Czechs to make decision on Baros tomorrow

WESTERBURG, Germany, June 10 (Reuters) Czech Republic will make a final decision tomorrow over the fitness of Milan Baros for their opening World Cup match against the United States a day later.

The 24-year-old forward, top scorer in Euro 2004, has hardly trained since the squad arrived in Germany after he sustained a foot injury in a friendly against Trinidad&Tobago a week ago.

''Concerning Milan Baros, it is still unclear and we will take the final decision tomorrow,'' coach Karel Brueckner told reporters today after a closed training session.

Earlier this week, Brueckner said doctors were optimistic Baros would be fit for the game in Gelsenkirchen. Now he is not so sure.

''It is not clear yet but we still hope even if Baros is not ready for the match against the United States, he will be ready for other matches,'' Brueckner said.

The coach was tight-lipped on who might partner Jan Koller up front if Baros missed out.

Asked if he would consider re-jigging his usual 4-4-2 formation and playing Koller as a lone striker, he said: ''It is one of the alternatives.

''But football isn't black and white, there are a lot of variants.'' Natural choices to partner the towering Koller would be Marek Heinz and Jiri Stajner although several commentators have pointed to midfielder Libor Sionko, who received a last-minute call-up after Vladimir Smicer withdrew due to injury.

Baros is the only injury worry for the Czechs, a much better situation than a few weeks ago when there were question marks over Koller and midfielders Tomas Rosicky and Tomas Galasek among others.

This week, playmaker Pavel Nedved limped out of training with a knee problem but he is now fit.

The Czechs also play Italy and Ghana in Group E.

REUTERS PDS PM1906