SPORTS

Czechs must beware of complacency

June 27, 2004 14:48 IST
The Czech Republic, bubbling with confidence after three straight wins, must beware of complacency when they meet Denmark in the last Euro 2004 quarter-final on Sunday.

Not only have the Czechs emerged as the form team at the tournament but they also have an excellent record against the Danes, winning 11 and losing just once in 18 meetings.

In their only European Championship encounter, at Euro 2000, the Czechs won 2-0 with both goals scored by midfielder Vladimir Smicer.

Now Smicer and other long-serving midfielders Pavel Nedved and Karel Poborsky hope to make up for their disappointment at Euro 96, when they lost the final to Germany, with a winners' medal in Portugal.

Smicer, likely to be among the substitutes, believes Jon Dahl Tomasson is the Danes' main attacking threat.

"Tomasson is a key player," Smicer said. "He is their main offensive threat, he scores goals from everywhere and he is a danger to us. For me, he is the most important player in their team.

"I think they like the idea of playing against us, just as we are happy to be playing against them. They are like the Netherlands, both teams like to pass and they have wingers too, like (Jesper) Gronkjaer, who are fast and can beat players.

"That is a danger for us because we are open and let other teams play --

it is spectacular and the Czech fans like it, because they prefer offensive football, so we like to play that way. But it will be exciting. I know that."

The Czechs will revert to their first-choice team after resting several players for their last match against Germany.

The Danes, however, have injury problems. Niclas Jensen is out with a gashed left foot and Kasper Bogelund replaces him while striker Ebbe Sand is struggling with a strained muscle.

If he fails to make it, Denmark coach Morten Olsen is expected to bring Claus Jensen into midfield and push Tomasson further forward.

The winners will play Greece in the semi-finals on Thursday.

Probable teams:

Czech Republic: (4-4-2) 1-Petr Cech; 2-Zdenek Grygera, 21-Tomas Ujfalusi, 5-Rene Bolf, 6-Marek Jankulovski; 8-Karel Poborsky, 4-Tomas Galasek, 10-Tomas Rosicky, 11-Pavel Nedved; 15-Milan Baros; 9-Jan Koller.

Denmark (4-4-2) 1-Thomas Sorensen; 6-Thomas Helveg, 4-Martin Laursen, 3-Rene Henriksen, 2-Kasper Bogelund; 8-Jesper Gronkjaer, 7-Thomas Gravesen, 15-Daniel Jensen, 10-Martin Joergensen; 11-Ebbe Sand (or 14-Claus Jensen), 9-Jon Dahl Tomasson.

Source: REUTERS
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