The Czech Republicâs footballers were beaten 3:1 by Portugal in their second game at the European Championship on Wednesday evening.
That result was perhaps unfortunate for the Czechs, whose play showed marked signs of improvement. Now itâs going right down to Latest news - 31-05-2008 ...
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The Czech Republic beat Switzerland 1:0 in their opening game last Saturday, but won few plaudits after a poor performance. Coach Karel Bruckner made changes for Wednesdayâs match, including replacing lone striker Jan Koller with Milan BaroÅ¡. BaroÅ¡ justified his inclusion â he and Libor Sionko were among the Czechsâ most effective players. Milan BaroÅ¡:
âIn the first game we took three points but we were criticised. Now nobody could criticise our performance but we havenât taken any points. Both teams tonight were well matched, and we could have won with a bit of luck.â
Luck was what BaroÅ¡ and his team-mates were lacking when they conceded within the first ten minutes, Deco managing to score through the legs of Marek Jankulovski after goalie Petr Äech had done his best to thwart the Portuguese in a penalty box scramble.
Sionko soon got one back for the Czechs after a well taken Jaroslav Plašil corner; 1:1 is how it stayed until the 63rd minute, when a Ronaldo strike put Portugal in front.
Try as they might the Czechs could not fashion a reply, though both Baroš and Sionko had decent chances. A third Portuguese goal in time added on denied them any hope of a point.
Hereâs Czech manager Karel Bruckner:
âWe had enough time to equalise â it was real end to end stuff. In the last period of the game we risked it all, but thatâs often the case. Iâve said all along the third game would decide it for us, and weâre prepared for that third game.â
Game three against Turkey on Sunday should have the air of a mini final, as both teams chase the second qualifying spot in Group A. With both on the exact same points, goals scored and goals conceded, a draw would mean one thing: penalties.
(radio-Prague)
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