Johansson on the attack

Defence will again not be Denmark's top priority

Coach Bo Johansson has declared he will not be abandoning Denmark's attacking policies, despite seeing his side crash out of Euro 2000 without collecting a point.

Denmark ended their campaign losing 2-0 to the Czech Republic, which followed earlier losses to Holland and France in Group D.

But Johansson remains both defiant and optimistic over the nation's hopes of recapturing the glory days of 1992 when they won the championship.

He said: "The team showed through all their matches that they could be positive, and that's important.

"I feel it is important to attack. I don't want us to play with five defenders, and I will not change my policy despite the results here.

The team showed through all their matches that they could be positive, and that's important

Bo Johansson

"Maybe I look a little stupid, but when you see the quality of our three games, we showed to everyone that we have a good team."

Johansson was hopeful for the future with the crop of young Danish talent on the verge of the full squad.

"The Danish national team has a lot of quality with young, upcoming players gradually coming through the ranks and gaining experience.

"With time they will improve even more - and Denmark will have a very competitive team."

Liverpool's Vladimir Smicer scored twice in the second-half for the Czechs to condemn the Danes to their third defeat in the tournament.

Smicer the entertainer

Czech coach Jozef Chovanec was also adamant that he will take plenty of positives away from these championships.

He said: "I still maintain that we are on a very good path - and in a few months we will be on the same level as the Dutch and French.

"Added to that, there is a very good Under-21 team developing which has qualified for the Olympic Games later this year, so the future is bright."

Man-of-the-match Smicer was just delighted to have provided some entertainment after their disappointing start to the tournament.

"During the first half, we did not play well. We concentrated our play too much in midfield, and failed to venture forward consistently," Smicer said.

"The second half was better, and the first goal I scored was crucial. It was so well prepared by Nedved and Poborsky. All I had to do was knock the ball into the net.

"I have to also mention Denmark, who tonight took a very positive attitude to the game, which helped to make it a spectacle for the fans present."