Soccer: World Cup

11:19 PM CDT on Sunday, June 4, 2006

By STEVE DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News

FIFA rank: 13

Looks good: Unmatched experience on defense.

Trouble spot: Potential for scandal-borne distraction.

Overview: Encouraging spring results enlivened the country's hopes – before revelations of domestic league wrongdoing became something of a buzz kill. But everything else looks swell for coach Marcello Lippi's Azzurri. Italy is relatively healthy (although valuable defender Gianluca Zambrotta may miss a match or two), the offensive options are robust and that traditionally stubborn defense looks very, well, Italian.

FIFA rank: 5

Looks good: Improving speed, athleticism.

Trouble spot: No second forward behind Brian McBride.

Overview: It's all about the first game for Bruce Arena's team. The Yanks simply must tie or beat the Czech Republic. Otherwise, they'll be up against it five days later against powerful Italy. So much depends on the health of difference-maker midfielders Claudio Reyna and John O'Brien, because this group will be mercilessly unforgiving.

FIFA rank: 2

Looks good: Pavel Nedved-led uninhibited attack.

Trouble spot: Age issues and injuries to key players.

Overview: Which Czech player isn't hobbled by injury? Huge striker Jan Koller does seem to be rallying from a lengthy knee injury; he had two goals in last weekend's warmup match. Then again, he's 33. As is Nedved, who already retired from international soccer once. Obviously, it didn't take.

FIFA rank: 48

Looks good: Carefree (reckless?) attitude.

Trouble spot: Youth: average age of 24.5.

Overview: Long successful in African Nations Cups and FIFA youth events, the Black Stars finally cracked the big time. Although his midfield mates aren't bad, Ghana is all about Michael Essien. Although he's just 22, Chelsea made him the most expensive African signing ever when it paid France's Lyon about $45 million for his services.

• Italian striker Alberto Gilardino was born July 5, 1982 – the date Italy won the last of its three world titles.

• Group E goalkeeping is ridiculously strong. There's Kasey Keller. The Czech's Peter Cech is Chelsea's No. 1. Italy's Gianluigi Buffon is the man at powerful Juventus.

• When did soccer players get so big? Czech Republic's Jan Koller (6-7) will butt heads with U.S. center back Oguchi Onyewu (6-4) in the group opener.

U.S. vs. Italy: It'll look like old money vs. nouveau riche when Bruce Arena's Americans take on the three-time winners, Italy, in the sleepy forest town, Kaiserslautern.

The U.S. players like to remind: The group is so hard, in part, because the United States is in it. Translation: They are in this fight, too. Will the Americans advance? It's a tossup. Italy's the big dog, which leaves the Yanks, the Czechs and debuting Ghana to paw for the scraps.