Czech Republic marked their World Cup finals debut with an impressive 3-0 victory against the USA in Gelsenkirchen.

An early Jan Koller header and a strike in each half from the outstanding Tomas Rosicky secured the points, as the Czechs produced one of the best displays of the tournament to date.

However, their chances of lifting the trophy in Germany took a major blow when Koller was stretchered off with a hamstring injury shortly before the interval.

The giant striker looks unlikely to play any further part in the finals and with Milan Baros forced to sit out the game with a foot injury and Koller's replacement, Vratislav Lokvenc, looking anything but threatening, the Czechs could be short on firepower.

While Czech coach Karel Bruckner deals with that problem, his USA counterpart Bruce Arena will have to reflect on a result and performance that looks likely to ensure his side head home before the knockout stages.

The USA had plenty of possession and put together some neat passing moves in midfield, but the lack of an incisive final ball into the area ensured they rarely threatened to get on the scoresheet.

Czech Republic took just five minutes to break the deadlock, when the impressive Zdenek Grygera crossed from the right and Koller rose to plant a bullet header beyond the helpless USA goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

The Americans went close to equalising when Claudio Reyna struck the post, with Petr Cech well beaten, just before the half-hour mark, but with Pavel Nedved in inspirational form in midfield, the Czech Republic were the more dangerous attacking force.

Their second goal arrived in fine style nine minutes before the break. Arsenal new boy Rosicky collected the ball 30 yards out, advanced forward and unleashed an unstoppable shot in to the top corner.

The second half saw the USA with more of the ball, but they rarely looked like scoring. Half-time substitute Eddie Johnson was their most threatening striker, but although he twice went close, he did not manage to force Cech in to a save.

Lokvenc and Marek Jankulovski wasted good chances to add a third before the game's two outstanding players, Nedved and Rosicky, combined to make sure of victory in the 76th minute.

Nedved split the defence open with a perfectly weighted throughball for Rosicky, who strode forward and coolly slotted the ball beyond Keller.