United States goalkeeper Kasey Keller has insisted the team should not be underestimated in Germany after their heroic efforts secured a point against Italy.

Beaten 3-0 in their World Cup Group E opener against Czech Republic, the Americans quickly fell behind to an early Alberto Gilardino goal against the Italians.

However, Bruce Arena's men levelled after Cristian Zaccardo put through his own net before Daniel De Rossi was shown a straight red for an elbow in the face of Brian McBride to leave Italy with just 10 men.

The drama continued when the Americans lost both Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope to sendings-off either side of half-time, but they held on for a hard-earned 1-1 draw.

Asked what he said to his team-mates after Pope's sending-off, the veteran Keller said: "I didn't have to tell anybody anything, they knew their jobs.

"This is a well-coached team. This is a team that has experience. We learned from our mistakes the other day (against the Czechs). We got punished for some mistakes, but not really mistakes, just some great finishes.

"We learned from that and we gave everything. These guys are dead (tired) and proved that Americans don't roll over, that's for damn sure."

Even with nine men, the US had chances to win. They believed they had taken the lead after DaMarcus Beasley hit the back of the net but McBride was ruled offside.

"Everything was going against us today," Keller said. "What can you say?

"This team has the spirit and can come back from a 3-0 loss. We showed that. We were unlucky not to win this game, even with nine guys.

"I can't say enough about the guys in front of me. They're dead tired out there, they've given everything. It would have been a shame to concede a goal late but we stuck in this thing.

"We're in this tournament and we have a good chance now. Of course we wanted three points but the point, in these circumstances, is phenomenal."

The US must now beat Ghana in their final Group E clash on Thursday in Nuremberg and hope that Italy defeat the Czechs, who surprisingly lost 2-0 against the Africans.

The task will be all the more challenging considering coach Bruce Arena will be without Mastroeni and Pope for the clash.

But the former Tottenham goalkeeper believes his side can make it happen.

"This group is alive," Keller said. "We've got a chance now and we're excited about that. You can bet that come four or five days, we're going to be spitting nails again."