Preview: Czech Republic - Portugal

June 10, 2008

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With all teams having played their opening match, it is time to proceed to the second round of games with the Czech Republic facing Portugal in Group A.

The Czechs weren’t particularly convincing against hosts Switzerland in the opening match but did walk away with a narrow 1-0 win.

If anyone should be confident ahead of the Czechs’ second match however, it would be Vaclav Sverkos who scored the first goal of the tournament: “That was the most beautiful, and important, day of my career.”

Fellow striker Jan Koller was largely invisible in the first match and will aim to show a better performance in the second game.

Jaroslav Plasil showed respect for their next opponents, Portugal: “They play very good attacking football. They are very good going forward, and they don’t lose the ball very often.”

Portugal did have a good display against Turkey and won their opening match 2-0 on Saturday.

The Portuguese are one of the favorites to win this tournament, and have been promoted to shared second place by the bookmakers after their first game.

Brazilian-born midfielder Deco prefers to be careful however: “It is going to be as difficult a game as the one against Turkey, if not more so,” the Barcelona player said about the match with the Czechs.

“We know we’re not through the first phase yet, so there will be no over-confidence on our part.”

No new injuries occurred since the opening match, which means that coaches Karel Brückner and Luiz Felipe Scolari have the same options to choose from.

The match is set to start at 18:00 CET on Wednesday, and is played at the Stade de Genève. Greek Kyros Vassaras is the referee, assisted by linesmen Dimitris Bozatzidis and Dimitris Saraidaris and fourth official Kristinn Jakobsson.

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