Karel Bruckner has announced his retirement from the game

The 69-year-old was in charge of the Czechs for seven years, leading them to the semi-finals of Euro 2004.

After stepping down as coach at the end of last summer's European Championships, Bruckner then accepted the Austria job but resigned at the start of this month following a run of just one win in seven matches.

Former Czech Republic and Austria coach Bruckner has now announced he will not return to coaching.

"My career as a coach is over," he told citing ill health as one of the reasons behind his decision.

"My health and age have become a handicap. This week I'm going to become a normal pensioner."

Turkey vs Croatia: Turkish surprised Czech Republic in an historical match of Nihat Kahveci

At Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Turkey defeated Czech Republic 3-2 in a really futbolistic feat and qualified at EURO 2008 quarterfinals.

Jan Koller scored in the 34th minute. Before this goal, Sionko was the most dangerous player, while Turkey never could attack.

In the second half Turkey must attack with more players, but Plasil scored and the match was a Czech party. By the way, Arda Turan and Nihat Kahveci, twice, provocated the Turkish glory.

Lineups:
Turkey: Demirel, Altintop, Gungor (Asik 65),Cetin, Balta, Topal (Kazim-Richards 57), Aurelio, Turan, Sanli, Nihat, Senturk (Sarioglu 46).

Czech Republic: Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski, Sionko (Kadlec 80), Matejovsky (Jarolim 39), Galasek, Polak, Plasil (Vlcek 84), Koller.

Goals: 34 min. Koller, 62 min. Plasil (CZE) 75 min. Turan, 87 and 89 min. Nihat (TUR)

Turkey vs. Czech Republic. What a match!

Turkish and Czechs will decide who will be in quartefinals.

Take a look at the match preview to know if the players are thinking about the penalty kicks.

Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma constructed Portugal victory

At Stade de Geneve, Geneva, Portugal beat Czech Republic 3-1 in a great duel: Petr Cech vs. Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro scored his third goal at European Championships.

Lineups:
Czech Republic: Petr Cech, Zdenek Grygera, Tomas Ujfalusi, David Rozehnal, Marek Jankulovski, Libor Sionko, Jan Polak, Tomas Galasek (Jan Koller, 73), Marek Matejovsky (Stanislav Vlcek, 68), Jaroslav Plasil (David Jarolim, 85), Milan Baros.

Portugal: Ricardo, Paulo Ferreira, Jose Bosingwa, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Armando Petit, Joao Moutinho (Fernando Meira, 75), Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nuno Gomes (Hugo Almeida, 79), Simao Sabrosa (Ricardo Quaresma, 80).

Goals: 8 min. Deco, 63 min. Cristiano Ronaldo, 90 min. Ricardo Quaresma.

Yellow Cards: Jan Polak (CZE) and Bosingwa (POR).

Vaclav Sverkos returns to the goal and Petr Cech is hero again

Vaclav Sverkos is 24 years old and already had played in the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria leagues as centre forward. But Sverkos had been two years! Yes! Two seasons without scoring goals in official matches. Nevertheless, the entrance of the FC Banik Ostrava player in the inaugural match of the EURO 2008, gave the victory at his Czech Republic 1-0 against Switzerland in Basel.

The first half was not very good. Behrami was most disquieting in the first minutes, soon Frei armed several shoots from outside of the penalty area that managed to control Petr Cech.

The first half was not more than that. Little interesting. We thought “are the nerves of the debut? So, we have to wait 8 matches and 16 debuts to see good football?”

In the second half Hakan Yakin, which had entered by Frei, took advantage of his freshness to troubled Cech again, the best one of the match. But, were so good the Petr interventions? Was Swiss who turned him the star of the match? Any goalkeeper is able to clear the long distance shoots of the host team?

At 25 minutes, a clear of the Czech defense and a Swiss error caused that Sverkos (entered by the little the gravitated Jan Koller) has left alone in front of the goalkeeper Diego Benaglio and scored the single goal of the match.

Resting 11 minutes, Switzerland, that almost always had the control of the ball, had the most dangerous play. Tranquilo Barnetta shot a powerful shot that cleared Cech, bounce that Vonlanthen shot in the crossbar.

Czech Republic was only the goal. The historical Sverkos goal. But they have three key points and four days to improve the poor performance. Switzerland, that was more than Czechs during the match, finished with empty hands and with the obligation to defeat Portugal and Turkey if they want to be between the eight best teams of the EURO 2008.

To the margin of the poor match watched, it is worth to emphasize that it was a pleasure see fair play during all the time, few fouls and that the Czechs never tried to delay the match after putting itself in advantage. For that reason Welcome EURO 2008!

