The man with the golden touch

Czech Republic captain Pavel Nedved celebrates the victory of his team during the Euro 2004 group 3 qualifing match against Austria in Vienna, 11 October 2003. The Czech Republic won the match 3:2. AFP PHOTO/JOE KLAMAR

The Czech Republic's undisputed golden boy is their captain Pavel Nedved.

The roving midfielder led the national charge toward Euro 2004 and, since his big money move to Juventus in 2001, his dazzling performances have made up for the Turin giant's loss of Zinedine Zidane.

Czech Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved holds the Ballon d'Or 22 December 2003 in Paris after being named the 2003 European Footballer of the Year. The prize, know as the Ballon d'or in French (the Golden Ball) and handed out by bi-weekly France-Football magazine, was awarded after a poll among journalists from the 52 countries affiliated to European football's governing body UEFA. MAFA PHOTO MICHAL SVACEK

Such was his impact during the 2003 Champions League campaign, when he led Juve to the final, and also playing for the national side, he was awarded the prestigious Ballon d'Or in December as European player of the year.

He is technically gifted, has great tactical awareness and is physically strong. However it's his ability to lift team moral when under pressure that has won him so many fans.

French midfielder Claude Makelele is blocked by Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved (L) during the France/Czech Republic friendly soccer game 12 February 2003 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis near Paris. AFP PHOTO PATRICK HERTZOG

Supporters and experts alike are already whispering about the great prospects of the Czech team at Euro 2004, after they qualified with some style from a group that included the gifted Dutch team.

Euro 2004 will be the third finals for Nedved and in 1996 they unexpectedly made the final, where Germany lifted the title thanks to a golden goal from Oliver Bierhoff.

French midfielder and captain Didier Deschamps (L) fights for the ball with Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved during the Euro-2000 Group D first round match between France and the Czech Republic, 16 June 2000 at the Jan-Breydel stadium in Bruges.

At Euro 2000, pitted in a difficult group, Nedved was unable to inspire his nation past their rivals France and Holland, and the Czechs crashed out at the first round.

Originally from a village in western Bohemia near the German border, Nedved's career began back in Czechoslovakia's Division 2 at the age of 17, in the regional capital of Pilsen.

After serving his military service at Dukla Prague, (which at the time was still a Czechoslovak army team), he opted for city rivals, Sparta.

Time to blossom at Lazio

Inter Milan's midfielder Aron Winter (L) watches Lazio Rome's Pavel Nedved as they chase the ball, 06 May at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris during the 1998 UEFA soccer Cup final.

Fresh from Euro 96 Nedved moved to Lazio, where he won a string of titles.

He marshalled the Roman midfield to victory in the last Cup Winners' Cup tournament in 1999 and also the brilliant League and Cup double in 2000.

There was also a second Italian Cup and a run to the 1998 Uefa Cup final, where Ivan Zamorano inspired Inter Milan to a 3-0 win.

In 2001 Nedved's talent received one of the ultimate compliment's when Juventus, with 64million dollars to spend from the sale of Zidane, prized him away from Rome.

A contest for the ball between Juventus' player Czech Pavel Nedved (R) and Inter's player French Stephane Dalmat 27 October 2001 in Turin during the soccer match Juventus-Inter. AFP PHOTO EPA/ANSA/LUCA ZENNARO/ANSA-BW

At Juventus Nedved quickly became one of the squad leaders and has added more silverware to his collection, winning the league title in both 2002 and 2003.

He nearly added a Champions League winners' medal to his collection in 2003. However, after scoring in the semi-final against Real Madrid a careless yellow card meant this crucial player missed the final, where Juventus lost on penalties to AC Milan in Manchester.

Euro 2004 comes with Nedved at the pinnacle of his powers and with the Czech squad looking as strong a contender as any, the golden-locked Nedved may well find an appropriate crown to his formidable career.