This time the favourites won through at the FIFA World Cup Stadium in Gelsenkirchen. The Czech Republic beat Bruce Arena's US boys 3-0 in front of 52,000 fans (sold out) on Monday evening (12 June). Jan Koller (5') and Tomas Rosicky (36' and 76') got the goals for Karel Brückner's side.

In comparison with Poland versus Ecuador game the two sets of fans at the second World Cup game in Schalke were not so easy to tell apart. As the national flags of the two countries are red, white and blue, the picture on the stands was a vibrant mix of these three colours.

Under normal circumstances it is hard to imagine any Dortmund players being given rapturous applause at Schalke's home ground. But at the World Cup everything is possible. With just five minutes gone the Arena crowd was up on its feet when Czech defender Marek Jankulowski threaded a ball through to Zdenek Jankulovski down the left. And his cross landed straight on the head of Jan Koller, who had no trouble finding the net from close range. It was the 43rd international goal for the Dortmund man, who is set to join AS Monaco next season.

The Americans almost grabbed an equaliser on 28 minutes when Claudio Reyna struck the post from 25 metres out. This prompted an immediate response from the US fans, who every so often were able to make themselves heard in the midst of a vociferous Czech following.

In the 36th minute they were to suffer a further setback, however. This time it was another former player from the 'forbidden city' who struck, Tomas Rosicky hammering an unstoppable shot past Gladbach keeper Kasey Keller from 30 metres.

Shortly before the interval the Czechs suffered a setback of their own when Koller pulled up after a sprint and immediately reached for his thigh. He was replaced by former Bochum striker Vratislav Lokvenc. As Koller was stretchered off he was given a standing ovation by most of the Czech fans. It was a tragic end to what otherwise had been a fairytale first half.

The second half proved a quieter affair, both on the pitch and in the stands, so superior were the Czechs. Not until the closing stages did the crowd provide for an exciting World Cup atmosphere again. Rosicky had given an indication of what was to follow when he hit the bar on 68 minutes and put the seal on a world-class performance by adding his side's third goal on 76. His name was then chanted for minutes on end by the North Stand, a completely new Arena experience for the man who played for Borussia Dortmund for four-and-a-half years and will make the move to Arsenal after the World Cup. Four minutes from time he was substituted by Bruckner and left the field to a standing ovation. A privilege the rest of the team were to enjoy a few minutes later when they did their lap of honour.