Skacel Replaces Pudil in Squad + News
EURO 2008 NEWS
SKACEL REPLACES PUDIL IN SQUAD
Daniel Pudil has dropped out of the Czech Republic’s provisional Euro 2008 squad, and been replaced by Rudolf Skacel.
Having himself been a late replacement for Radek Sirl (see below), Pudil underwent a medical exam today and was found to have a broken bone in his hand.
Because of this, Hertha Berlin’s Rudolf Skacel, another left-sided player, has been called up to Karel Bruckner’s squad.
SIRL OUT OF BRUCKNER’S PLANS
Radek Sirl will play no further part in the Czech Republic’s Euro 2008 plans, despite interest from national team coach Karel Bruckner.
Bruckner had initially named the Zenit St. Petersburg defender in his provisional 23-man squad, but Sirl was forced to withdraw with a knee injury.
In the hope that Sirl’s injury wasn’t as serious as initially feared, the UEFA Cup winner was examined by the national team’s medical staff today.
According to Bruckner, however, Sirl needs a further three weeks’ treatment and won’t be involved in Euro preparations or the tournament itself.
BLAZEK STILL OUT OF ACTION
Goalkeeper Jaromir Blazek is still struggling with an abdominal injury and missed Nurnberg’s vital but unsuccessful relegation battle at the weekend.
After suffering the injury on April 16th, the 35-year-old international had been expected to be back in action within three weeks, but has now been sidelined for nearly a month.
Despite this problem, Karel Bruckner has included Blazek in his provisional Euro 2008 squad.
***
OTHER NEWS
STRAKA STEPPING DOWN AT BUDEJOVICE
Frantisek Straka will step down as Dynamo Ceske Budejovice coach at the end of the season, by mutual agreement.
Following a disappointing spring campaign, the impulsive 49-year-old’s current contract won’t now be renewed.
Straka is set to be replaced by 56-year-old Jan Kmoch, who currently coaches Sparta Praha’s reserve team.
SPARTA FANS JEER HORVATH
Sparta Praha midfielder Pavel Horvath was substituted at half time of Saturday’s Gambrinus Liga game against Liberec after being jeered by his own club’s fans.
The bizarre situation arose from an incident at the end of the Pohar CMFS (CMFS Cup) final, when the 33-year-old midfielder was celebrating his team’s win with his daughter.
Horvath was verbally abused by two Sparta fans, upset at their team’s league performance, and, according to the player, he “returned their attack.”
As a result of the incident, Horvath has become a target for the club’s more radical supporters, who have been calling for him to leave the club.
PAPADOPULOS RETURNS TO LEVERKUSEN
Czech forward Michal Papadopulos has reached the end of his six-month loan spell with Energie Cottbus and returned to Bayer Leverkusen.
Cottbus had an option to sign the 23-year-old on a permanent basis, for 750,000 euros, but decided not to use it.
Papadopulos scored in his first two games for Energie but hasn’t scored again since.
CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALS FOR VLCEK AND SVEC
Stanislav Vlcek and Michal Svec have been presented with championship medals for their part in Slavia’s title win.
Vlcek, who joined Anderlecht in January, received his Gambrinus Liga two days after winning the Belgian cup with his new club.
Svec also moved abroad over the winter break, joining Dutch side Heerenveen.
KUKA IS ZIZKOV SPORTING DIRECTOR
Viktoria Zizkov have appointed Pavel Kuka as their new sporting director.
The former Czech international replaces Milan Lesicky, who has returned home to Slovakia.
Kuka, who had been working for player agent Pavel Paska’s ISM organization, will now co-operate with Zizkov coach Stanislav Griga.
DEKAR IS NEW SLOVACKO COACH
Second division Slovacko will be coached by Jiri Dekar for the remaining four games of the season.
The former youth coach replaces Leos Kalvoda, who was sacked following Friday’s 1-0 loss to Usti nad Labem.
PESKAR WINS SLOVENIAN TITLE
Young Czech forward Jaroslav Peskar was part of the NK Domzale team that won the Slovenian league at the weekend.
***
MEDIA RATINGS OF CZECH PLAYERS ABROAD
ENGLAND – THE SUN
(BEST: 10, WORST: 1)
1st Milan Baros (Portsmouth), 5 (FA Cup Final)
ITALY – LA GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT
(BEST: 10, WORST: 1)
Pavel Nedved (Juventus), 6.5
Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina), 6
David Rozehnal (Lazio), 6
Tomas Zapotocny (Udinese), 5.5
GERMANY – KICKER
(BEST: 1, WORST: 6)
Martin Fenin (Eintracht Frankfurt), 1.5
David Jarolim (Hamburg), 2.5
Jan Lastuvka (Bochum), 2.5
Petr Gabriel (Bielefeld), 3
Jiri Stajner (Hannover), 3.5
Jaroslav Drobny (Hertha Berlin), 4.5
Jan Simunek (Wolfsburg), 4.5
Tomas Galasek (Nurnberg), 4.5
Jan Koller (Nurnberg), 5
Rudolf Skacel (Hertha Berlin), 6
***********
Sources: CT Teletext, SportovniNoviny.cz