Fans turn out for Czechs, Nedved limps off

WESTERBURG, Germany, June 8: Czech playmaker Pavel Nedved limped off the training field today, but coach Karel Brueckner played down concerns that he had suffered a serious injury ahead of the World Cup.

Nedved, 33, was able to jog after treating his left knee with an ice pack, watched by some 2,000 fans waving flags and drinking beer who had turned out to watch the session.

''It is not an injury. This is normal, it is light,'' Brueckner said afterwards.

Striker Milan Baros is still not training because of a foot injury and any injuries to other high-profile players would be bad news for a Czech team who are keen to build on their Euro 2004 performance where they reached the semi-finals.

But with Italy, the United States and Ghana as rivals in Group E, it will be hard work to reach the later stages. The Czechs open their campaign against the United States on June 12.

''Everyone has been waiting for qualification for the World Cup for a long time so the expectations are high, but I think you have to be realistic and everybody knows that we are in a tough group and we will have to fight to be in the last 16,'' goalkeeper Petr Cech said after training.

But it is a challenge that Cech said he relished, acknowledging that the pressure was on him to perform well.

''I think everyone knows that you have to have a great goalkeeper, or well performing goalkeeper, during a tournament if you want to be successful. I know that the pressure is on my shoulders,'' he said. ''I love this kind of challenge.'' The scent of freshly mown grass at the training ground was a welcome smell to the team who the previous day had complained the grass was too long.

Although it was still not perfect.

''Today it (the grass) is a bit better, but I think it could do with being a bit shorter ... because it slows things down,'' said defender Zdenek Grygera.

Around 2,000 locals and a smattering of Czechs watched the training session, reserving their loudest cheers for Nedved. They watched anxiously as he nursed his knee but he was well enough to sign autographs when he was mobbed on his way out.

The Czech Republic are playing in their first World Cup finals as an independent nation and for many of the players who are over 30, it will be their one and only chance to win it.

But there are those in the squad whose aspirations are more modest.

''I'd be glad to play at least a few minutes,'' said David Jarolim, a midfielder who is likely to start on the bench.

REUTERS