Czechs pay US due respect before clash

HAMBURG, June 11: Czech Republic will not take their task lightly when they make their World Cup debut against the United States in Group E tomorrow.

In 1990, Czechoslovakia crushed the US 5-1 at the World Cup but the Czech Republic, playing in their first finals as an independent nation, know the US have come a long way since. The highly regarded Czechs know complacency could be fatal against a team that reached the quarter-finals after shocking Portugal 3-2 in their World Cup opener four years ago.

''The result of the first match is the key for success in the whole tournament,'' said tall 33-year-old striker Jan Koller.

''We all realise that and obviously feel a responsibility. We have a quality team and want to win.'' The Czech Republic, who reached the Euro 2004 semi-finals, looked as if they might have injury worries leading up to the game but everyone is fit except striker Milan Baros.

Coach Karel Brueckner will decide today whether the top scorer at Euro 2004 can play since the 24-year-old has hardly trained due to a foot injury picked up in a friendly last week.

There have also been concerns among the Czech media that several key players in midfield and up front are the wrong side of 30, although the defence is sprightly enough.

Playmaker Pavel Nedved, who came out of international retirement, limped away from training on Thursday after a knock to his knee. The 33-year-old is, however, expected to play.

''It is true that we have some older players but with the age we have a lot of experience,'' said goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The Czechs will be dangerous up front where Koller is a big threat while midfielder Tomas Rosicky, who has just convinced Arsenal of his worth, will cause all sorts of problems.

Brueckner and his players have said little about their prospects, though, with the coach saying: ''We are trying to be modest in our declarations but not modest on the field''.

However, US coach Bruce Arena is happy to express his confidence in a team few took seriously before their win over Portugal in 2002 and says they can do well against the Czechs.

Arena has the same core of players as four years ago but now with more experience at the highest level.

''I think experience helps,'' Arena said. ''I think it is an advantage to have a number of players who played in 2002 and experienced success. Several others were there in 1998.

Arena knows the US need at least a point against the Czechs -- with Italy and Ghana looming -- to boost their hopes of surviving a difficult Group E.

He is also eager to prove that the Americans can beat a big team on European soil having struggled over the last eight years but the seasoned Czechs will be a tough nut to crack.

''Obviously, they're a very good team with great attacking players,'' said Arena. ''They're strong from back to front. That's the reason they're ranked number two in the world.''

Probable teams:

US (4-4-2): 18-Kasey Keller (93-0); 7-Eddie Lewis (70-8), 22-Oguchi Onyewu (14-1), 23-Eddie Pope (80-8), 6-Steve Cherundolo (35-1); 15-Bobby Convey (39-1), 10-Claudio Reyna (109-8), 4-Pablo Mastroeni (48-0), 17-DaMarcus Beasley (58-12); 21-Landon Donovan (81-25), 20-Brian McBride (92-30). Coach: Bruce Arena

Czech Republic: (4-4-2) 1-Petr Cech (41-0); 2-Zdenek Grygera (41-1), 6-Marek Jankulovski (48-8), 22-David Rozehnal (22-0), 21-Tomas Ujfalusi (48-2); 4-Tomas Galasek (49-1), 11-Pavel Nedved (87-18), 8-Karel Poborsky (115-8), 10-Tomas Rosicky (54-15); 15-Milan Baros (49-27), 9-Jan Koller (68-42)

Coach: Karel Brueckner

Referee: Carlos Amarilla (Paraguay) Linesmen: Amelio Andino (Paraguay), Manuel Bernal (Paraguay)

REUTERS

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