The Prague Post Online: Sports: National team stars consider relegation

September 8th, 2008

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National team stars consider relegation

With Euro 2008 looming, tourney fuels players' transfer hopes

By František Bouc
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
May 28th, 2008 issue

The national soccer team could well enter the upcoming Euro 2008 tournament with an unwanted label: as a squad of second-league players.

In May, several clubs that included top Czech players were demoted to the second division of their respective countries, including midfielder Marek Matějovský and striker Jan Koller.

Matějovský’s Reading fell out of the Premiership in England. Matějovský, who transferred to Reading from Mladá Boleslav over the winter break, is a key player for the Czech side. Following the withdrawal of Tomáš Rosický due to injury and Pavel Nedvěd’s refusal to rejoin the team, Matějovský is slated to become the team’s playmaker in midfield.

Also plummeting to the second division in Germany were three other Czech players: Nuremberg’s Jaromír Blažek, Tomáš Galásek and Jan Koller. While Blažek is likely to act as merely a reserve goalie on the national team, defensive midfielder Galásek and striker Koller are indispensable members of the lineup.

All of the newly second-league players admitted that relegation came as a huge blow.

“It’s a big loss that I could never imagine, even in my worst dreams,” said Matějovský. Similarly, Koller called Nuremberg’s fall to the second league “a shock.”

As a result, it’s very likely that at least three players in the 11-member starting lineup of the Czech team, which will play its opening Euro 2008 game against Switzerland June 7, will be from the second division.

“I am not going to base my selection [of players] on who was just demoted in some league,” said the team’s head coach, Karel Brückner. “I always followed players’ performance on the national team and I will not change this attitude now.”

Matějovský seconded this sentiment.

“The fact that our clubs fell to the lower leagues does not mean that we’ve lost any of our quality,” he said.

Playing for contracts

On the other hand, some experts say the unexpectedly difficult situation many Czech players find themselves in could serve as additional motivation for them at Euro 2008. The tournament could provide a priceless marketing opportunity for possible transfers to other clubs.

“Should we do well at Euro 2008, it could help me get a contract with Lazio Roma,” said defender David Rozehnal. He transferred to the Italian side from England’s Newcastle but has not received many game opportunities in Italy so far.

Meanwhile, Milan Baroš is hoping to revive memories from Euro 2004, where he was the tournament’s leading scorer with six goals. The striker has faded since then, struggling this season with Lyon in the French league and then with Portsmouth in the Premiership.

Among the players eyeing foreign transfers will be the Gambrinus liga’s Michal Kadlec of Sparta Praha and Baník Ostrava striker Václav Svěrkoš.

“Many of us are considering transfers and this could be extra motivation for us at Euro 2008,” Matějovský said. He then added: “However, our prime focus is clear: to succeed in the tournament.”

František Bouc can be reached at fbouc@praguepost.com

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