norway 2-0 on aggregate in a playoff to punch their ticket for Germany.
In addition to Nedved, the U.S. will have to contend with 6-foot-8 striker Jan Koller, as well as English Premier League veterans midfielder Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal), forward Milan Baros (Aston Villa) and goalkeeper Petr Cech (Chelsea).
In the other Group E match, World cup newcomers Ghana will attempt to shock the world against one of the more storied countries in the tourney, Italy.
The Black Stars will lean on Chelsea striker Michael Essien and veteran Stephen Appiah against the likes of Italy's Daniele De Rossi, Gianluigi Buffon, Alessandro Nesta and Fabio Cannavaro. The Italians, who have been a part of 17 World Cups, will also see the return of Roma striker Francesco Totti, who is recovering from a serious left leg injury.
The first match of the day features a team making its first World Cup appearance in 32 years facing off against a team looking to build on its success on home soil in 2002. Australia is lead by captain Mark Viduka, forward Harry Kewell and midfielder Tim Cahill, who tied for the Oceania Zone lead with seven goals in qualifying.
Midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, playing in his third consecutive World Cup, and Brazilian-born wide man Alessandro Santos are players to watch for Japan. In 2002, the Japanese reached the round-of-16 before bowing out.
Patrick Mulrenin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
