Czechs and Danes meet with pride only at stake

Czechs and Danes meet with pride only at stake
Agence france presse

LIEGE, BELGIUM, JUNE 20: The Czech Republic and Denmark meet in a Group D match here on Wednesday with nothing but pride at stake, both having lost twice.

But the manner of their losses in the so-called "Group of Death" with world champions France and co-hosts The Netherlands is in stark contrast.

The Czechs can justly feel hard done by after two high octane performances. They first lost to the Dutch on a contested last-minute penalty after dominating the second half and then went down 1-2 to the French when a draw would have been a fairer result.

In crafty midfielder Pavel Nedved, speed merchant Karel Poborsky and towering striker Jan Koller, they had three of the outstanding players of the group stages. They will welcome back Liverpool midfielder Patrik Berger, who was forced to miss out on the first two matches after being suspended for being sent off needlessly in a qualifier against minnows Faroe Islands. Berger's absence may have proved crucial to Czech hopes as he is one of the finest strikers of a ball from distance in European football and despite all their hustle and bustle, Jozef Chovanec's men scored only one goal in their two games.

Also set to reurn is Radoslav Latal, bizarrely sent off by Italian referee Pierluigi Collina while sitting on the touchline after being substituted against The Netherlands.

Denmark in contrast have leaked goals at regular intervals for two 0-3 losses to France and The Netherlands. The 1994 champions after two rounds of group play had the unenviable record of worst attack and worst defence. Coach Bo Johansson will take charge of Denmark for the last time against the Czechs. The coach, a Swede, will be replaced by Morten Olsen after the tournament. Johansson has vowed to field players who have not yet played in the match against the Czechs.