US coach Arena wary of reports on injured Czechs

HAMBURG, June 8: US coach Bruce Arena says he is not sure what to make of reports that several Czech Republic players are injured ahead of their Group E clash on Monday.

''You don't know what any of that means. If you go by the press reports, three or four of their top players are out. On Monday I'd guess we're going to see all of them on the field.

''Until I hear or see otherwise we're preparing to go against all of their best players,'' Arena told reporters today.

Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved limped out of training today although coach Karel Brueckner played down the injury. Milan Baros missed training with a foot injury yesterday.

Midfielders Tomas Rosicky and Tomas Galasek have recovered from leg and knee injuries respectively but midfielder Vladimir Smicer is out of the finals with a torn tendon in his leg.

''You can't believe everything you read in the papers,'' Arena told a news conference, flashing a wry smile as he announced that his own squad was fully fit.

He again kept his cards close to his chest regarding his first 11, though, saying he has ''not decided anything yet''.

There have been questions marks about captain Claudio Reyna, who had a hamstring injury, and John O'Brien, who is working to get match fit after playing sporadically since the 2002 finals.

''We're getting nearer to our starting lineup,'' said Arena. ''I have some great choices and have told the team that.

''The last time we had a number of players who were down. This time I have 23 choices.''

REUTERS