美國是在世界盃上被保護的最好的隊伍，因為有無數的德國警察跟在他們的後面。但是他們卻無法保護住自己的球門，在週一的比賽中被捷克隊攻入3球。他們的教練布魯斯阿雷納公開指責球員不夠努力，只有中場博比康韋例外。阿雷納説，“至少康韋還有進攻的勇氣。”這是美國隊第五次參加世界決賽階段的比賽，這一次他們是帶著世界排名第五的成績來到德國的。但是他們現在卻害怕本次世界盃會像1990年或者1998年，而不是輝煌的2002年。1990年是美國隊40年來第一次進入世界盃決賽階段，但是他們卻先是5比0慘敗給捷克斯洛伐克，而後又以0比1輸給意大利，1比2輸給澳大利亞。而1998年他們也遭遇了類似的命運。2002年的成功使他們希望能在06年取得好的成績，儘管跟他們同組的有捷克、意大利和加納隊。

　　鏈結：http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-worldus_picture&prov=reuters&type=lgns

　　原文：World-Czechs throw 'star-mangled' spanner into U.S. works

　　By Erik Kirschbaum

　　GELSENKIRCHEN, June 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. are the best protected team at the World Cup with countless hundreds of German police watching their every step.

　　But the Americans could not guard their own goal with anywhere near the same level of efficiency in their crushing 3-0 defeat by the Czech Republic on Monday which leaves their World Cup Group E hopes hanging by a thread.

　　Later, coach Bruce Arena publicly lambasted his key players for a dreadful effort.

　　"Everybody else, you know, the performance wasn't good," Arena said after a withering critique by name of most of his players -- with the exception of midfielder Bobby Convey. "Bobby Convey at least had the courage to attack."

　　The U.S. had hoped that lightning might strike twice -- after their stunning 3-2 upset over Portugal in the opening match of the World Cup in 2002.

　　The team going into the Czech match was carrying a newfound swagger on the world stage.

　　They had won their qualifying group, CONCACAF, for the first time in 71 years, ahead of archrivals Mexico.

　　GLOOMY CONFIRMATION

　　Appearing in their fifth straight World Cup finals, the U.S. came to Germany with a FIFA ranking as the world's fifth best.

　　But they left this depressed Ruhr River Valley town for their base in Hamburg with gloomy confirmation the rankings are meaningless and fearful their 2006 World Cup might be more like the debacles of 1990 or 1998 rather than the glory of 2002.

　　"Believe me, this wasn't 1990," said Arena. "I don't think we looked like the 1990 team."

　　The U.S. had qualified for their first finals in 40 years in 1990 but they were thrashed by Czechoslovakia 5-0. They then lost to Italy 1-0 and Austria 2-1 before going home.

　　In 1998, they had a similarly rude awakening, losing all three group matches by a combined score of 5-1. It was their great run to the quarter-finals in 2002 that nourished hopes for a strong 2006 in a group that also includes Italy and Ghana.

　　"The team is disappointed," Arena said. "Knowing this group, they're not defeated. They'll respond well. We have to get a better performance out of a lot of individuals."

　　If only they could figure out a way to get the German police to help guard their goal.

　　Updated on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2006 3:53 am EDT

　　作者-李雪，二外英語系

責編：盧爽