Football: Czechs ready for English experiment

JOZEF CHOVANEC, the Czech Republic's coach, was eager to appear diplomatic yesterday ahead of his side's friendly against England. When asked how he felt about the prospect of facing an experimental side devoid of Alan Shearer and Michael Owen, he replied through his interpreter: "We won't pay special attention to the England side or its experiments." Pausing for a second while his words were translated, he then tapped the interpreter on the arm to ensure a qualifying phrase was added. "With the greatest possible respect to the England team, of course," he said.

The Czech Republic have won seven games and drawn two from the nine played since Chovanec ended a career in club football that saw him play for PSV Eindhoven, amongst others, and coach at Sparta Prague and turn his hand to international management.

"For our national team, every game is important, and especially tomorrow's game with England," he said. "I suppose both the England team and the Czech team belong to the better half of Europe's national side and I expect a strong fight between two different football schools.

"For us this match has a special importance because we have Scotland in the same Euro 2000 qualifying group as us and we regard that there are certain similarities in the English and Scottish football." When asked to elaborate, he said both teams would give his side tough, physical games, and he said that is what he expects this evening.

The Czech Republic are currently top of their Euro 2000 qualifying group with three wins from three games. They travel to Scotland in March and then host the return fixture in June and Craig Brown will be among those watching at Wembley this evening. Glenn Hoddle, for his part, should expect nothing less than a stern test. The Czechs showed by reaching the final of the Euro 96 they were capable of attractive football. They may have lost that match 2-1 and may have failed to qualify for France 98 but they have been higher in the Fifa world rankings than England for years, and more importantly, more consistent since their new coach took over.

Although Chovanec will be without the speedy, powerful Lazio midfielder, Pavel Nedved, who was withdrawn from the squad on Monday with a knee injury, he will field others equally talented. Karel Poborsky, the midfielder who never settled at Old Trafford, and Liverpool's Patrik Berger, who scored twice from free-kicks in his last international, will start. Joining them in midfield will be Jiri Nemec - last year's Czech Player of the Year and the most talented member of his club side, Germany's Schalke 04 - and the promising Vladimir Smicer, the prodigious attacker whose goals helped Lens win the French league last season.

"I would be very glad if we could be successful," Chovanec said when asked about tonight's game. When pushed for a prediction, he steadfastly declined. Too diplomatic for that kind of thing.

CZECH REPUBLIC (v England at Wembley tonight, probable team): Kouba (Viktoria Zizkov); Novotny, Votava (both Sparta Prague), Repka (Fiorentina); Poborsky (Benfica), Bejbl (Atletico Madrid), Nemec, Latal (both Schalke04), Berger (Liverpool); Lokvenc (Sparta Prague), Smicer (Lens).