U.S. team did OK, and that's not enough;

Midfielder Bobby Convey said he wasn't sure each player knew his role.
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) -- U.S. midfielder Bobby Convey came up with a rather stunning analysis of the United States' horrible opening World Cup loss to the Czech Republic: After four years of practices, scouting and skull sessions, U.S. players didn't know what they were supposed to do.
With their must-win match against Italy just two days away, the Americans were heading for the friendly confines of Ramstein Air Base, hoping to figure it all out.
If they don't, they'll not only be packing for home, they'll have a hard time convincing their loyal army of fans that they ever really belonged.
"I think the reason why we didn't do well is because everyone did not do their role, maybe didn't know their role, maybe didn't know what to do," Convey said Wednesday.
"I don't think it was confusion. It wasn't that people didn't know where to go. We just kind of didn't really jell well together," he said. "It wasn't a negative thing. It's just that we kind of -- we just did OK. At a World Cup, it's not fine to do just OK."
Home away from home
The team departed Hamburg today for Kaiserslautern, eschewing the usual World Cup hotels and staying at a base that's home to about 50,000 U.S. armed forces, civilians and family members. There, Convey hopes to "get my American cereal, get my American food."
"We feel like we're at home, having a bunch of Americans there behind us, rooting us," forward Eddie Johnson said. "We couldn't ask for a better environment to be playing this game."
Arena didn't speak with reporters Wednesday, but Tuesday he did promise changes.
Landon Donovan, who did little to combine with Brian McBride at forward, could be dropped back to attacking midfield, the position he prefers. Johnson, who entered at halftime and provided some spark, could start along with midfielder John O'Brien, who also came in at the start of the second half.
Donovan was criticized by Arena for a lack of aggressiveness, as was midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, who didn't push up much from the right flank, a position he hasn't played very often with the U.S. team. Beasley and defensive midfielder Pablo Mastroeni could be dropped.
Different story
Convey contrasted Monday's performance with 2002, when the Americans advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals in their best showing since 1930.
"Everyone knew their role, and I think that's what we kind of got away from a little bit," he said.
In the 2002 tournament, the Americans trailed only twice -- in the 3-1 loss to Poland in their third game, and in the 1-0 quarterfinal loss to Germany. Convey said the Americans didn't prepare on how they would play if they fell behind against the Czechs.
Donovan and Beasley became stars at that tournament, when they were just 20. Convey thought they would respond to Arena's criticism.
"Landon and Beas are big enough people. They have big enough personalities that they'll take it," Convey said. "They'll come out in the next game and be fired up. As a player, you know that you're going to get criticized by your coach. That's just how it is."
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