US to play Czech Republic in Sept 3 exhibition

PRAGUE (AP) - The United States will take on the Czech Republic on Sept. 3 in Prague in its first match after the World Cup.

The U.S. is winless in three career games against the Czechs. U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann says the team is focused on the World Cup this summer in Brazil, but the game against the Czechs will be “a tough match and another good benchmark for our team.”

For the Czech Republic, it’s a warm-up for 2016 European Championship qualifying. The Czechs open qualifying against the Netherlands six days later.

The match was announced on Monday.

Czech Republic coach Pavel Vrba says he chose to play the U.S. because of the team’s attacking style under Klinsmann. Vrba says “We expect from them a similar style as the Netherlands.”