The lineups:

Switzerland: Benaglio, Magnin, Senderos, Lichtsteiner (Vonlanthen 75), Inler, Frei (Hakan Yakin 46), Streller, Fernandes, Barnetta, Behrami (Derdiyok 84), Muller.

Czech Republic: Cech, Grygera, Polak, Galasek, Jankulovski, Sionko (Vlcek 83), Koller (Sverkos 56), Jarolim (Kovac 87), Plasil, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal.

The goal: 70 min; Vaclav Sverkos (CZE)

Yellow Cards: Magnin, Vonlanthen, Barnetta (SUI)

Waiting for the Opening match: Switzerland - Czech Republic

Tomorrow, Switzerland will face the Czech Republic in Basel in the opening match of Euro 2008.

Switzerland also took part in the opening match of the European Championship in 1996, a 1-1 draw against England.

Czechoslovakia featured in consecutive opening matches in 1976 and 1980.In 1980 the Czechs fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of West Germany.

Four years earlier, Czechoslovakia beat the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in the first match of the final tournament of 1976.

Opening matches at European Championship

7 Jun 2008 St. Jakob-Park Basel, Switzerland – Czech Republic

12 Jun 2004 Estádio do Dragão Porto, Portugal - Greece 1-2

10 Jun 2000 Koning Boudewijnstadion Brussels, Belgium – Sweden 2-1

8 Jun 1996 Wembley Stadium London, England – Switzerland 1-1

10 Jun 1992 Råsunda Fotbollstadion Stockholm, Sweden – France 1-1

10 Jun 1988 Rheinstadion Düsseldorf, West Germany – Italy 1-1

12 Jun 1984 Parc des Princes Paris, France – Denmark 1-0

11 Jun 1980 Stadio Olimpico Rome, West Germany – Czechoslovakia 1-0

16 Jun 1976 Stadion Dinamo Zagreb, Czechoslovakia – Netherlands 3-1 aet

14 Jun 1972 Bosuil Antwerp, Belgium – West Germany 1-2
14 Jun 1972 Astrid Park Brussels, Soviet Union – Hungary 1-0

5 Jun 1968 Stadio Artemio Franchi Florence, Yugoslavia – England 1-0
5 Jun 1968 Stadio San Paolo Naples, Italy – Soviet Union 0-0

17 Jun 1964 Camp Nou Barcelona, Soviet Union – Denmark 3-0

6 Jul 1960 Parc des Princes Paris, France – Yugoslavia 4-5

Source: Infostrada Sports

Edited:
Probable Opening Match Lineups:

Switzerland:
Benaglio; Degen, Magnin, Senderos, Eggimann; Barnetta, Cabañas, Huggel, Vonlanthem; Frei, Streller.

Czech Republic:
Cech; Grygera, Jankulovski, Rozenhal, Kovac; Galasek, Plasil, Polak, Matejovsky, Sionko; Koller.

David Clarkson debut wasn’t enough; Libor Sionko scored twice and Czech won again

In Prague, Czech Republic beat Scotland 3-1. With a first half ended 0-0, F.C. Copenhagen midfielder Sionko scored twice (59th and 90th minute) and Michal Kadlec constructed his goal in the 84th minute.

In Scotland squad, we stands out that David Clarkson made his international debut with a goal. Motherwell forward made a goal that transitorily situated the match 2-1 (85th minute).

For Czech Republic, this match also was the last game before disputing EURO 2008. The Czech team, Switzerland, Portugal and Turkey will be part of the Group A.

Lineups:
Czech Republic: Petr Cech; Zdenek Pospech (Tomas Sivok, 74), Tomas Ujfalusi (David Rozehnal, 46), Radoslav Kovac, Marek Jankulovski (Michal Kadlec, 46), Libor Sionko, Jan Polak, Marek Matejovsky (David Jarolim, 46), Tomas Galasek, Rudolf Skacel (Jaroslav Plasil, 46), Jan Koller (Vaclav Sverkos, 46).

Scotland: Craig Gordon; Kevin McNaughton (Christophe Berra, 90), Gary Naysmith, Stephen McManus (Christian Dailly, 57), Gary Caldwell, Paul Hartley, Darren Fletcher, Gavin Rae (David Clarkson, 71), Barry Robson (Ross McCormack, 82), James Morrison (Shaun Maloney, 68), Kenny Miller.

Jan Koller is on fire and Czech Republic beats Lithuania

After some matches whom we saw more surprises than good football, Czech Republic beat Lithuania 2-0 in Prague.

Czech Republic showed superiority in almost all the game, even though when the match already was 2-0. Despite Tomas Rosicky absense for the whole EURO 2008, tonight it might win by more goals.

