Czech Republic 3, USA 0

Czech Republic Goals: Koller 5, Rosicky 36 76.

For a team ranked number 5 in Fifa latest world rankings, USA were hugely out of depth. Commentators called this the best ‘team performance’ of the World Cup so far, with the Czech Republic (incidentally, ranked 2nd in the world) comprehensively and comfortably beating USA. They weren’t far off the mark. USA rarely troubled Peter Cech, apart from one Reyna shot that hit the post after Cech had missed it.

Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal’s summer signing - I can hear Dixon singing Wenger’s praises now) was the star of the match, with two exquisit goals either side of the break, and he becomes the fifth player to score two goals in the first round of matches (see the goalscorer charts for a complete list).

Still Italy vs Ghana to come up next, and on current performance Italy will have their hands full on the 22nd - one of the final matches for Group E.

Rosicky scores his first of two goals against USA

The best part of today’s match is how it sets up the second round clash between the winner of Group F (definitely Brazil) and runner up from Group E (Italy or Czech Republic). Either match would be a dream final, not to mention one of the most entertaining matches of the World Cup. Looking forward to it.

More news to follow.