Czech Republic v Denmark - PREVIEW
Tactics the key
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| Danish midfielder Dennis Rommedahl warms up during a training, 25 June 2004 at the Le Meridien Golf and Country Club in Portimao on the Algarve coast in Portugal during the European nations championship. Denmark will play the Czech Republiq in the quarter-final 27 June in Porto in the Euro 2004. |
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| Czech Republic's midfielder Vladimir Smicer (L) jubilates with Milan Baros after his goal 19 June 2004 at Aveiro's stadium, during the Euro 2004 group D football match against Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE |
The improving Denmark and the comeback kings Czech Republic will field changed sides for their quarter-final in Porto on Sunday for rather different reasons.
Denmark left-back Niclas Jensen is definitely ruled out with an ankle injury and his coach Morten Olsen said winger Dennis Rommedahl, midfielder Martin Jorgensen and veteran striker Ebbe Sand were all having treatment for muscular injuries. Of the trio, Sand is the most doubtful to face the Czechs.
Denmark garnered five points from a win over Bulgaria and impressive draws against Italy and Sweden, both matches they could have won.
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| Czech Republic head coach Karel Bruckner (L) jubilates with his players, 19 June 2004 at Aveiro's stadium, after winning (3-2) their Euro 2004 group D football match against Netherlands at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Mladen ANTONOV |
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| Denmark's head coach Olsen Morten (L) celebrates after their qualification for the quarter-finals, 22 June 2004 at Bessa stadium in Porto, during their European Nations football championship match in Portugal. Denmark and Sweden are competing in Group C. AFP PHOTO Sven NACKSTRAND |
Czech coach Karel Bruckner meanwhile has a fully fit squad to choose from but will be re-instating nine of the big guns he rested against Germany in their last group match after they had already qualified after two wins over Latvia and Holland.
Latvia were the first to give the Czechs a fright by taking a 1-0 lead, but Holland had them on the ropes and were pummeling them at 2-0 up when the Czechs dug right down into their socks to find the bravery to battle back for a 3-2 win.
They are the only side with a 100 per cent record and no-one will ever fell safe against a Bruckner side again. The wiley Czech coach reorganised the shape of his side five times during the comeback, leading Dutch coach Dick Advocaat to freely admit he had been out-thought.
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| Czech Republic's midfielder Pavel Nedved (C) and temmates jubilate after winning 19 June 2004 at Aveiro's stadium, their Euro 2004 group D football match against Netherlands, at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Czech Republic won 3-2. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE |
Olsen however believes he may have devised a masterplan to help Denmark beat the Czechs, though he was playing his cards close to his chest.
"I think I may have spotted a weakness in the Czechs - I know something but I'm not going to tell you, only my players," he teased before a closed training session at the Danes' base camp here on the Algarve on Friday.
One man who should play a major role from the pitch is European player of the year Pavel Nedved, who took no part in another unlikely comeback, the 2-1 win over Germany, and is reportedly well rested and firing on all engines.
Teams
Czech Republic: Cech - Jiranek, Ujfalusi, Bolf, Jankulovski - Galasek - Poborsky, Rosicky, Nedved (capt.) - Koller, Baros
Coach: Karel Bruckner
Denmark: Sorensen - Helveg, Laursen, Henriksen (cap), Bogelund - Gravesen, Poulsen, C. Jensen - Gronkjaer, Tomasson, Jorgensen
Coach: Morten Olsen
Referee: Valentin Ivanov (RUS)