Koller is 35 years old and scored 54 goals in 86 matches representing the National Team. His average shows 0,62 goals per game! Disappointingly he already announced that the EURO 2008 will be their last championship with this t-shirt.

The lineups
Czech Republic: Petr Cech; Zdenek Grygera, Tomas Ujfalusi (Radoslav Kovac, 74), David Rozehnal, Marek Jankulovski (Michal Kadlec, 64), Jan Polak (Tomas Galasek, 46), David Jarolim (Marek Matejovsky, 83), Jaroslav Plasil (Rudolf Skacel, 79), Stanislav Vlcek, Milan Baros (Vaclav Sverkos, 46), Jan Koller.

Lithuania: Zydrunas Karcemarskas; Deividas Semberas (Tomas Zvirgzdauskas, 59), Ignas Dedura, Vidas Alunderis, Andrius Skerla, Aurimas Kucys (Audrius Ksanavicius, 46), Tomas Danilevicius, Arunas Klimavicius, Deividas Cesnauskis (Edgaras Jankauskas, 74), Marius Stankevicius (Andrius Joksas, 69), Robertas Poskus (Tadas Papeckys, 60).

We had the opportunity to watch the match but in a few hours maybe we will have another point of view in Czech Football Daily.

Petr Cech is the captain; Pavel Nedved out

Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved was not included by the coach Karel Bruckner in the 23-member Czech national team for the EURO 2008. Also Brueckner announced that the captain will be Petr Cech or Tomas Ujfalusi. Tomas Rosicky, injured, was discarded few weeks before.

Before the tournament the Czech team will face Lithuania (next monday) and Scotland (on May 30th) both in Prague and during the EURO 2008 will share the Group A with Switzerland, Portugal and Turkey.

The squad:
Goalkeeper: Jaromir Blazek (FC Nuremberg), Petr Cech (Chelsea FC), Daniel Zitka (Anderlecht).

Defenders: Zdenek Grygera (Juventus), Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan), Michal Kadlec (Sparta Prague), Radoslav Kovac (Spartak Moscow), Zdenek Pospech (FC Copenhagen), David Rozehnal (Lazio), Tomas Sivok (Sparta Prague), Tomas Ujfalusi (FC Fiorentina).

Midfielders: Tomas Galasek (FC Nuremberg), David Jarolim (Hamburger SV), Marek Matejovsky (Reading FC), Jaroslav Plasil (Osasuna), Jan Polak (Anderlecht), Daniel Pudil (Slavia Prague), Libor Sionko (FC Copenhagen), Stanislav Vlcek (Anderlecht).

Strikers: Milan Baros (Portsmouth FC), Jan Koller (FC Nuremberg), Martin Fenin (Frankfurt), Vaclav Sverkos (Ostrava).

Soul, heart and life in Turkey

Various EURO 2008 readers requested that I could write about Turkey, and although we felt a debt with the Islamic team, we knew that there would be time to post about them.

This Crescent Stars Team will arrive at EURO 2008 with the obligation to take advantage of the last seasons with these great players that obtained the third position in Korea - Japan 2002 and reached the quarterfinals in the EURO 2000. After not classifying to the World Cup 2006, Switzerland - Austria became an obsession and that objective was practically encapsulated in Oslo. There, the Turkish had to defeat to Norway to improve on them in the second position of the Group C. It was a 2-1 victory and classification.

In that stage Hakan Sukur was important again. Beyond The King scored five goals (against Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina) his presence is always vital in that team that brings the soul in each field. With 36 years and 368 goals scored in his career, he is the team leader that has other three players from Galatasaray, four from Fenerbache and Sochaux´s Mevlut Erding as his natural replacement.

While the enthusiastic fanatics of the Premier Super League continue breathing the transcendental derby that brought consequences for the Fenerbahce players, the coach Fatih Terim is thinking about the matches against the local team Switzerland and Portugal, one of the favorites to acquire the EURO 2008.

The ideal would be to be qualified to quarterfinals after the match against the Czechs. Surely The Crescent Stars Team know how.

Praying for Tomas Rosicky

Apparently the Czech Republic symbol, Tomas Rosicky, would lose the third Euro of his career. Or his knee is saying it.... Although Karel Brueckner is thinking about other players, I don’t think that he could avoid missing him (as Arsenal does since January 26th).

Present in a national squad since 1995 (U-15) would be replaced by Jaroslav Plasil, Marek Matejovsky, or David Jarolim. Maybe Jaroslav is the man to replace Rosicky experience.

Czechoslovakia was the EURO champion in 1976 and, as Czech Republic was the runner up in 1996. But this year, won’t be easy the Group A against Switzerland, Portugal and Turkey.

Before crying The Czech absence, see the best of him on youtube.