Czech Republic 2-3 Turkey

Czech coach Karel Bruckner recalled Jan Koller the lead the attack and it quickly paid off. A weakness in the centre of the Turkish defence was evident in their first two group games and in the early going Koller exploited it.

The Czech settled into a early rhythm as they looked to find Koller at every opportunity and to feed off his knock downs and flicks. However, the Czech tactics came with a price tag and it was the big striker who was footing the bill (I could have said writing the cheque!) as he took a battering from the Turkish back four.

Just as Turkey seemed to be finding their game with some tidy possession football the Czechs took a well-deserved lead. Galloping down the right side on the overlap Grygera whipped in a cross just behind Koller. The striker managed to reposition himself and the resulting header flew into the roof of the net.

The Czechs rode the goal to half time with Turkey showing little response to going a goal down. However, it was a very different Turkish side that came out for the second half and pressed the Czechs at every opportunity. Even when the Czechs went to up against the run of play it only served to reinvigorate a Turkey side that just would not give up.

The second Czech goal came after a quick free kick was fed out to Sionko who crossed invitingly to the far post. Plasil arrived at a rate of knots to complete a very smart move. Excellent goal.

But even at 2-0 there were the seeds of defeat in the Czechs play. Where in the first half the team pressed forward and allowed the likes Sionko, Matejovsky and Polak to support and feed off Koller, in the second half the Czechs lost that shape and large gaps started forming between midfield, Koller and the support strikers.

Koller’s legs were the first to go but he would not be the last. Incredibly, Bruckner stubbornly stuck with the first half goal scorer rather than looking to the likes of the mobile Baros or Sverkos the scorer of the winner against Switzerland. As the Czechs failed to hold possession up front the pressure mounted on the midfield and the defence as Turkey continued to swarm the Czechs at will.

With quarter of an hour left Arda Turan stepped up to give Turkey hope as he reduced the deficit  to one but still Bruckner stuck with Koller. Kadlec and Vlcek came on for Plasil and Sionko but neither moved threatened to turn the tide. Almost every Czech player was being outworked, out tackled and out fought by a younger and much fitter Turkish team.

However, with three minutes to go it looked as if the Czech Republic would hang on. Little did we realize that we still had the most astonishing finish since Spain scored twice in injury time to beat Yugoslavia 4-3 at Euro 2000 in store.

First Cech dropped a routine cross at the feet of Nihat who gratefully slipped the ball into an empty net.

Then just two minutes later the Turkish captain caught Jankulovski a step behind the other defenders, sprung the offside trap and thumped a shot over the oncoming Cech, off the underside of the bar and into the net.

Turkey led 3-2 but there was more still in store. A stramash in the Turkish box ended with the ball rolling wide of an empty goal but after it had gone out of play Demirel took a pop at Koller and deservedly got sent off. After having used all their substitutes, Turkey finished the match with ten men and with Tuncay Sanli in goal.

The Czechs leave the tournament after the coach who put them in a position to move on, in turn became the coach whose decision to stick with Jan Koller killed their chances.

Portugal 0-2 Switzerland

Switzerland finish bottom of Group A but leave the tournament with a win.

Comment of the Day
“But the pluses(for Portugal) are not merely Deco back on top form controlling midfield alongside Joao Moutinho, but also Cristiano Ronaldo, a player capable of turning games even if he is not playing especially well.

It feels like a Life of Brian “What did the Romans ever do for us?” comment, but aside from creating two goals and scoring one, Ronaldo did little against the Czechs. They almost succeeded in isolating him, but almost with Ronaldo is not enough.” – Jonathan Wilson in the Financial Times.


Other goings on
It is a World Cup qualifying weekend in Africa, Asia, South America and CONCACAF. There were a few shocks in Africa yesterday with Angola, Egypt, Ghana and Morocco all losing while Cameroon and the Ivory Coast both drew.

However, this is only the half way point in a preliminary qualifying stage so it might be a bit premature to think realistically that some of these countries are going to miss out on the first World Cup Finals in Africa.

The prelim stage has 12 groups with the winners and 8 best runners up moving onto a final; group stage of four teams in five groups. Winners will then join the host nation South Africa in 2010. World Cup qualifying in Africa also doubles up for the African Cup of Nations Finals and that is why South Africa is involved.

An update of the current group standings in Africa can be found by following the link.


One country that will not be in South Africa in two years time is 2002 qualifiers China. Consecutive losses to Qatar and yesterday to Iraq put paid to Chinese hopes. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, North and South Korea, Bahrain and Uzbekistan are all guaranteed a place in the final stage of Asia qualifying.

The remaining two places will be decided next weekend with Iraq up against Qatar in Group 1 and UAE or Syria in Group 5.

An update of the current group standings in Asia can be found by following the link.


Two games in South American qualifying were played yesterday and both finished in 1-1 draws – Uruguay at home to Venezuela and Peru at home to Colombia. The other games scheduled for today are Paraguay vs. Brazil; Argentina vs. Ecuador; Bolivia vs. Chile.

Yesterday’s draw puts Venezuela into fifth place in the group (a place above Uruguay) and they have a solid chance of maintaining that position after today’s games.

Paraguay could give Brazil are real run for their money I fancy.

An update of the current group standings in CONMEBOL can be found by following the link.


