If I had asked you before this year's tournament began what would you prefer and what would be more significant to U.S. soccer's status in sports-heavy America: a win over the Czech Republic or a win over a three-time World Cup winner and traditional power such as Italy?

You would've taken Italy.

This is the real test of how far U.S. soccer has come. How do you know how tough you are until you've been punched in the mouth? I think of the Dwyane Wade commercial, the one that goes, "fall seven times and get back up eight."