And last but definitely not least we have CONCACAF qualifying. Canada hopes to start a journey that will conclude with their first appearance at the World Cup finals since 1986 while the USA want to make it six consecutive appearances at the finals.

This preliminary round generally keeps the traditionally more powerful nations apart and matches then with non-traditional soccer powers in a home and away series. The chances of a real shock or two are not high but from time to time the bigger countries only squeak past the “minnows”.

Costa Rica made it to Germany in 2006 but they had to rely on the away goals rule to get past Cuba at this stage four years ago. And after yesterday’s result against Grenada they may have a tough time again.

Costa Rica was down 2-0 after less than thirty minutes before finally drawing 2-2 in St Georges. So a warning to Canada (vs. St. Vincent and the Grenadines) and to the USA (vs. Barbados) who both play today.

Honduras is already through to the next stage after drawing 2-2 with Puerto Rico yesterday after winning the first leg 4-0.

A CONCACAF schedule and scores to date can be found by following the link.

Group A

Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has qualified for four European Championships in four attempts and has only lost two qualifying games along the way.


How they qualified
They topped Group D beating out Germany by two points and finished a mammoth twelve points ahead of third place the Republic of Ireland. Jan Koller led the scoring with six goals.


The Coach
Karel Bruckner took over the full national team in 2001 after a successful spell in charge of the under-21 side. Since then Bruckner has integrated many of the players from the under 21s that finished second in the 2000 European Championship with remnants from the 1996 European Championship side that finished as runners-up to Germany.

A failure to qualify from the group stages at the 2006 World Cup nearly cost the veteran coach his job but he managed to ride out the criticism. Nonetheless the 67-year-old has decided to retire at the conclusion of the 2008 Euros.


Key Players
Tomas Rosicky is injured and he will be badly missed by a side that many consider to be in decline. Goalkeeper Petr Cech will be a key to Czech hopes and confidence as will a back four that has depth with the likes of Grygera, Jankulovski, Rozehnal, Ujfalusi and Kovac to choose from.

Milan Baros was the top scorer at Euro 2004 and is an enigma. The striker has consistently failed to deliver the goods at club level with Liverpool, Aston Villa, Lyon and Portsmouth but put a Czech top on him and another player appears.  A scoring rate of almost a goal every two international games places his striking rate among the best in the world.

 
Great Euro Memory
It took a golden goal by Germany’s Oliver Bierhoff in the 1996 final to kill off Czech hopes of becoming European Champion at the first attempt. The Czechs battled Germany all the way and with a break at the right time they could well have won the 1996 tournament.


Synopsis
Their finish ahead of Germany while scoring twenty-seven goals and conceding only five flatters to deceive. There is a fine line between experience and old age when it comes to a soccer team and it may just be that the balance has tilted too far in a squad in which nine players the wrong side of 30. Martin Fenin who moved to Eintracht Frankfurt last summer after impressive performances at the under-20 World Cup is the only player under the age of 23 in the squad.


Coming Up in World Cup Qualifying
Drawn in Group 3 with Poland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and San Marino.



Portugal
Portugal has now made it to the last four European Championship Finals and qualified for the knock stages in 1996, 2000 and 2004.


How they qualified
Portugal finished a point behind Poland in Group A and three points above Serbia and Finland while drawing six of their fourteen games. Ronaldo was the top scorer with eight goals.


The Coach
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s relationship with the Portuguese media has plummeted to depths so low that the Brazilian coach might even be regretting turning down the England job in 2006!!

Scolari has proven time and time again that he can create teams that are difficult to beat and in a number of cases his teams have been incredibly successful. Conversely the Scolari-approach more often than not sacrifices players natural flair at the twin alters of the isms – pragmatism and cynicism.


Key Players
Cristiano Ronaldo’s importance almost goes without saying (but I thought it should be mentioned anyway)  but if you look through the squad of players available to Scolari you cannot fail to be impressed.

The likes of Alves, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Meira, and Miguel are all excellent  defenders, while the midfield has a mixture of creativity, strength, experience and pace with Deco, Petit, Nani, Moutinho,  Veloso and and Raul Meireles all pushing for spots.

If you look past Ronaldo perhaps the key forward for Portugal might be Werder Bremen’s Hugo Almeida. Almeida’s abilities might be best described as rugged and willing but he might be given the chance to complete a Portuguese puzzle that has repeatedly been missing a piece up top.


Great Euro Memory
It was 3-2 loss but the 1984 semi-final against France was an extra time epic in Marseille.


Synopsis
Finished as runners up to Greece when they hosted four years ago and a lack of goals from their recognized strikers (or striker) has cost Portugal silverware at past European Championships and World Cups. Portugal looks solid defensively and Cristiano Ronaldo could carry his country deep into the tournament once more.

However, all the other teams are more than aware of Ronaldo’s capabilities and no doubt  they will set out to try and nullify him.  Deco has been an important part of Scolari’s plans but his form has been generally disappointing over the last year. No goals and only three helpers for Deco during the qualifying stage carries  a warning that his most effective days at the top level may be on the wane. 


Coming Up in World Cup Qualifying
Drawn in Group A with Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Albania and Malta.



Part One - History and background

Part 3 coming up Friday  - Switzerland and Turkey.